How to dictate on Windows
Windows has dictation built in: put the cursor in a text box, press Windows key + H, and talk. Getting good results takes a little more than that, though. This guide covers the setup, the spoken commands Microsoft lists for English, practice sentences that expose weak spots quickly, what to check when nothing appears on screen, and what to do when you need dictation that works offline.
Before you start: three things the built-in dictation needs
- An internet connection. Microsoft states that the dictation built into Windows uses online speech recognition. Offline, it will not work.
- A working microphone. A laptop's built-in mic is fine to start; a headset near your mouth is better in an open office.
- A text field with the cursor in it. Dictation writes wherever the cursor is: Word, Outlook, a browser form, Notepad.
Start and stop dictation
- Click into the place where you want the text to go.
- Press Windows key + H on a keyboard, or tap the microphone button on the touch keyboard on a tablet.
- Wait until the bar shows "Listening...". Words spoken before that are not captured.
- Speak in full sentences at a normal pace.
- To finish, say "Stop listening", or click the microphone button on the bar.
A practical habit: press Windows key + H, glance at the bar for "Listening...", then start. Most "it missed my first words" complaints come from talking before that appears.
Settings worth changing first
Open the dictation bar and click the gear icon. Three options matter:
- Automatic punctuation: inserts punctuation based on how you speak. Turn it on if you do not want to say "comma" and "period" all day.
- Launcher: shows a small button in text boxes so you can start dictation without the shortcut.
- Default microphone: choose which microphone dictation uses. Set this explicitly if you switch between a headset and the laptop mic.
Commands for punctuation and editing (English)
| Say | Result |
|---|---|
| "period" or "full stop" | . |
| "comma" | , |
| "question mark" | ? |
| "new line" | Line break |
| "new paragraph" | Paragraph break |
| "delete that" or "scratch that" | Removes what you just said |
| "select that" | Selects the last dictated text |
| "undo that" | Undoes the last action |
| "press Enter", "press Tab" | Presses that key |
Commands depend on the language you dictate in, and on Windows 10 they work in US English only. More on spoken and automatic punctuation in how to dictate punctuation.
Practise with real sentences
Open Notepad and say these exactly as written, including the spoken commands. Each one tests something different.
- Commands and structure: "Hi Anna comma new line thanks for the quick reply period new paragraph I will send the draft tomorrow period". You should see a greeting line, a sentence, a blank line and another sentence.
- Numbers and names: "Please book two rooms at the Harbour Hotel in Antwerp from June 12 to June 15 for Kenji and Laura." Dates and surnames are the usual weak spots; note which ones need fixing.
- Correction on the fly: say "The total is 400 dollars", then "scratch that", then "The total is 450 dollars period". Only the second sentence should remain.
- Keys by voice: in a chat app, dictate a short message and finish with "press Enter" to send it.
If one category fails every time (for example, all surnames), that tells you what to type by hand and what to keep dictating. Improve dictation accuracy has more habits that help.
Using another language
Add a language in Settings > Time & language > Language & region, then switch the input language from the taskbar or with Windows key + Space before you press Windows key + H. The built-in dictation uses the selected input language, and voice commands vary by language, so "new line" may not work once you switch. If you write in two languages in the same message, see how to dictate in multiple languages.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Check this |
|---|---|
| The bar opens but never says "Listening..." | Internet connection, and online speech recognition in Privacy & security > Speech |
| "Listening..." shows, but no text appears | The default microphone in the gear menu; pick your actual device |
| First words are missing | Wait for "Listening..." before you speak |
| Commands are typed as words | Your input language; on Windows 10 commands work in US English only |
| Punctuation everywhere or nowhere | Toggle Automatic punctuation in the gear menu |
Still stuck? The full checklist is in Windows dictation not working.
When you need offline dictation on Windows
The common reasons people look beyond the built-in tool are working without internet, keeping audio on the computer, needing several languages in one sentence, or wanting one hold-to-talk key that works the same in every app. How to choose a dictation app for Windows lists what to check.
Voice Monkeys is one option. It runs on Windows 10 or 11 64-bit and recognizes speech on the PC itself, offline: you hold a key, speak and release, and the text appears at the cursor; a tap keeps listening until the next tap, and Esc cancels. The internet is needed once to download the speech model (about 640 MB), then only for the licence check and updates; no audio or text is sent. It recognizes 25 languages automatically, mixed in one sentence. The price is $25 once, with a 7-day free trial without a card. If the built-in dictation does what you need, there is no reason to switch; otherwise, download Voice Monkeys and run the same practice sentences.
Questions and answers
What is the shortcut for dictation on Windows?
Windows key + H. On a touch device you can also tap the microphone button on the touch keyboard.
Does the dictation built into Windows work offline?
No. Microsoft says it uses online speech recognition, so you need an internet connection. For offline dictation you need an app that recognizes speech on the computer.
How do I add punctuation when dictating on Windows?
Turn on Automatic punctuation in the gear menu of the dictation bar, or say marks such as "comma", "period" and "question mark".
How do I stop dictation?
Say "Stop listening" or click the microphone button on the bar.
Why do voice commands not work on my PC?
Commands depend on the dictation language. On Windows 10 they work in US English only.
Sources
- Microsoft: Speech, voice activation, inking, typing, and privacy (checked November 7, 2026)
- Microsoft: How to set up and test microphones in Windows (checked November 7, 2026)