Why is voice typing not available in Windows 11?

Voice typing says it is not available in Windows 11 when the language you are using is not one that Microsoft supports for it. Microsoft says that voice typing is not available when the current language is not supported, and it tells you to install a supported language ¹. Switch to a supported language, or add one, and then try voice typing again. If your language is already supported, the causes to check are Voice access, the online speech setting and the microphone, and those checks are covered below.

Check the language first, because it is the documented cause

Windows 11 lists 46 languages and regional variants that support voice typing ². The list includes six variants of English, so a regional form of your language may be on it even when a plain entry is not. Check your language against Microsoft's list before you go further.

If voice typing is not available in your language, you have two ways to fix it:

1. Switch languages. Press Windows logo key + Spacebar and choose one of the languages that is available to you. Microsoft gives the same step when the words you speak are not entered correctly ³, and to switch voice typing languages you change the input language you use ⁴.
2. Add a language. Select Start > Settings > Time & language > Language & region. Choose Preferred languages, then Add a language ⁵. Pick a language from the supported list.

A language that is not on Microsoft's list has no documented route to voice typing on Windows 11, so the list is the test to use.

Voice access can take the shortcut and stop voice typing

Voice typing starts with Windows key + H. If the shortcut does nothing in a supported language, check whether Voice access is running. When it is, pressing Windows key + H does not start voice typing, and Windows tells you to dictate with Voice Access instead ⁶. Say Turn off voice access or Close voice access to stop it ⁷, then press the shortcut again. The full shortcut problem is covered in why Windows key + H is not working.

The online speech setting and the internet can block it too

Voice typing needs online speech recognition ⁸, so it also needs an internet connection ⁹. You turn online speech recognition on or off under Settings > Privacy & security > Speech ¹⁰. Check it when your language is supported and the feature still does not start. The microphone and the internet connection are the other two checks, and the guide to Windows dictation not working sets them out in order.

On Windows 10, the same feature is called dictation

Windows 10 does not use the name voice typing. You select a text field and press Windows logo key + H to open the dictation toolbar ¹¹. The language list is shorter. Windows 10 dictation accepts speech in 13 language variants, but its dictation commands work only in US English ¹². Windows 10 lists only those variants, so for another language you may need a different tool.

It depends on the language, the PC and the symptom

• Your language is on the list, and the feature still does not start. Work through Voice access, the online speech setting, and the microphone. Those are the three checks this page covers.
• Your language is not on the list. Voice typing on Windows 11 is not documented for that language, so switch to a supported one for voice typing, or use a different tool for your language. The best dictation software for Windows lists the options.
• Voice typing starts, then stops. That is a different problem, covered in why Windows voice typing keeps stopping.
• You are not sure which feature you are using. Voice typing and Voice access are different tools with different language lists. The Windows voice typing glossary entry and the glossary entry for Windows Voice access explain the names.

What to do, in order

1. Find your language in Microsoft's list of 46 languages and variants ².
2. If it is missing, switch to a supported language with Windows logo key + Spacebar, or add one under Language & region.
3. Turn off Voice access if it is running, then press Windows key + H in a text box.
4. Check that online speech recognition is on under Privacy & security > Speech.
5. If the feature still does not start, go to the microphone checks in the guide to Windows dictation not working.

For the shortcut itself, see what the shortcut for voice typing is.