Glossary
Online speech recognition
Online speech recognition sends your voice to a cloud service that turns it into text, instead of processing it on your PC. Microsoft says voice typing on Windows uses online speech recognition, which Microsoft describes as giving more accurate recognition.
Updated October 16, 20264 cited facts, each traced to its source
Online speech recognition is speech-to-text that runs on a remote cloud service. Your voice travels to the service over the internet, the service returns the text, and your PC shows it. On Windows, Microsoft says that voice typing uses online speech recognition, which is powered by Azure Speech services 1.
How it differs from device-based recognition
Windows also has a device-based option. Microsoft's privacy page says device-based speech recognition in Windows 11 "Processes your voice locally on your device" and that "No voice data is sent to Microsoft" 2. The two options differ in where the audio is processed, and that decides whether the internet is needed.
Microsoft describes online recognition as the more accurate choice. Its privacy page says online speech recognition "Uses Microsoft cloud" services "for more accurate recognition" 3. Read that as Microsoft's own description of its service, not as a measured result.
What turning it off does
You control online speech recognition in Windows settings. Microsoft says that when it is turned off, only device-based speech features are available, and it gives Narrator as an example 4. Voice typing uses online recognition, so it is not among the features that remain.
Example: a draft you cannot send to the cloud
You have a sensitive draft, and your company does not allow the cloud for it. Voice typing on Windows uses the online service, so it is the wrong tool for that draft. Look for a device-based option or an offline tool instead. The guide to offline speech to text on Windows lists what works without a connection.
Why it matters for dictation
Online recognition decides three things at once: whether you need a connection, where your voice goes, and how accurate the text is likely to be. A dictation app that runs on the device avoids the trip to the cloud, while a cloud service may give more accurate text on a good connection. Check the setting before you start a session that contains private material.
Related terms
- Windows key + H (Win+H): the shortcut for voice typing, which uses online recognition.
- Voice Access (Windows): the Windows feature that works without the internet after setup.
- Cloud dictation: dictation that runs on a remote service in general.
Guides that cover it
Evidence
Every number on this page, with where it comes from. Open a fact to see the exact words in its source.
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Related terms
- Dictation on Windows: Voice Typing, Voice Access, AppsThe topic this term belongs to
- Azure AI SpeechAzure AI Speech is Microsoft's cloud speech service. Microsoft now calls it Azure Speech in Foundry Tools, and its speech to text powers the online recognition behind Windows voice typing, which needs an internet connection.
- Copilot+ PCA Copilot+ PC is a class of Windows 11 hardware with a neural processing unit (NPU) that Microsoft says can run at 40 or more trillion operations per second. Some newer Windows AI features, including fluid dictation, require this hardware.
- Fluid dictationFluid dictation is a Windows feature on Copilot+ PCs that corrects grammar, punctuation and filler words as you speak. Microsoft says it is powered by small language models that run on the device, and that you can undo a correction by saying Revert or Undo that.
- Neural processing unit (NPU)A neural processing unit (NPU) is a specialized chip for AI-intensive processes, such as real-time translation and image generation. Microsoft says many new Windows AI features require an NPU that can run at 40 or more trillion operations per second, and a speech model can run faster on one.
- Number and grid overlays (Voice Access)Number and grid overlays are Voice Access views for clicking things you cannot name. Show numbers puts a number on each clickable item so you can say it, and Show grid divides the screen into numbered tiles that narrow the mouse pointer step by step.
- Phi SilicaPhi Silica is Microsoft's on-device language model, which runs on the neural processing unit of Copilot+ PCs. Microsoft says it is being replaced by Aion Instruct, and its voice typing help names it as the download to watch while fluid dictation gets ready.
- Speech pack (Windows)A speech pack is the set of on-device language files that Windows needs before it can recognize speech in a language offline. Microsoft says you must download a speech pack for a language in Voice access before you can use it, and the first download needs an internet connection.
- Voice Access (Windows)Voice Access is the Windows 11 feature that lets you control the whole PC and write text by voice, not only dictate. Microsoft says it works without an internet connection after setup, and it replaces Windows Speech Recognition.
- Voice typing launcherThe voice typing launcher is the Windows voice typing setting that lets you start dictation quickly when the cursor is in a text box. Microsoft lists it among the settings you open from the gear icon in the voice typing flyout.
- Windows key + H (Win+H)Windows key + H, written Win+H, is the keyboard shortcut that starts voice typing in Windows, so you can dictate into the text box where your cursor is. Microsoft says it does not start voice typing while Voice Access is running.
- Windows on ArmWindows on Arm is Windows running on processors that use the Arm instruction set instead of x86 or x64 chips. It runs native Arm apps and many unmodified x86 and x64 apps, and Microsoft says Arm-native apps give the best performance and battery life.
- Windows Speech API (SAPI)The Windows Speech API (SAPI) is Microsoft's interface that lets Windows apps use speech recognition and text-to-speech without building the speech engine themselves. Windows.Media.SpeechRecognition is a separate API for command and control in Windows Runtime apps.
Pages that use this term
- Dictation on Windows: Voice Typing, Voice Access, AppsTopic
- Google Docs Voice Typing: How to Use It and Its LimitsGuide
- How to Turn On Voice Typing on Every DeviceGuide
- Voice Access in Windows 11: Setup and How It WorksGuide
- Windows Dictation Not Working? Fixes for Win+HGuide
- Speech to Text in Chrome: Built-in Options and ExtensionsGuide
- Windows Speech Recognition: Deprecation and ReplacementGuide
- Dictation in Windows Apps: Word, Outlook, BrowsersGuide
- Windows Dictation Privacy and Online Speech RecognitionGuide
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