Official documentation

Get started with voice access

Microsoft, Microsoft Support, 2026

Read the original

Read on October 16, 2026

What it is: Microsoft's guide to the Voice access bar for Windows 11. It covers the three microphone states, keyboard shortcuts, the settings menu, the startup option and the language list, including which languages need a speech pack download.
How much weight it carries: Official Microsoft documentation for the current Voice access bar. Microsoft changes menus over time, so names may differ on newer builds; check the menus on your own PC.

Facts taken from this source

The keyboard shortcut Alt+Shift+B switches Voice access between sleep and listening.
“Alt+Shift+B From sleep state: left-click ... Alt+Shift+B From listening state: left-click” (Microphone button and states: table of ways to switch states)
The keyboard shortcut Alt+Shift+C turns the Voice access microphone off and back on.
“Alt+Shift+C From listening state: long press ... Alt+Shift+C Left-click” (Microphone button and states: table of ways to switch states)
Microsoft describes the Voice Access bar as the bar docked on top of the screen once Voice Access has launched.
“The voice access UI is the bar that is docked on top of your screen after you successfully launch voice access.” (Get to know the voice access UI)
The Settings menu on the Voice Access bar includes an automatic startup option. It opens the Speech section under Accessibility settings, where Voice Access can be set to launch before or after sign-in.
“This opens up the Speech section under Accessibility settings, here you can enable voice access to launch automatically before or after logging into your computer.” (Voice access settings)
The default wait time before Voice access acts on speech is Medium, which is 0.5 seconds.
“By default, it is set to Medium (0.5 seconds).” (Voice access settings: Wait time before acting)
Microsoft says that in Voice Access dictation mode, you get no commands: every thing you say is written into an editable field.
“If you want to be able to dictate text and not issue any commands, use the dictation mode, which treats every input as something to be input in an editable field.” (Different modes in voice access)
In microphone off state, Voice access does not listen to any of your speech, and you must click the Microphone button to switch it back on.
“Microphone off state: Voice access is completely off at this point and does not listen to any of your speech. ... To switch it into listening state, you have to click the Microphone button.” (Microphone button and states)
Microsoft says that when you click the Settings button on the Voice access bar, a set of options becomes available.
“When you click the Settings button, the following options are available” (Voice access settings)
Microsoft says the microphone menu in Voice access settings lets you switch to a different microphone from the one you are using.
“This menu lets you switch to a different microphone from the one you are using” (Voice access settings)
In sleep state, Voice access ignores everything you say except the command that switches it to listening.
“Sleep state: Voice access does not react to anything you say, except the command to switch it into listening state.” (Microphone button and states)
Microsoft says Voice Access languages are either ready to use or available for download, and a downloadable language needs its speech pack downloaded before you can use it.
“for which you need to download the speech pack before you can start using it” (Get to know the voice access UI: Languages)
The Languages list separates languages that are ready to use from languages that need a speech pack downloaded first.
“There are "ready to use" languages which you can instantly switch to and "available for download" languages for which you need to download the speech pack before you can start using it.” (Voice access settings: Languages)
Voice access can be set to launch automatically either before or after you sign in to your computer.
“here you can enable voice access to launch automatically before or after logging into your computer.” (Voice access settings: Automatic startup setting)
Microsoft says Voice Access works in three modes, chosen by the task you want to do.
“You can work in three different modes based on the tasks you want to perform.” (Different modes in voice access section)
Microsoft says that while Voice access is listening, the words you speak appear as a transcription on the left side of the Voice access bar.
“When voice access is in the listening state, what you speak is displayed on the left side of the voice access UI” (Visual feedback, Real-time feedback)
Microsoft says turning off Voice Access removes the Voice Access bar from the top of the screen and closes the feature.
“This removes the voice access UI from the top of the screen and closes voice access.” (Get to know the voice access UI: Turn off voice access)
Microsoft says you can choose a wait time that matches your pace of speaking.
“Choose from the different options to select a wait time that matches your pace of speaking” (Voice access settings, Wait time before acting)

Pages that rest on this source

Official documentation

Get started with voice access

Microsoft, Microsoft Support, 2026

Read the original

Read on October 16, 2026

What it is: Microsoft's guide to the Voice access bar for Windows 11. It covers the three microphone states, keyboard shortcuts, the settings menu, the startup option and the language list, including which languages need a speech pack download.
How much weight it carries: Official Microsoft documentation for the current Voice access bar. Microsoft changes menus over time, so names may differ on newer builds; check the menus on your own PC.

