How to enable or disable voice recognition and access in Windows 11

Control how Windows 11. Listen to and understand your voice It has become essential, both for convenience and privacy. The system offers several different functions (local voice recognition, cloud services, voice dictation, voice access, and keyword activation), and each has its own settings and effects on the data collected.

Furthermore, Windows 11 integrates handwriting and typing customization options These settings also influence how your words are used to improve suggestions and recognition. This might all sound a bit confusing at first, but if you know where to look in Settings, it's very easy to turn what you want on or off and configure your device exactly the way you like it.

Privacy and speech recognition in Windows 11

The foundation of the entire Windows 11 voice system is respect for your privacyMicrosoft offers clear controls so you can decide whether you want to use local speech recognition (on the device itself), cloud-based speech recognition, or a combination of both. The idea is that you always have the final say on how your recordings are processed.

When you use cloud-based voice technologiesYour words are converted into text on Microsoft's servers to provide more accurate transcription and advanced services (such as improved dictation or some assistants). In these cases, the company may collect voice clips, but states that it will not store, generate additional samples, or listen to recordings without your explicit consent.

If you prefer to keep your voice data on your deviceYou can rely solely on the device's voice recognition. This method still allows for practical features like Narrator or some voice control options, but without sending audio to the cloud. In return, the recognition may be slightly less accurate than that which relies on Microsoft's servers.

The goal of Windows in collecting voice or typing data It's about improving the system's ability to understand you better over time: adapting suggestions, understanding your speech patterns, your proper names, and your writing style. Even so, you can adjust or disable all these options at any time from Settings, without ever losing control.

Types of speech recognition in Windows: local and cloud-based

In Windows, two major voice recognition models coexist.On-device recognition and online (cloud-based) voice recognition. Understanding the difference helps you decide what to enable or disable in each case.

Local voice recognition It works directly on your computer, without needing an internet connection to process the voice. It's the same technology used, for example, in applications like Narrator or the older Windows Speech Recognition (WSR) in versions where it's still available. The main advantage is that the audio isn't sent to Microsoft's servers.

Cloud-based voice recognition It leverages Microsoft's infrastructure to provide faster and more accurate transcription. This method is used for many modern features, including voice dictation in Windows 11 and some advanced voice experiences. By sending voice data to the cloud, the system can learn more complex patterns and better recognize different accents and intonations.

When you disable online voice recognitionCloud-based services will stop using your recordings, but device-based features will continue to function. This means you can still use tools like Narrator or certain voice apps without sharing audio with Microsoft.

In shared work or work environments It might be interesting to combine both options: take advantage of cloud recognition for intensive dictation when high precision is needed, and at the same time, limit voice activation of certain apps or disable the sending of training clips if you are concerned about privacy.

Voice dictation in Windows 11: how it works and how to control it

In Windows 11, the old "Dictation" feature has been revamped and is now called voice dictation.Although the name has changed, the idea is simple: you speak into the microphone and the system transforms your words into text in any application where you can type.Wordbrowser, email apps, etc.).

Voice dictation in Windows 11 uses online recognition technologiesThat is, it uses the Microsoft cloud to process your voiceThe improvement over older systems is noticeable in the accuracy and speed of transcription, especially if you have a good microphone and a stable connection.

To start using voice dictation You can do it in two very quick ways:

• By pressing the Windows logo key + H on your physical keyboard.
• Selecting the microphone button on the touch keyboard if you are on a device with a touch screen.

When you open the voice dictation panel, you'll see a microphone button.When you click it, Windows starts listening, and anything you say will be converted into text in the field or document where your cursor is located. Simply click the button again or close the panel to stop dictating.

If you do not want your voice clips to be used to improve the serviceYou can change that preference in the specific voice dictation settings. In those adjustments You can also control options related to the handling of recordings and the privacy of your dictation. This choice does not affect your ability to continue using dictation: you can still dictate, you will only be opting out of having your recordings used as training material for recognition models.

Enable or disable voice clip contributions in dictation

Windows 11 lets you decide whether or not you want to collaborate with voice clips to improve the accuracy of voice dictation. This is one of the key aspects of privacy: you decide whether your audio recordings are used, in addition to transcription, as an anonymous sample to train the models.

If you use a keyboard of hardwareYou can adjust this option as follows:

1. Open voice dictation with the Windows + H keys.
2. In the panel that appears, select Configuration.
3. Inside, choose if you want Start contributing voice clips o stop contributing, following the instructions shown on the screen.

