Glossary
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.
Updated October 16, 20264 cited facts, each traced to its source
Also called Windows Voice Access.
Voice Access is the Windows feature for controlling your PC by voice and for writing text by voice. Microsoft says it offers both commanding and dictation, so it can control every task on the PC, not only write text 1. It is available on Windows 11, version 22H2 or later 2.
Commands and dictation in one feature
Voice Access does two jobs that voice typing does not. Voice typing is for writing: you dictate into a text box. Voice Access also opens apps, moves through the screen and edits what you wrote, using spoken commands. Microsoft's Voice Access pages name both modes, and the commands for each are listed in the command reference.
One example of an editing command is "Correct that", which corrects the selected text or the last dictated text 3. Compare that with a voice typing session, where you would dictate the corrected sentence again or fix it with the keyboard.
It works without the internet after setup
Voice Access is the choice when you need dictation on a PC without a connection. Microsoft says it lets you control your PC and write text using only your voice, without an internet connection 4. The first setup is the exception, because the language files are downloaded then. Once the language is installed, the recognition runs on the PC.
Example: editing a document with no signal
You are on a train with no signal, and you have a draft to fix. Dictate new sentences with Voice Access in its dictation mode. Then say "Correct that" to fix the last sentence you dictated, and use commands to move through the document. None of this needs the cloud, so the train's missing signal does not stop you.
Why it matters for dictation
Voice Access is the Windows feature to choose when the connection is poor or the job is bigger than writing. It is also the replacement for Windows Speech Recognition, the older feature that Microsoft no longer develops (see Windows Speech Recognition (WSR)). Voice typing and Voice Access are separate features, and the two can get in each other's way. When Voice Access is running, pressing Win+H does not start voice typing, so turn Voice Access off when you want to use that shortcut.
Fluid dictation, the correction feature for Copilot+ PCs, is described on its own page. See fluid dictation before you assume it is part of every Voice Access session.
Related terms
- Windows key + H (Win+H): the shortcut for voice typing, which Voice Access blocks while it runs.
- Voice typing launcher: the voice typing setting that offers dictation in a text box.
- Windows Speech Recognition (WSR): the older feature that Voice Access replaces.
- Fluid dictation: the Copilot+ PC feature that corrects dictated grammar and filler words.
Guides that cover it
Evidence
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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.
- Online speech recognitionOnline 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.
- 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 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
- What Is Dictation? Voice Typing and Talk to Text ExplainedGuide
- Windows Voice Typing: How to Dictate with Win+HGuide
- Voice Access in Windows 11: Setup and How It WorksGuide
- Windows Dictation Not Working? Fixes for Win+HGuide
- How to Turn Off Voice Access in Windows 11Guide
- Dictate in PowerPoint, OneNote and ExcelGuide
- Windows Voice Typing Commands and PunctuationGuide
- Windows Speech Recognition: Deprecation and ReplacementGuide
- Dictation in Windows Apps: Word, Outlook, BrowsersGuide
- Windows Dictation Privacy and Online Speech RecognitionGuide
- Can you give voice commands to a Windows PC?Question
- Can you uninstall Voice Access from Windows 11?Question
- Does Windows Voice Access use AI?Question
- Does Word Dictate work offline?Question
- How do you disable the Voice Access keyboard shortcut?Question
- How do you fix Voice Access error 9001 in Windows 11?Question
- How do you hide the Voice Access bar in Windows 11?Question
- How do you turn on Voice Access in Windows 11?Question
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- Is Voice Access better than Windows Speech Recognition?Question
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