Is Windows Speech Recognition still available in Windows 11?

No. If your PC runs Windows 11 version 22H2 or later, Windows Speech Recognition has been replaced by Voice Access ¹. Searching for a download of the old tool will not help on those PCs. The built-in replacement is what you should use, and it is the tool Microsoft still develops ².

The answer depends on your Windows version, not on whether you have Windows 11 installed. Microsoft's deprecation list says that Windows speech recognition "is deprecated and is no longer being developed," which means it has stopped getting new work even though it still runs on some systems.

Windows 11 version 22H2 and later use Voice Access instead

Microsoft's own command reference says Voice Access "replaced Windows Speech Recognition (WSR) for Windows 11 22H2 and later versions in September 2024" ¹. Microsoft's deprecation entry also names Voice Access as the replacement, and gives the minimum version as Windows 11, version 22H2 ³.

Microsoft's pages do not give an exact update date for each PC. If you need to know what your own build has, check its release notes, and search for the old tool directly before you plan around it.

Older Windows versions still have the old tool

The same Microsoft page adds a second sentence that matters for anyone on an older build: "WSR is available in older versions of Windows" ¹. So the old tool is not gone from every Windows system. It is gone from the newer builds.

On Windows 10, Microsoft's setup article still tells you to search the taskbar for Windows Speech Recognition ⁴. Windows 10 has its own limits, which the next section covers.

Voice Access is part of Windows 11 and needs a one-time internet connection

Voice Access is part of Windows 11 version 22H2 and later ³, so you turn it on rather than installing a separate program. The first setup needs an internet connection ⁵, because it downloads the language files for the language you chose.

After setup, Microsoft describes Voice Access as a way to control your PC and write text by voice without an internet connection ⁶. That is why it suits unreliable networks.

Windows 10 is past end of support, so the old tool is not a long-term plan

Windows 10 still includes the old tool, but the operating system reached the end of support on October 14, 2025 ⁷. A Windows 10 user who relies on speech control should plan a move to Windows 11, and treat the old tool as a bridge.

What to do if you have Windows 11

1. Check your version. If it is 22H2 or later, the answer is Voice Access.
2. Turn on Voice Access and let the first setup finish while you are online.
3. Copy your custom words from your old list into Voice Access, and test them before you rely on them.
4. Practice the commands. The old tool's command list does not carry over exactly, so practice on text you do not need.

If the tool you are looking for does not open, read our question on why speech recognition is not working. For a side-by-side look at the two tools, read whether Voice Access is better than Windows Speech Recognition. For the full picture, including the dated timeline and migration steps, read our guide to Windows Speech Recognition. Our Voice Access guide for Windows 11 covers setup and commands, and the overview of dictation on Windows puts both tools in context.

Terms used here: Windows Speech Recognition and Voice Access.