Facts taken from this source

The keyboard shortcut Alt+Shift+B switches Voice access between sleep and listening.
“Alt+Shift+B From sleep state: left-click ... Alt+Shift+B From listening state: left-click” (Microphone button and states: table of ways to switch states)
The keyboard shortcut Alt+Shift+C turns the Voice access microphone off and back on.
“Alt+Shift+C From listening state: long press ... Alt+Shift+C Left-click” (Microphone button and states: table of ways to switch states)
Microsoft describes the Voice Access bar as the bar docked on top of the screen once Voice Access has launched.
“The voice access UI is the bar that is docked on top of your screen after you successfully launch voice access.” (Get to know the voice access UI)
The Settings menu on the Voice Access bar includes an automatic startup option. It opens the Speech section under Accessibility settings, where Voice Access can be set to launch before or after sign-in.
“This opens up the Speech section under Accessibility settings, here you can enable voice access to launch automatically before or after logging into your computer.” (Voice access settings)
The default wait time before Voice access acts on speech is Medium, which is 0.5 seconds.
“By default, it is set to Medium (0.5 seconds).” (Voice access settings: Wait time before acting)
Microsoft says that in Voice Access dictation mode, you get no commands: every thing you say is written into an editable field.
“If you want to be able to dictate text and not issue any commands, use the dictation mode, which treats every input as something to be input in an editable field.” (Different modes in voice access)
In microphone off state, Voice access does not listen to any of your speech, and you must click the Microphone button to switch it back on.
“Microphone off state: Voice access is completely off at this point and does not listen to any of your speech. ... To switch it into listening state, you have to click the Microphone button.” (Microphone button and states)
Microsoft says that when you click the Settings button on the Voice access bar, a set of options becomes available.
“When you click the Settings button, the following options are available” (Voice access settings)
Microsoft says the microphone menu in Voice access settings lets you switch to a different microphone from the one you are using.
“This menu lets you switch to a different microphone from the one you are using” (Voice access settings)
In sleep state, Voice access ignores everything you say except the command that switches it to listening.
“Sleep state: Voice access does not react to anything you say, except the command to switch it into listening state.” (Microphone button and states)
Microsoft says Voice Access languages are either ready to use or available for download, and a downloadable language needs its speech pack downloaded before you can use it.
“for which you need to download the speech pack before you can start using it” (Get to know the voice access UI: Languages)
The Languages list separates languages that are ready to use from languages that need a speech pack downloaded first.
“There are "ready to use" languages which you can instantly switch to and "available for download" languages for which you need to download the speech pack before you can start using it.” (Voice access settings: Languages)
Voice access can be set to launch automatically either before or after you sign in to your computer.
“here you can enable voice access to launch automatically before or after logging into your computer.” (Voice access settings: Automatic startup setting)
Microsoft says Voice Access works in three modes, chosen by the task you want to do.
“You can work in three different modes based on the tasks you want to perform.” (Different modes in voice access section)
Microsoft says that while Voice access is listening, the words you speak appear as a transcription on the left side of the Voice access bar.
“When voice access is in the listening state, what you speak is displayed on the left side of the voice access UI” (Visual feedback, Real-time feedback)
Microsoft says turning off Voice Access removes the Voice Access bar from the top of the screen and closes the feature.
“This removes the voice access UI from the top of the screen and closes voice access.” (Get to know the voice access UI: Turn off voice access)
Microsoft says you can choose a wait time that matches your pace of speaking.
“Choose from the different options to select a wait time that matches your pace of speaking” (Voice access settings, Wait time before acting)