Speech to text on Windows: how to talk to type

The short answer

Windows has speech to text built in. Click where you want the words, press Windows key + H, wait for “Listening…” and talk. Microsoft calls this voice typing. It uses online speech recognition, so you need an internet connection and a working microphone.

That is enough for a lot of people. Below: the full steps, the settings worth changing, what to do when there is no internet, and how VoltType does the same job in any app.

Talk to type with Win+H, step by step

1. Allow the microphone. Go to Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone and make sure microphone access is on, and that apps and desktop apps may use it.
2. Click into a text box. An email, a document, a chat, a search box: voice typing writes where your cursor is.
3. Press Windows key + H. On a touch keyboard, tap the microphone button instead.
4. Wait for “Listening…”, then speak normally. Short sentences and a steady pace work best.
5. Add punctuation. Say “comma” or “period”, or turn on automatic punctuation in the voice typing settings.
6. Fix as you go. Say “delete that”, “select that”, “undo that” or “press Enter”.
7. Stop. Say “stop listening” or press the microphone button. Saying “pause voice typing” also stops it.

Source: Microsoft Support, “Use voice typing to talk instead of type on your PC”, checked 23 Oct 2026.

Source: Microsoft Support, “Fix microphone problems”, checked 23 Oct 2026.

Settings worth changing

Open voice typing with Win+H and select the settings gear. Microsoft lists these options:

• Voice typing launcher: shows a small microphone bar when you click into a text box.
• Automatic punctuation: Windows adds punctuation for you.
• Filter profanity: masks words it considers profane.
• Default microphone and wait time before voice typing stops listening.

To move around the voice typing menu with the keyboard, press Windows key + Alt + H. On Copilot+ PCs, Microsoft also offers fluid dictation in English: it fixes grammar, punctuation and filler words as you speak, using small language models on the device. Say “revert” or “undo that” to take back a change.

Source: Microsoft Support, “Use voice typing to talk instead of type on your PC”, checked 23 Oct 2026.

Speak to type in another language

Voice typing follows your Windows input language. To add one, go to Start > Settings > Time & language > Language & region > Add a language. Switch between languages with the language switcher on the taskbar or with Windows key + Spacebar. Microsoft lists 46 language and region entries for Windows 11, including Turkish, Hindi and Korean. If your language is not on that list, Win+H will not type it.

Source: Microsoft Support, “Use voice typing to talk instead of type on your PC”, checked 23 Oct 2026.

When there is no internet: voice access

Windows 11 (version 22H2 and later) has a second built-in tool, voice access. It lets you control the PC and write text by voice, and Microsoft says it works without an internet connection. The first setup needs internet to download the language files. Turn it on at Start > Settings > Accessibility > Speech > Voice access.

Voice access lists 15 language and dialect entries: English (US, UK, India, New Zealand, Canada, Australia), Spanish (Spain, Mexico), German, French (France, Canada), Italian, Japanese, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese (Taiwan).

Source: Microsoft Support, “Set up voice access”, checked 23 Oct 2026.

Talk to type with VoltType

VoltType is a dictation app for Windows (we make it). It types into any app where your cursor is: Outlook, Word, Chrome, Teams, Slack and the rest.

1. Install it from the Microsoft Store.
2. Hold Ctrl+Space, talk, let go. The text appears where your cursor is. For longer dictation, press Ctrl+Shift+D to start and again to stop.
3. Say the structure. “New line”, “new paragraph”, “comma” and other spoken commands work in 26 languages.
4. Teach it your words (Pro). Add names and terms to your word list. With Fix & Learn, you correct a word once and it is saved as a rule.
5. Turn speech into Notes. Talk through an idea and get a summary, a to-do list or an email draft.

Where your voice goes. The Free plan runs in the cloud: 3,000 words a month, no card. In cloud mode, your voice is sent over the internet to our server and to Groq, our transcription provider in the US.

On Pro, in Offline mode, your voice is transcribed on your PC in 25 languages, after a one-time download of about 670 MB. Pro covers all supported languages in all. You can check which mode is on in the app’s Data log.

Win+H or VoltType?

• Win+H is already on your PC. It is a good fit when you are online, your language is on Microsoft’s list and you dictate now and then.
• VoltType fits when you dictate every day, want the same hold-to-talk key in every app, need your own names and terms (Pro), or want dictation without internet in Offline mode on Pro.

You can keep both on the same PC. For a longer side-by-side, see VoltType vs Windows Voice Typing. If Win+H does not react at all, try these fixes.

Tips for cleaner speech to text

• Use a headset or a microphone close to your mouth; laptop microphones pick up the room.
• Speak in full sentences and pause between them, rather than word by word.
• Dictate first, edit after. Stopping to fix every word breaks your train of thought.
• Check the Sound input test (Settings > System > Sound) if words go missing.

Sources

• Microsoft Support, “Use voice typing to talk instead of type on your PC”: support.microsoft.com, checked 23 Oct 2026.
• Microsoft Support, “Fix microphone problems”: support.microsoft.com, checked 23 Oct 2026.
• Microsoft Support, “Set up voice access”: support.microsoft.com, checked 23 Oct 2026.

Frequently asked questions

How do I talk to type on Windows?

Click into a text box, press Windows key + H, wait for “Listening…” and speak. Say “stop listening” to stop. Windows voice typing needs an internet connection and a working microphone.

Does speak to type work without internet on Windows?

Win+H voice typing uses online speech recognition, so it needs internet. Voice access on Windows 11 (22H2 and later) works without internet after the language files download. VoltType works without internet on Pro, in Offline mode, in 25 languages.

What is the shortcut for voice typing in Windows?

Windows key + H opens voice typing. Windows key + Alt + H lets you move around the voice typing menu with the keyboard. In VoltType, you hold Ctrl+Space to talk.

Why does Windows not hear me when I talk?

Check that microphone access is on under Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone, and test the input under Settings > System > Sound. More steps: Windows voice typing not working.

Can I use Win+H and VoltType on the same PC?

Yes. They use different shortcuts: Windows key + H for Windows voice typing, Ctrl+Space (hold) for VoltType.