Official documentation

Voice access frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Microsoft, Microsoft Support, 2026

Read the original

Read on October 16, 2026

What it is: Microsoft's FAQ for Voice Access in Windows 11. It compares Voice Access with voice typing (how each starts, which Windows versions and languages they cover) and explains how Voice Access coexists with Windows Speech Recognition and Dragon.
How much weight it carries: Official Microsoft documentation. Some sections lag behind the setup page: its language list (English, Spanish, French, German) is shorter than the list on Microsoft's current setup page.

Facts taken from this source

Microsoft says you must be connected to the internet to download your preferred language for Voice Access the first time, and to finish setting up your PC.
“You must be connected to the internet to download your preferred language for the first time” (Voice access setup question in the FAQ)
Microsoft says Voice Access lets you control your PC and write text by voice without an internet connection.
“Voice access is a feature in Windows 11 that enables everyone to control their PC and author text using only their voice and without an internet connection” (What is voice access? (introductory answer))
Microsoft says the Voice Access bar cannot be moved and is fixed at the top of the main screen.
“It is fixed at the top of your main screen” (Can I drag my voice access UI?)
Microsoft says that if Voice Access is running and you press the Windows key + H, voice typing does not start and Windows tells you to dictate with Voice Access instead.
“If you are already running voice access and try to start voice typing ( Windows logo key + H ), you get the following message: "You can use voice access for typing too. Select a text box and start dictating."” (What is the difference between voice access and voice typing?)
Microsoft says you must be connected to the internet to download your preferred Voice access language the first time you set up your PC.
“You must be connected to the internet to download your preferred language for the first time and continue to set up your PC.” (Can I use voice access while setting up my new Windows PC?)
Microsoft's FAQ says Voice access is currently available in English, Spanish, French and German, which does not match the 15 languages and dialects on its setup page.
“Voice access is currently available in English, Spanish, French, and German.” (Languages supported)
Microsoft's Voice Access FAQ says the feature is currently available in English, Spanish, French and German, which is four languages.
“Voice access is currently available in English, Spanish, French, and German.” (Available languages (FAQ text))
Microsoft's Voice access FAQ lists four languages: English, Spanish, French and German.
“Voice access is currently available in English, Spanish, French, and German.” (FAQ: Languages supported (table))
Microsoft's Voice access FAQ compares the two features in a table. Its row for where each is available lists Windows 11 for Voice access, and Windows 11 and Windows 10 for voice typing.
“Available in Windows 11 Windows 11, Windows 10” (Table comparing voice access and voice typing, row Available in)
Voice Access can be used to log in to a PC starting with Windows 11, version 23H2.
“Voice access is now available to log in to your PC starting with Windows 11, version 23H2.” (FAQ: I am unable to use voice access to log in to my PC)
Microsoft's Voice Access FAQ says the feature can now be used on a PC with more than one display.
“Yes, voice access can now be used in a multi-display setup.” (Can I use voice access in a multi-display setup?)
Microsoft says Voice access offers both commanding and dictation, so it can control every task on the PC, not only write text.
“Voice access offers both commanding and dictation which means that you can perform not just text authoring but all tasks on your PC like working and interacting with different apps and editing text.” (What is the difference between voice access and voice typing?)
Microsoft says that if you do not use headphones to listen to a screen reader, the screen reader's audio may be picked up by the Voice access microphone, which can cause undesirable behavior.
“If you don't use headphones for listening to the screen reader, the audio output from the screen reader may get picked up by the voice access microphone, resulting in undesirable behavior.” (Note in the FAQ, after the list of Voice access features)
Voice access can be started at any time, while voice typing can only be started when the cursor is in a text box.
“Voice access can be started at any time. ... Voice typing can only be started if the cursor is in a text box.” (FAQ: What is the difference between voice access and voice typing? (table, Criteria for starting))
Microsoft says Voice Access uses its own wake words so that it does not wake or sleep Dragon or Windows Speech Recognition at the same time.
“we have introduced unique wake words with voice access that do not affect Dragon or WSR.” (Can I keep Dragon or Windows speech recognition running with voice access?)
Microsoft says Voice access in Windows 11 lets you control your PC and write text using only your voice, without an internet connection.
“enables everyone to control their PC and author text using only their voice and without an internet connection” (Frequently asked questions, opening answer)
Microsoft says voice typing can start only when the cursor is in a text box, whereas Voice Access can be started at any time.
“Voice typing can only be started if the cursor is in a text box.” (FAQ: What is the difference between voice access and voice typing?)
Microsoft says voice typing offers dictation that lets you write text by voice, and it contrasts this with Voice access, which also controls the PC.
“Voice typing offers dictation that allows you to author text with voice.” (What is the difference between voice access and voice typing?)

