How to Use Your Voice for Commands and Typing in Windows

Introduction

If you're looking for free dictation software or want to use voice commands to operate your computer, Windows 11 has the capabilities you need built-in. The most recent operating system from Microsoft provides three unique technologies that enable users to easily communicate with their computers using voice commands alone.

The Voice Features of Windows

Three separate voice-related features in Windows 11 enable users to utilize voice commands to carry out particular tasks. In these functions, Microsoft refers to "voice" and "speech" interchangeably.

1. Voice Activation (VA): Voice Access was first included in the September 2022 H2 update. It allows users to interact with their PCs and enter text into a variety of programs, including emails and documents. There are currently six dialects of English supported (US, UK, India, Canada, New Zealand, Australia), but more languages will likely be supported in the future. Apart from the initial setup phase, Voice Access does not necessitate a continuous internet connection.
2. Windows Speech Recognition (WSR): WSR has been around for a while and supports more languages than Voice Access. Although it serves the same purposes, it has fewer features. Similar to Voice Access, WSR can operate normally without a continuous internet connection.
3. Voice Typing (VT): If you are worried about instructions being executed accidentally, Voice Typing is the system to use. It is specifically made for dictation or speech-to-text. It does require a constant internet connection and supports a greater number of languages than Voice Access. Voice Typing uses Microsoft's servers for voice analysis and works over the internet. Even though it requires comparatively little bandwidth, there could be discernible lags between giving a command and seeing the outcome on the screen if your connection is poor or has significant latency.

Hardware Requirements for Getting Started

In order to use Windows voice commands or the speech-to-text function, a microphone is a necessary device. Usually, laptops have microphones built right in, and this can also be the case if you're using a webcam.

However, because these built-in devices are able to record sounds from their surroundings, background noise may cause interference. The voice recognition system's performance could be affected in noisy surroundings.

It is recommended to utilize a standalone microphone or a specialized headset for best performance. Well-liked options like the HyperX SoloCast and Blue Yeti provide outstanding performance for their price. After connecting them with the included USB cords, you'll be able to use voice commands to communicate with Windows without any problems.

A good headset is usually advised for the best results, especially because many modern models include capabilities designed to reduce background noise and improve overall sound clarity.

Enabling and Setting Up Voice Access

In Windows 11, to activate the recently added voice control feature, click Start, go to Settings, and then choose Accessibility from the menu on the left. Navigate to the Speech menu in the Interaction area. Voice Access has a toggle switch to turn it on and an option to turn it on when you log in to Windows within the Speech settings. The first time the system is turned on, a quick introduction screen appears.

It's important to remember that Voice Access may require the usage of a mouse or keyboard during the first setup process, even if there is an introduction tutorial accessible to familiarize you with the essential functions. This could be tough, particularly for people who have trouble moving around. But after this configuration is finished, you can use voice commands alone to operate a number of Windows features and several applications.

You will see a noticeable bar across the top of your screen when Voice Access is enabled. The goal of this bar is to give users visual feedback on how the system is operating. The microphone status and the most recent spoken instruction are shown on the left side of the bar, and the active command is shown in the center.

It is noteworthy to notice that, given the information it displays, the size of the bar could be viewed as a little intrusive. Microsoft might take care of issue in a later release. Users can find Windows Speech Recognition to be a better option if they are concerned about the size of the bar.

Controlling Windows and Apps with Voice Access

Saying "what can I say?" will bring up a thorough list of all the commands that are necessary to do the many tasks that Voice Access offers. To give a comprehensive understanding of Voice Access commands, Microsoft offers a lengthy guide that is broken down into several sections. Interestingly, Voice Access is intuitively constructed, so you don't need to give extremely technical orders to do tasks.

For instance, typing "open Chrome" will, if installed, start Google Chrome, and typing "close window" will end it. The commands "move the mouse down" and "stop" cause the pointer to travel downward and stop, respectively. Similarly simple is keyboard usage, where commands such as "press control shift v" initiate particular key combinations.

It's crucial to remember that orders must be given clearly and concisely; they cannot be given in a conversational style. The quality of the output from your microphone may affect how well Windows interprets commands.

While there may be some early difficulties when transferring from a keyboard and mouse to a voice control system, with time and practice, tasks like opening apps, navigating between windows, and choosing screen icons will become second nature. Voice Access is a useful technology that is especially helpful for users who have trouble moving about or who want to take a break from using their hands and wrists.

Using Windows Speech Recognition instead of Voice Access

Press the CTRL, Win Key, and S keys on your keyboard simultaneously to activate the previous voice control system. Alternatively, you can use the Voice Access feature by going to the same Settings area as Voice Access. Windows will launch a quick configuration wizard the first time you use this key combination. Once finished, you can set it up to turn on automatically when you log into Windows using the same keys to toggle the system on and off.

When Windows Speech Recognition is in use, it shows a little widget that may be docked at the top, bottom, or anywhere on the screen. It looks like the Voice Access bar and shows visual cues about commands that have been received and performed.

Compared to Voice Access (VA), Windows Speech Recognition (WSR) has more setup choices and functions similarly with fewer commands, particularly when it comes to accurate mouse/cursor control. In spite of this, WSR functions well and offers a wide range of language support. Using the newer system can be a better option if you want to optimize your control over your PC or if language compatibility is not an issue.

Dictation with Voice Typing

The ability to dictate text, which translates spoken words into on-screen text, is one amazing feature of Windows voice control. Voice Access and Windows Speech Recognition may both access this feature, which appears as soon as the cursor is inside a text field-like the address bar of an online browser or a text document page.

Users must move the pointer to the relevant screen region in order to start dictation. To do this, Voice Access users say "show grid" (or "mouse grid" in WSR) and then the relevant number for navigating. Users can pick the text field by using the command "click" once the grid has aligned with the destination.

Users can begin dictating as soon as they have selected the text box. It's important to note that Windows dictates text without punctuation by default. On the VA bar, users can reach the Settings icon and choose the relevant option to enable punctuation.

Microsoft's Voice Typing capability offers an alternative for users who would like not use Voice Access. To utilize this feature, you must have an active Internet connection. To access it, press the Win key + H. Users will be able to start Voice Typing once a widget appears.

Voice Typing is compatible with multiple languages, provided that the relevant language package is installed for use in Vermont. Voice Typing is a useful addition to document creation, even though it has fewer commands than Voice Access or Windows Speech Recognition-mostly related to punctuation. Users who find extended typing difficult or who would rather use a different input technique may particularly benefit from this.

In conclusion, Windows Speech Recognition, Voice Access, and Voice Typing all provide dictation features that greatly enhance Windows 11's accessibility. Additionally, they lessen the possibility of repetitive stress injuries brought on by extended usage of a keyboard and mouse. Examining these functions might give people a new perspective on using a PC, even if they don't think they are necessary.