Voice dictation on Windows 11 has evolved significantly, giving users multiple ways to convert speech to text directly on their PC. Whether you are a professional looking to boost productivity, a former Dragon user seeking modern alternatives, or a complete beginner exploring Windows speech to text for the first time, this guide walks you through every option available in 2026 — from built-in features to professional third-party tools.
With Windows holding over 72% of the global desktop operating system market and the speech recognition industry projected to reach USD 23.11 billion by 2030, voice dictation is no longer a niche feature. It is a mainstream productivity tool that every Windows user should know how to use effectively.
Windows 11 Voice Typing: The Built-in Free Option
Windows 11 includes a free voice dictation feature called Voice Typing that works in any text field across the operating system. It is the quickest way to start dictating on a Windows PC without installing additional software.
How to Set Up Voice Typing Step by Step
Follow these steps to activate and configure Voice Typing on your Windows 11 machine:
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Open any application where you can type text — Notepad, Word, your email client, a browser text field, or any other app with a text input area.
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Press Windows + H on your keyboard. A small floating toolbar with a microphone icon appears at the top of your screen.
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Click the microphone icon or wait for the “Listening…” indicator. Start speaking naturally, and your words appear as typed text.
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Say “Stop listening” or click the microphone icon again to pause dictation.
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Configure settings by clicking the gear icon on the Voice Typing toolbar:
- Enable auto-punctuation to let Windows automatically insert full stops, commas, and question marks based on your speech patterns
- Select your default microphone from the available audio devices
- Adjust the wait time before voice commands execute (a new feature rolling out in February 2026)
- Toggle the Voice Typing launcher for quicker access
Voice Typing Language Setup
If your preferred language is not ready for Voice Typing, you need to download the speech pack:
- Open Settings > Time & Language > Language & Region
- Click the three-dot menu next to your desired language
- Select Language Options
- Download Text-to-speech, Basic speech recognition, and Enhanced speech recognition packages
Voice Typing supports over 50 languages, including English (US, UK, Australia, India), French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and many more.
Voice Typing Limitations to Know
While Voice Typing is a solid free option, it comes with important limitations:
- Internet connection required — all speech processing happens on Microsoft’s cloud servers, meaning no offline capability
- Privacy considerations — your voice data is transmitted to Microsoft for processing
- Basic command set — limited to simple text editing commands like “Delete that” and “Select that”
- No custom vocabulary — you cannot train it on industry-specific terminology
- No voice profile — it does not learn your specific speech patterns over time
For casual dictation — emails, quick notes, search queries — Voice Typing is perfectly adequate. For professional workflows requiring privacy, accuracy, and advanced features, you will need something more robust.
Windows 11 Voice Access: Full PC Control by Voice
Voice Access is a separate, more powerful feature designed primarily for accessibility. Unlike Voice Typing, which only handles text dictation, Voice Access lets you control your entire Windows 11 PC using voice commands.
Setting Up Voice Access
- Navigate to Settings > Accessibility > Speech
- Toggle Voice Access to On
- The first time you enable it, Windows downloads the required speech model for your language (requires internet for this initial download only)
- Select your preferred microphone during the setup wizard
- Follow the optional interactive guide to learn basic commands
What Voice Access Can Do
Voice Access operates in three modes:
- Default Mode — seamlessly switches between voice commands and text dictation based on context
- Commands Mode — only recognises commands (opening apps, clicking elements, navigating) without transcribing your speech as text
- Dictation Mode — pure text input without command recognition, ideal when you need to dictate content that includes words like “open” or “click”
Key capabilities include:
- Opening, switching between, and closing applications
- Clicking buttons, links, and menu items by number overlays or element names
- Scrolling, zooming, and navigating web pages
- Composing and reading emails
- Complete mouse and keyboard emulation through voice commands
Voice Access vs Voice Typing: Which Should You Use?
| Feature | Voice Typing | Voice Access |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Text dictation | Full PC control + dictation |
| Activation | Windows + H | Settings > Accessibility |
| Internet required | Always | Only for initial setup |
| Offline capable | No | Yes (after language download) |
| Voice commands | Basic text editing | Complete PC control |
| Target users | General users | Accessibility users, power users |
| Auto-punctuation | Yes | Yes |
| Fluid Dictation | Copilot+ PCs only | Copilot+ PCs only |
For most users who want to dictate text efficiently, Voice Typing is simpler and quicker to activate. For users who need hands-free PC control — whether due to physical disabilities, repetitive strain injuries, or simply preferring voice-first workflows — Voice Access is the more comprehensive tool.