If you work with the touch keyboardThe process is very similar:

1. On the touch keyboard, tap the microphone button to open voice dictation.
2. Press on Configuration.
3. Under the "Help us improve voice dictation" option, select if you wish Get Started o stop contributing with voice clips.

Changing these settings does not lose access to the dictation function.You simply define whether your recordings are collected for that additional training purpose. It's a way to balance service improvement with the protection of personal data, something highly valued in professional or educational settings.

Please note that these settings are reversible.If at any point you decide you are interested in collaborating to improve recognition in your language or accentYou can enable clip contributions. And if you change your mind, simply disable the option again from the same panel.

Voice activation: keywords and assistants in Windows 11

Beyond dictation, Windows 11 includes voice activation.A function that allows certain applications to wake up and act upon recognizing a specific keyword. Let's think about attendees such as Cortana or third-party solutions Alexa: when the activation word is said, the system reacts.

When you authorize an app to use voice activationWindows continuously listens to the microphone, searching for that specific keyword (for example, the assistant's name). As soon as it detects it, the application gains access to the audio you've spoken from that point onward in order to process the command and respond.

These applications can send the voice recording to their own cloud services.This is especially important for recognizing complex commands or interacting with external services (reminders, home automation, calendar, etc.). Each app must ask for permission to use the microphone, and if you don't grant it, voice activation won't work for that application.

Microsoft makes it clear that it does not collect voice recordings on behalf of third-party apps.If an assistant developed by another company uses your recordings to improve its service, that data collection is governed by the developer's privacy policy, not Windows'. That's why it's important to review the privacy statement of every assistant you install.

In Windows 11 you will see a microphone icon in the taskbar When an assistant is ready to be activated by a keyword, the information in the taskbar will change to indicate which voice app is currently running (for example, showing that Cortana is active).

Voice activation with the device locked and behavior according to the sleep mode

Voice activation is not limited to when you are using the PC with the screen on.Depending on how you have sleep configured and the type of device (laptop, tablet or all-in-one), the voice assistant may continue to respond even with the screen off or the device locked.

When you allow voice activation to work with the device lockedAnyone near the computer can say the keyword to activate the assistant, provided they have access to the same set of functions and information as you do. This can be useful in home environments, but it might not be ideal in shared offices.

En portable and tablets, if the device is configured to go into sleep mode after a period of inactivity And since voice activation is available "when the screen is on" (typical setting), the assistant will stop responding as soon as the device goes to sleep. In other words, it won't listen while the device is in sleep mode.

If the laptop or tablet never goes into sleep mode And if you have voice activation set to "when connected," the voice assistant will continue to respond as long as the device is plugged in. In this case, even if the screen turns off, the assistant can still listen for the keyword.

In all-in-one computers The behavior is similar, with some nuances. When the system is configured to go to sleep after a certain time and voice activation only works "when the screen is on," the assistant will deactivate when it goes to sleep. If the all-in-one is configured never to go to sleep and voice activation is available "when plugged in" (usually the default), the assistant will always respond as long as the device is plugged in.

There are certain important exceptions. to these general behaviors:

• If your laptop or tablet is in battery saving mode, the voice assistant will not respond, even if voice activation is enabled.
• If the device includes a built-in assistant with hardware keyword detection (like some models with Alexa or Cortana), the assistant may always be able to respond and even wake the device from sleep, whether it's on battery or plugged in.

Voice access in Windows 11 and WSR replacement

In the most recent versions of Windows 11 (22H2 and later)The classic Windows Speech Recognition (WSR) feature has been replaced by a more comprehensive experience called Voice Access. WSR is still available in earlier versions of the system, but in modern editions, Voice Access is the recommended option.

Voice access goes beyond converting speech to textIt's designed so you can control virtually all the equipment using commands Voice commands, from opening applications to navigating windows, selecting text, or activating buttons. It's a particularly useful tool for accessibility and for those who prefer to minimize their use of the keyboard and mouse.

Microsoft provides specific documentation on how to use voice access. to control your PC and compose text using only your voice. This guide will show you the available commands. Tricks for moving the cursor, ways to select and edit, and advanced modes of interaction with applications.

If you were used to the old WSRThe change may require a short period of adjustment, but in the medium term voice access offers more possibilities and deeper integration with Windows 11, taking advantage of all the recognition and interface improvements of the latest versions of the operating system.

