If you’d prefer to speak your thoughts rather than type them, you’re in luck — Windows 11 includes a built-in dictation feature, also known as Voice Typing, that makes it easy to turn your speech into text.
This guide will walk you through enabling dictation in Windows 11, explain how it works, and introduce some alternative voice recognition programs for those looking for more accuracy, privacy or offline capability.
🎙️ What Is Windows 11 Voice Typing?
Voice Typing is Microsoft’s built-in speech-to-text tool that allows you to dictate instead of type. Whether you’re composing an email, writing a report or filling in a form, it’s a fast and hands-free way to get things done.
🛠️ How to Turn On Dictation in Windows 11
Using Voice Typing is straightforward:
- Click where you want the words to appear — this could be in Word, Notepad, an email, or any text box.
- Press Windows key + H on your keyboard.
- A microphone icon will appear. Click it or press the microphone key if your keyboard has one.
- Speak clearly at a natural pace. Your words will appear as you say them.
- To add punctuation, just say it aloud — for example:
“Hello comma how are you question mark”
When you’re finished, press Windows key + H again to stop.
There’s no special setup required, and most modern laptops and desktops have built-in microphones ready to use.
🔒 Privacy and Voice Typing
While convenient, it’s important to be aware of how the dictation feature works behind the scenes.
- Windows 11 sends your voice to Microsoft’s cloud servers for processing.
- This means an internet connection is required.
- According to Microsoft, your voice clips are not stored unless you choose to contribute to speech data improvement.
- However, this still involves your spoken words being sent across the internet.
If you’re concerned about privacy or working with sensitive information, this is an important consideration.
You can adjust these settings by going to:
Settings > Privacy & security > Speech
Here, you can turn Online speech recognition on or off.
🔄 Alternatives to Windows 11 Voice Typing
While Voice Typing is a great free tool, there are alternatives available for users who want better accuracy, offline functionality or enhanced control.
🐉 Dragon NaturallySpeaking (by Nuance)
Price: From around £100 (varies by version)
Offline use: ✅ Yes
Privacy: ✅ No internet connection required
Best for: Professionals, writers, anyone needing daily dictation
Dragon is widely regarded as the most accurate speech recognition software for Windows. Unlike Windows Voice Typing, it doesn’t rely on an internet connection. It works locally on your machine and adapts to your voice over time, offering unparalleled accuracy.
Advantages over Windows Voice Typing:
- Works completely offline
- Industry-leading accuracy
- Allows for voice commands, corrections and custom vocabulary
- Ideal for heavy users or professionals
Things to consider:
- It’s a paid program
- Requires a little learning to get the most from it
🧩 Microsoft Word Dictation (via Microsoft 365)
Price: Requires a Microsoft 365 subscription
Offline use: ❌ No — requires internet
Privacy: ⚠️ Cloud-based
Best for: Microsoft Word users who already have 365
If you already have Microsoft 365, the desktop version of Word includes a Dictate button on the toolbar. It’s similar to Voice Typing but with added features like auto-punctuation and support for editing commands.
Advantages over Windows Voice Typing:
- Integrated directly into Word
- Better punctuation handling
- Easy to access in your existing workflow
Drawbacks:
- Requires an active Microsoft 365 subscription
- Still uses cloud-based processing
🧾 In Summary
| Feature | Windows 11 Voice Typing | Dragon NaturallySpeaking | Microsoft Word Dictate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Works offline | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Privacy-friendly | ⚠️ Cloud-based | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Cloud-based |
| Ease of use | ✅ Very easy | ⚠️ Takes learning | ✅ Very easy |
| Best for… | Everyday users | Professionals, writers | Word users |
Using Voice Typing with LibreOffice
LibreOffice is a powerful and free alternative to Microsoft Office. If you’re using LibreOffice Writer for word processing, you can dictate directly into it using Windows 11’s Voice Typing feature — no special plugin or extension is required.
✅ To dictate in LibreOffice Writer:
- Open LibreOffice Writer.
- Click inside the document where you want your speech to be transcribed.
- Press Windows key + H to activate Voice Typing.
- Speak naturally and your words will appear in the document.
That’s it! You can dictate long passages of text, add punctuation by saying it aloud, and even move your cursor with the mouse while the microphone is still active.
📌 Tips for Better Results in LibreOffice:
- Speak clearly and at a natural pace.
- Say punctuation out loud (e.g. “full stop”, “new paragraph”).
- Make sure no other application has focus — Voice Typing sends input to wherever your cursor is active.
- If it doesn’t seem to work at first, make sure that:
- LibreOffice is the active window.
- Your microphone is not muted.
- Online speech recognition is enabled in Windows settings.
🧠 Final Thoughts
Windows 11 makes it easy for anyone to get started with voice typing, and for many users, it’s all you’ll ever need. It’s free, simple and effective for everyday use.
However, if you’re serious about using speech-to-text — whether for privacy, accuracy or offline access — then it’s worth exploring tools like Dragon NaturallySpeaking.
The right tool depends on how often you plan to use dictation and what level of control and privacy you require.
