Does Microsoft have dictation software?

Yes. Microsoft has dictation in three places. Windows 11 has voice typing and Voice access, and Word has Dictate. Each works differently, and the differences matter more than the name. Voice typing needs a connection, Voice access works offline after setup, and Dictate sits behind a Microsoft 365 subscription. The older Windows Speech Recognition is no longer the tool to learn.

Windows voice typing needs internet and a text box

Microsoft says voice typing on Windows needs a working microphone, an internet connection and the cursor in a text box ¹. It converts speech using online speech recognition that Microsoft says is powered by Azure Speech services ². In practice, your audio goes to a server, so voice typing stops when the network does. Test it on the work you actually do before you rely on it for sensitive material.

Voice access works without internet after setup

Voice access is the tool to test if you need dictation offline. Windows 11 Voice access controls the PC and writes text by voice without an internet connection ³. The exception is setup. Microsoft says the first-time setup of Voice access needs an internet connection ⁴, so connect once, set it up, and then the offline use applies.

Voice access is available in Windows 11, version 22H2 and later ⁵. If your PC runs an earlier version, Voice access is not available to you.

Dictate in Word needs a Microsoft 365 subscription

Word has its own voice tool, Dictate. Microsoft says the Dictate feature in the Word desktop app is only available to Microsoft 365 subscribers ⁶. It is not a free feature of every Word installation, so check your subscription before you look for another app. We did not verify the current price of Microsoft 365 while writing, so check Microsoft's plan page for it.

Windows Speech Recognition has been replaced by Voice access

Microsoft lists Windows Speech Recognition as deprecated and no longer developed, and says it is replaced by Voice access ⁷. Older guides and search results may still point to Windows Speech Recognition. Use Voice access instead, and treat the older tool as a legacy feature.

Microsoft also owns Nuance, the maker of Dragon

Microsoft announced on March 4, 2022 that it had completed its acquisition of Nuance Communications ⁸. Nuance makes Dragon, the paid professional dictation product. So Microsoft's dictation options include both the free tools in Windows and a paid product through Nuance. For Dragon's status and history, see does Microsoft own Dragon NaturallySpeaking.

Which Microsoft option to use

1. For everyday writing with internet, test voice typing in a text box, such as Notepad or a browser, before you rely on it.
2. For offline control and dictation on Windows 11, complete Voice access setup online once, then test it offline on Windows 11 version 22H2 or later.
3. If you write in Word and have Microsoft 365, test Dictate there before you buy a separate app.
4. If you do not have Microsoft 365, use voice typing or Voice access for Windows, or a free third-party app, and compare costs in how much dictation software costs.

Microsoft's tools are not the only choice. If you use a Mac or Android phone too, compare does Apple have a voice to text app and does Google have a voice to text app. For Windows specifics, see our Windows guide and how to dictate on Windows.

For the free options across every platform, read our guide to free dictation software. For the category, see dictation software, and for the terms, the voice typing and Dragon NaturallySpeaking entries.