Pages that rest on this source

Official documentation

Voice access frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Microsoft, Microsoft Support, 2026

Read the original

Read on October 16, 2026

What it is: Microsoft's FAQ for Voice Access in Windows 11. It compares Voice Access with voice typing (how each starts, which Windows versions and languages they cover) and explains how Voice Access coexists with Windows Speech Recognition and Dragon.
How much weight it carries: Official Microsoft documentation. Some sections lag behind the setup page: its language list (English, Spanish, French, German) is shorter than the list on Microsoft's current setup page.

Facts taken from this source

Microsoft says you must be connected to the internet to download your preferred language for Voice Access the first time, and to finish setting up your PC.
“You must be connected to the internet to download your preferred language for the first time” (Voice access setup question in the FAQ)
Microsoft says Voice Access lets you control your PC and write text by voice without an internet connection.
“Voice access is a feature in Windows 11 that enables everyone to control their PC and author text using only their voice and without an internet connection” (What is voice access? (introductory answer))
Microsoft says the Voice Access bar cannot be moved and is fixed at the top of the main screen.
“It is fixed at the top of your main screen” (Can I drag my voice access UI?)
Microsoft says that if Voice Access is running and you press the Windows key + H, voice typing does not start and Windows tells you to dictate with Voice Access instead.
“If you are already running voice access and try to start voice typing ( Windows logo key + H ), you get the following message: "You can use voice access for typing too. Select a text box and start dictating."” (What is the difference between voice access and voice typing?)
Microsoft says you must be connected to the internet to download your preferred Voice access language the first time you set up your PC.
“You must be connected to the internet to download your preferred language for the first time and continue to set up your PC.” (Can I use voice access while setting up my new Windows PC?)
Microsoft's FAQ says Voice access is currently available in English, Spanish, French and German, which does not match the 15 languages and dialects on its setup page.
“Voice access is currently available in English, Spanish, French, and German.” (Languages supported)
Microsoft's Voice Access FAQ says the feature is currently available in English, Spanish, French and German, which is four languages.
“Voice access is currently available in English, Spanish, French, and German.” (Available languages (FAQ text))
Microsoft's Voice access FAQ lists four languages: English, Spanish, French and German.
“Voice access is currently available in English, Spanish, French, and German.” (FAQ: Languages supported (table))
Microsoft's Voice access FAQ compares the two features in a table. Its row for where each is available lists Windows 11 for Voice access, and Windows 11 and Windows 10 for voice typing.
“Available in Windows 11 Windows 11, Windows 10” (Table comparing voice access and voice typing, row Available in)
Voice Access can be used to log in to a PC starting with Windows 11, version 23H2.
“Voice access is now available to log in to your PC starting with Windows 11, version 23H2.” (FAQ: I am unable to use voice access to log in to my PC)
Microsoft's Voice Access FAQ says the feature can now be used on a PC with more than one display.
“Yes, voice access can now be used in a multi-display setup.” (Can I use voice access in a multi-display setup?)
Microsoft says Voice access offers both commanding and dictation, so it can control every task on the PC, not only write text.
“Voice access offers both commanding and dictation which means that you can perform not just text authoring but all tasks on your PC like working and interacting with different apps and editing text.” (What is the difference between voice access and voice typing?)
Microsoft says that if you do not use headphones to listen to a screen reader, the screen reader's audio may be picked up by the Voice access microphone, which can cause undesirable behavior.
“If you don't use headphones for listening to the screen reader, the audio output from the screen reader may get picked up by the voice access microphone, resulting in undesirable behavior.” (Note in the FAQ, after the list of Voice access features)
Voice access can be started at any time, while voice typing can only be started when the cursor is in a text box.
“Voice access can be started at any time. ... Voice typing can only be started if the cursor is in a text box.” (FAQ: What is the difference between voice access and voice typing? (table, Criteria for starting))
Microsoft says Voice Access uses its own wake words so that it does not wake or sleep Dragon or Windows Speech Recognition at the same time.
“we have introduced unique wake words with voice access that do not affect Dragon or WSR.” (Can I keep Dragon or Windows speech recognition running with voice access?)
Microsoft says Voice access in Windows 11 lets you control your PC and write text using only your voice, without an internet connection.
“enables everyone to control their PC and author text using only their voice and without an internet connection” (Frequently asked questions, opening answer)
Microsoft says voice typing can start only when the cursor is in a text box, whereas Voice Access can be started at any time.
“Voice typing can only be started if the cursor is in a text box.” (FAQ: What is the difference between voice access and voice typing?)
Microsoft says voice typing offers dictation that lets you write text by voice, and it contrasts this with Voice access, which also controls the PC.
“Voice typing offers dictation that allows you to author text with voice.” (What is the difference between voice access and voice typing?)