Enable or disable voice access in Windows 11

To fully control when voice access is activeWindows 11 offers several ways to turn it on and off, depending on what suits you best: with keyboard shortcuts, from Settings, directly in the voice access toolbar, or even on the login screen.

One of the quickest ways to activate or deactivate voice access It's done using a key combination. Depending on your keyboard layout and configuration, you can use shortcuts like Windows + Ctrl + S or other shortcuts defined in the dedicated voice access guide. These shortcuts allow you to activate or pause voice listening in a matter of seconds without having to open menus.

You can also control it from Windows 11 SettingsYou will usually need to navigate to:

• Home > Settings > Accessibility > Voice

Once inside, you will find the option to enable or disable voice access, as well as other parameters related to the voice control experience.

On the login screen (before entering your password or PIN) You can also enable or disable voice access. This option is useful if you want to be able to control your PC with your voice from the moment you turn it on, or if you prefer to keep it locked until after you log in for security reasons.

Finally, the voice access toolbar itself. It gives you direct control over its status. From that small floating interface, you can disconnect voice access with a click when you don't need it, adjust certain quick parameters, and reactivate it in a matter of seconds when you want to continue controlling the device with your voice.

Microphone and volume settings for better recognition

For any voice recognition system to work welland After installing Windows 11, there is no sound. The first step is to have a properly configured microphone. Windows 11 includes a wizard to add, test, and adjust your microphone so that dictation, voice access, and password activation services can hear you clearly.

In modern equipment, it is common to find "Microsoft Array" or other microphone arrays.These arrays are designed to capture sound from multiple directions and reduce background noise. Adjusting the volume of these arrays is key: if the level is too low, the system won't understand your commands; if it's too high, it will pick up a lot of ambient noise.

From Windows Sound Settings You can select your main microphone, check the input levels while you speak, and adjust the sensitivity until you find the point where your voice is heard clearly without distortion. Experimenting for a few minutes with different levels makes a big difference in subsequent recognition.

If you're going to frequently use voice access or dictationIt's a good idea to invest in a headset microphone or noise-canceling headphones. These devices reduce ambient noise, resulting in fewer errors when transcribing or recognizing commands, especially if you work in noisy environments.

Customization of handwriting input and keyboard typing

In addition to voice, Windows 11 learns from how you type with the keyboard and with a stylus. to offer you more accurate suggestions. The system builds a personalized word list with uncommon terms you use (such as proper nouns, acronyms from your work, brands, etc.), associated with your user account.

That custom list syncs with other Microsoft products When you sign in to your account, suggestions and recognition remain consistent across different devices. For example, if you frequently use the same term on your laptop, it's more likely to appear as a suggestion on your tablet.

If you don't want Windows to keep learning from your typing style Or if you prefer to completely delete that word list, you can disable personalization and clear the stored data. The procedure is very similar in Windows 10 and Windows 11, although the menu paths are slightly different.

In Windows 10To disable handwriting and typing customization, you must go to:

• Home > Settings > Privacy > Handwriting and typing customization

Within that section, look for the "Get Familiarized" section and change the option to DisabledThis stops the system from collecting new words and allows you to delete those that have already been stored.

In Windows 11The route has changed slightly. You should head towards:

• Home > Settings > Privacy and security > Customize handwriting and keyboard input

There you'll see an option called something similar to Custom handwritten and keyboard input word listIf you disable it, the system stops using and updating that custom list, and you can proceed to delete it if you want to start from scratch.

Setting up and using Classic Voice Recognition (WSR)

Although voice access has replaced Windows Speech Recognition (WSR) in modern versionsOn computers with older operating system versions, you may still find WSR available. This component allowed you to control the PC with specific commands and dictate text using an initial setup wizard.

The WSR setup wizard guided you step by step to prepare the microphone, adjust the voice recognition to your voice, and complete a short training session. During the process, after choosing the initial options, you had to press on Next and follow the instructions that appeared on the screen.

Once the initial setup is completeThe system offered you the option of a more extensive tutorial. From the wizard window, you could click on Start tutorial to practice commands and see interactive examples, or choose Skip tutorial If you preferred to explore the features on your own, you could then start using classic voice recognition.

In addition to basic recognitionWSR had a long list of commands for navigating documents, selecting text, deleting phrases and paragraphs, and changing uppercase and lowercase letters. Many of these commands still exist conceptually in modern voice access and functions, although in some cases with different syntax or names.