How do you dictate text with Voice Access?

To dictate with Voice Access, say "Dictation mode", click into the text box you want to fill, and speak. Voice Access writes what you say into the field that has focus. Microsoft describes this mode as treating "every input as something to be input in an editable field" ¹. When you are done, say "Default mode" to get commands back, or leave dictation mode on if you are writing a long draft.

Use dictation mode for a draft, and default mode when you switch

Voice Access has two modes you use for writing. Dictation mode takes every phrase as text, so a word like "Close" in your sentence is typed, not run. Default mode accepts both commands and dictation, so you can open an app mid-sentence. Microsoft's getting started guide lists the same switch phrases.

Move between fields by voice as well. Say "Press Tab" or "Tab" to move the focus, for example from the Subject line of an email to the message body, as the guide shows.

Punctuation is off by default, so turn it on or say it

Automatic punctuation is off in Voice Access by default, and you must turn it on from the Voice Access bar ². Until you do, you add punctuation and capitals yourself. Microsoft's guide covers the capital letter command: "Caps access" inserts "Access" at the text cursor ³. The "No space" command joins a word to the one before it, so "Peyton" followed by "No space Davis" produces "PeytonDavis", which suits usernames and email addresses.

A command that you want typed as text needs the prefix Type or Dictate ⁴. Microsoft's example is saying "Type What can I say" to write that phrase into the box instead of running it.

Fix a mistake by voice before you retype it

Voice Access can get some words wrong, and Microsoft says so directly: it "might make mistakes in recognizing the text dictated by users" ⁵. The fix is a voice command, not a keyboard session.

Say "Correct that" to open a correction window. It "opens a correction window with a list of alternative text suggestions labeled with numbers" ⁶. Say the number of the right alternative and the original text is replaced.

Microsoft recommends correcting one word at a time ⁷. To work on the last dictated text, say "Select that" and dictate the fix ⁸. When no suggestion is right, say "Spell that" and spell the word out ⁹. If the mistake is a name or a technical term that keeps coming back, add it with "Add to vocabulary" ¹⁰, which the custom vocabulary entry explains.

It depends: the PC, the language and the connection

Fluid dictation is for Copilot+ PCs only. Fluid dictation corrects grammar, punctuation and filler words as you speak ¹¹, according to Microsoft's fluid dictation page. It is not available on every Windows 11 PC ¹². On a standard PC you get the correction tools above instead. Our guide to fluid dictation and Copilot+ PCs explains the hardware question.

Offline use depends on setup. Voice Access works without an internet connection after setup ¹³, but the first-time setup needs one ¹⁴. If your first start fails, check the connection before you change any settings.

Voice typing is a different tool. Windows voice typing, started with the Windows key and H, works only when the cursor is in a text box, while Voice Access can be started at any time ¹⁵, as Microsoft's FAQ on the two features explains. Voice Access can also control the PC ¹⁶. If you only need to write, voice typing may be quicker to start. If you need the wider control, use Voice Access. Our guide to Windows voice typing covers that tool.

What to do first

Open a blank document, say "Dictation mode", and dictate three sentences. Then say "Correct that" on one word that came out wrong, and turn on automatic punctuation from the bar if you want the marks to appear without spoken words. Repeat the test on the app you actually use, because Voice Access acts on what the screen shows. For the words to say to wake the feature first, read how to wake up Voice Access and put it to sleep. For the full list of phrases, see the Voice Access command list. To set up custom phrases for text you dictate often, read how to create custom commands in Voice Access, and for the question of controlling the whole PC by voice, read whether you can control Windows 11 entirely with your voice. The voice command entry explains the vocabulary, and the filler words entry explains what fluid dictation removes.