Why is Dragon not working in Chrome, Word or Outlook?

When Dragon works in one app and not another, the cause is usually something specific to that app, not a general failure of Dragon. In Chrome, the usual cause is the Dragon Web Extension. In Word and Outlook, the usual causes are an Office add-in that Office has switched off, or a bug that Nuance has fixed in a later version. Test each app on its own with a plain sentence, then work through the checks below for that app.

Chrome: check the extension, the browser and the window

The Dragon Web Extension is what lets Dragon click web page objects by voice. If it is missing or switched off, Dragon may still dictate but not act on the page. Start with the browser. Nuance's Dragon 16 help lists Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge, each in its latest version ¹. The Dragon 15 help says the extension does not apply to Edge ². The two statements conflict, so the version you run decides which one is right.

Next, check the window. Nuance says the extension's features are not available in Chrome Incognito, Chrome Metro mode or Edge InPrivate mode ³. Test in a normal window before you decide the extension is broken.

If Dragon dictates but no longer runs commands, check your version. Nuance's Dragon 16 release notes say that after the Dragon Web extensions for Edge or Chrome are installed, dictation still works but you can no longer use Dragon commands ⁴. Version 16.1 fixed it ⁵. Update to 16.1, then test the commands again. For the install steps, see the question on installing the Dragon extension.

Word and Outlook: check whether Office has disabled an add-in

Office can switch off an add-in on its own. Microsoft says that programs in Office 2013 and later versions disable an add-in that performs slowly, and that you can re-enable it with the Always enable this add-in option ⁶. In Outlook 2016, Microsoft says to look under the File tab, in Slow and Disabled COM Add-ins, and in Outlook 2013 under Slow and Disabled Add-ins ⁷.

We did not confirm from Nuance's pages that Dragon's Word and Outlook support is one of these add-ins, so check that list for a Dragon entry rather than assume it. If Dragon is listed as disabled, re-enabling it is the fix Microsoft describes. If it keeps being disabled, the add-in is slow or crashing, and Nuance support is the next step.

Update Dragon, because Office fixes shipped in 15.3

Some Office problems have a version fix. In Dragon 15.3, Nuance's release notes list that Dragon no longer causes Office applications to fail, and that Dictation no longer stops working in Office applications ⁸. If you run an older 15.x, update before you go further. Nuance's notes do not say whether a later version keeps every 15.3 fix, so if the problem remains on version 16, check the release notes for your version.

It depends on the version, the browser and the app

The table sets out the checks by symptom. Use the version you actually run, not the one a forum post describes.

If the problem also includes Dragon not hearing you at all, the microphone and Windows permission come first. The question on why Dragon is not working covers those checks in order.

What to do

1. Find the app that fails, and test Chrome, Word and Outlook separately with the same sentence.
2. In Chrome, confirm the extension is enabled, you are in a normal window, and your browser is on Nuance's list for your version.
3. In Word or Outlook, look for a disabled Dragon entry in the add-in list, and re-enable it only if you trust the add-in.
4. Update Dragon to the latest version you can, and check the release notes for the fix that matches your symptom.
5. If it still fails, write down the version, the app, the exact steps and any message, and contact Nuance support. A confirmed cause for your copy comes from that route, not from forum guesses.

For Dragon's place among the other tools, see the guide to dictating into any app. If you are choosing a tool for Word, read the question on the best dictation software for Word. The product is defined in our glossary entry for Dragon NaturallySpeaking.