If you experience RSI or carpal tunnel syndrome, our guide on voice dictation for RSI recovery covers how voice-first workflows can reduce physical strain.
Dragon Professional: The Legacy Standard
For over two decades, Dragon NaturallySpeaking (now Dragon Professional) was the undisputed leader in desktop voice dictation. Understanding its current status helps Windows users make informed decisions about their dictation setup in 2026.
What Happened to Dragon
Nuance Communications, the company behind Dragon, was acquired by Microsoft in March 2022 for USD 19.7 billion. Since the acquisition:
- Dragon Professional v16 remains the latest consumer/professional version, originally released in 2021
- No significant updates have been released despite Microsoft’s massive investments in AI technology elsewhere
- Dragon for Mac was fully discontinued, leaving Mac users without any Dragon option
- Dragon Home (the affordable consumer version) is still technically available but has not received meaningful updates
- Microsoft’s focus has shifted toward enterprise healthcare dictation (DAX Copilot) rather than consumer products
Dragon Professional Pricing in 2026
Dragon Professional currently costs approximately:
- Perpetual licence: USD 699 (one-time purchase)
- Annual subscription: approximately USD 350-400 per year
- No free trial for the professional version
Compare that to affordable dictation alternatives under 10 dollars — the pricing gap is substantial for individual users and small teams.
Should You Still Choose Dragon?
Dragon Professional remains accurate and feature-rich, but there are concerns:
- Uncertain future — Microsoft has not announced plans for a Dragon v17 consumer release
- No AI improvements — despite the AI revolution, Dragon has not integrated modern large language models
- Windows-only — Mac support was discontinued years ago
- High cost — at USD 699, it is one of the most expensive dictation solutions available
- Legacy architecture — built before the modern era of transformer-based speech recognition
For existing Dragon users with established voice profiles and workflows, continuing to use Dragon Professional v16 is reasonable. For new users evaluating options in 2026, newer alternatives offer better value, modern AI, and cross-platform support.
Third-Party Dictation Software for Windows 11
Beyond Microsoft’s built-in features and Dragon, several third-party tools offer compelling voice dictation capabilities on Windows 11.
Cloud-Based Options
Otter.ai (USD 10-20/month) provides AI-powered transcription with meeting recording features. It excels at real-time meeting transcription but requires a constant internet connection and sends all audio to cloud servers.
Descript (USD 24/month) combines transcription with audio and video editing. It is more of a content creation platform than a pure dictation tool, and all processing happens in the cloud.
Voicy and Notta offer browser-based transcription with free tiers, but they share the same cloud-dependency and privacy limitations.
The common issue with cloud-based tools: your voice data — including confidential conversations, legal documents, medical notes, and private thoughts — is transmitted to and processed on third-party servers. For privacy-conscious users and professionals handling sensitive information, this creates unacceptable risk.
Weesper Neon Flow: Offline, Private, Professional
Weesper Neon Flow takes a fundamentally different approach to voice dictation on Windows 11. Instead of sending your audio to the cloud, it processes everything 100% locally on your device using advanced AI models based on whisper.cpp technology.
Key advantages for Windows users:
- Complete offline operation — dictate without internet, on planes, in secure facilities, anywhere
- Privacy by design — your voice data never leaves your device, making it ideal for confidential professional work
- 50+ languages supported with seamless switching for multilingual workflows
- Custom prompts for personalised dictation behaviour
- No recording limits — dictate for as long as you need
- Cross-platform — works on both Windows and macOS with the same subscription
Pricing: 5 euros per month with no commitment and a free 15-day trial. That makes it one of the most affordable professional dictation tools available — significantly cheaper than Dragon (USD 699), Otter.ai (USD 10-20/month), or Descript (USD 24/month).
