Is Voice Access available on Windows 10?

No. Voice Access is a feature of Windows 11 version 22H2 and later ¹, and Microsoft does not offer it on Windows 10. Its FAQ comparison table lists Windows 11 as the only platform for Voice access, and it lists Windows 10 only for voice typing ². So a search for a Windows 10 version of Voice Access will not lead to an official download.

Windows 10 still has voice input. It has two built-in options, and they work differently from Voice Access. Both are described below, along with the change that matters more than either feature: Windows 10 itself is no longer supported.

Microsoft lists Voice Access for Windows 11 only

The Voice Access setup page gives the platform as Windows 11, version 22H2 and later ¹. Microsoft's FAQ states the same platform in its comparison table ². Neither page offers a Windows 10 build.

Because 22H2 is a minimum, an older Windows 11 PC that has not received that version will not have Voice Access either. Check your version before you look for the feature. The steps are in our guide to setting up Voice Access.

Windows 10 has voice typing, which needs the internet

On Windows 10, you start dictation by selecting a text field and pressing the Windows logo key + H ³. It works only in a text box. Voice typing on Windows 10 also needs an internet connection ⁴, so it stops working on an offline PC.

The Windows 10 dictation commands are limited to one language. Microsoft says they are available in US English only ⁵. So if you dictate in another language, you can write text, but you cannot use the spoken commands.

Voice typing is a text tool. It does not control apps or windows the way Voice Access does, so it is not a full substitute on Windows 10. For how voice typing works in general, see our guide to Windows voice typing.

Windows 10 has the older Speech Recognition, which is no longer developed

Windows 10 includes Windows Speech Recognition, the tool that Voice Access replaced. Microsoft says Speech Recognition is no longer being developed and is being replaced by Voice Access ⁶. It is still available on Windows 10, and it has a voice training step. Microsoft says you can teach Windows 10 to recognize your voice ⁷. Search for Windows Speech Recognition to start it. Our guide to Windows Speech Recognition covers its commands.

Windows 10 is past end of support, which matters more than the feature

Windows 10 reached the end of support on October 14, 2025. After that date, Microsoft no longer provides technical assistance, feature updates or security updates ⁸. That changes the choice more than any feature does. A PC that no longer receives security updates is a weaker place to run any tool, including a dictation tool.

If your PC can run Windows 11, the way to get Voice Access is to upgrade. If it cannot, the Windows 10 options above are the only built-in ones, and they will not be updated.

What to do on Windows 10

1. Confirm the version. Select Start, then Settings, then System and About to see your Windows version and edition.
2. If your PC runs Windows 11 22H2 or later, turn on Voice Access from Settings, under Accessibility and Speech. The steps are in our setup guide.
3. If you are staying on Windows 10, use voice typing with the internet connected. Press the Windows logo key + H in a text box and say what you want to write.
4. If you need dictation that works offline, compare options in our guide to dictation software for Windows. Check each product's system requirements yourself, because this page does not list them.

Offline options on Windows are a separate question from Voice Access. For that topic, read our guide to offline speech to text on Windows. If you are still deciding whether to use Voice Access, what Voice Access is explains its features and limits. For the terms used here, see the glossary entries for voice typing and Windows speech pack.