Can Copilot take dictation?

Yes, Copilot takes dictation, and the text lands in the chat prompt box. In the chat prompt box, select Start dictation and speak, and Copilot turns your speech into text ¹. Microsoft describes the feature as a way to speak your prompt instead of typing it ².

The limit is the box. Microsoft describes dictation only for the Copilot prompt box, so its steps say nothing about Word, Outlook, a browser or any other app. For those, use Windows voice typing, which writes into whatever text box has the cursor. The full guide to Copilot's voice features explains each tool, and the overview of dictation on Windows compares the built-in options.

Copilot dictation writes prompts, and voice typing writes documents

Copilot dictation answers one job: it turns speech into a message you then send to Copilot. Windows voice typing answers another: it turns speech into text wherever the cursor is.

Microsoft separates Copilot's voice features the same way. Dictation speaks your prompt, read aloud has Copilot read its replies to you, and Copilot Voice is a real-time spoken conversation ³. Only the first of these is a typing tool, and it types into one place.

Windows voice typing is a separate feature. On Windows 11 you turn it on with the Windows key + H on a hardware keyboard, or the Microphone button on the touch keyboard ⁴.

It depends on your account, subscription and region

Dictation is not on every Copilot account. Microsoft lists Copilot dictation as available for work or school accounts, not for personal accounts ⁵. The same table lists Copilot Voice for both work or school and personal accounts ³, so a personal account may have the conversation feature without dictation.

Availability also depends on where you live and what you pay for. Microsoft says voice availability depends on your subscription and region ⁶. Check the feature table on Microsoft's page before you promise dictation to a team, because the table can change.

If you are not sure which account you are signed into, check the account name in the Copilot app before you look for the dictation button. A missing button on a personal account may reflect the account type, not a fault in your microphone.

What to do to dictate into Copilot

1. Open Copilot in the Microsoft Copilot app on your desktop or mobile device, or at copilot.cloud.microsoft, and sign in ⁷.
2. Select the chat prompt box, then select Start dictation.
3. Speak clearly. Say "period" or "comma" for punctuation, as Microsoft suggests.
4. Select Stop dictation when you finish.
5. Read the text before you send it. Microsoft warns that AI may misinterpret speech, so review the transcribed text for accuracy ⁸.

If the words belong in an email or a report, skip Copilot and dictate into the document with voice typing. If dictation in Copilot does not start, go through the checks in the question on why dictation is not working in Copilot.

The short answer for each job

Copilot can take dictation, but only for prompts. Use it when you want to ask Copilot something by voice, and use Windows voice typing when the words belong in a document. For the difference between dictating and talking to an assistant, see the entry on dictation. If you are also wondering whether Windows has dictation at all, the question on built-in dictation answers that in more detail.