Comparing All Windows 11 Dictation Options
Here is a comprehensive comparison to help you choose the right tool for your needs:
| Feature | Voice Typing | Voice Access | Dragon Pro v16 | Weesper Neon Flow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free | USD 699 | 5 euros/month |
| Offline | No | Yes* | Yes | Yes |
| Privacy | Cloud | Local | Local | Local |
| Languages | 50+ | 10+ | ~15 | 50+ |
| Custom vocabulary | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Voice profile | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| PC control | No | Yes | Limited | No |
| Auto-punctuation | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cross-platform | Windows only | Windows only | Windows only | Windows + macOS |
| Active development | Yes | Yes | Stalled | Yes |
| Internet required | Always | Initial setup | No | No |
*Voice Access works offline after the initial language model download.
Step-by-Step: Optimising Your Windows 11 Dictation Setup
Regardless of which tool you choose, these optimisation steps will improve your dictation accuracy on Windows 11.
Step 1: Configure Your Microphone
- Open Settings > System > Sound > Input
- Select your preferred microphone from the list
- Click Properties and verify the input volume is between 60-80%
- Disable Audio enhancements if you experience recognition issues
- Test your microphone using the Test your microphone feature
Recommendation: Use a dedicated USB headset microphone rather than your laptop’s built-in microphone. Upgrading from built-in to a quality headset typically improves accuracy by 25-40%.
Step 2: Optimise Your Audio Environment
- Choose a quiet space away from HVAC systems, fans, and traffic noise
- Add soft furnishings (rugs, curtains) to reduce echo in hard-surfaced rooms
- Close windows and doors during dedicated dictation sessions
- Position yourself consistently relative to your microphone
Step 3: Install Language Packs
For Voice Typing and Voice Access:
- Go to Settings > Time & Language > Language & Region
- Add your preferred dictation language if not already installed
- Open Language Options for that language
- Download all available speech recognition packages
- Set the language as your Windows display language or preferred language for input
Step 4: Practise Core Voice Commands
Learn these essential commands that work across most Windows dictation tools:
- “Delete that” — removes the last dictated phrase
- “Select that” — highlights the last dictated text
- “New line” or “Enter” — starts a new line
- “Period”, “Comma”, “Question mark” — inserts punctuation manually
- “Stop listening” — pauses dictation
Step 5: Build Your Workflow
Start with low-stakes content — emails, personal notes, quick messages — before tackling complex documents. As your accuracy and confidence grow, expand to professional content creation.
For a structured approach to building your dictation skills, see our comprehensive dictation accuracy improvement guide.
Tips for Professionals Switching from Dragon to Alternatives
If you are migrating away from Dragon Professional, here are practical transition strategies:
- Export your custom vocabulary from Dragon before switching — you can manually rebuild important terms in your new tool
- Expect a brief adjustment period — modern speech recognition uses different AI architectures, and your speaking habits may need slight adaptation
- Test multiple options — try Windows Voice Typing for basic needs and a tool like Weesper’s free trial for professional workflows during a test period
- Focus on what matters — if privacy and offline capability drove your Dragon choice, prioritise tools that maintain those features
- Consider cost savings — switching from Dragon (USD 699) to a modern alternative at 5 euros per month saves hundreds in the first year alone
Our detailed guide to choosing voice dictation software covers the full evaluation criteria for selecting your next tool.
Getting Started Today
Voice dictation on Windows 11 in 2026 offers more choice than ever before. The built-in Voice Typing and Voice Access features provide solid free starting points, whilst third-party tools deliver the professional capabilities that demanding workflows require.
Here is the fastest path to productive dictation:
- Try Voice Typing right now — press Windows + H and speak. Zero setup, zero cost. See if basic dictation meets your needs.
- Explore Voice Access if you want hands-free PC control beyond text dictation.
- Evaluate a professional tool if you need offline capability, privacy protection, or advanced accuracy.
Ready to experience professional-grade voice dictation that works offline, protects your privacy, and costs less than a coffee per month? Try Weesper Neon Flow free for 15 days — no credit card required, and your voice data never leaves your device.
Your voice is your fastest input device. It is time to put it to work on Windows 11.