Note: You can use Voice access using your laptop's built-in microphone, but if you have trouble getting your commands recognised then switching to a USB microphone or headset can help. You will also need a USB microphone or headset if you use a desktop PC.
Short guide:
- Press the Windows key and U to open the Accessibility settings. Click on Speech.
- Click the toggle switch for Voice access to turn it on. Click Continue if you get a warning.
- The Voice access control bar should appear at the top of the screen. Click Yes, continue.
- Follow the setup routine then say âclick start guideâ to run the tutorial.
- Click the Microphone icon in the top-left corner to turn voice access on and off. Click the Settings icon in the top-right corner to access the options.
- Say âshow numbersâ to select an item by its number, or âshow gridâ to narrow down your selection through a series of smaller grids.
Before and after
This section takes you step-by-step through enabling and using Voice access in Windows 11, complete with pictures of the screen to help.
Find the Speech accessibility features
1. Open the Settings and click Accessibility on the left-hand side or press the Windows key and U to open the Accessibility settings. Click on Speech under Interaction.
Enable Voice access
2. Click the toggle switch for Voice access to turn it on. You may get a warning telling you that itâs designed to work in U.S. English. If so, click Continue.
Allow voice processing
3. The Voice access control bar should appear at the top of the screen. Click Yes, continue to allow Voice access to record and process your voice.
Follow the setup routine
4. Youâll now go through a short setup routine. Say âVoice access wake upâ then follow the instructions until youâre all set up.
Start the tutorial
5. You can start using Voice access now, but itâs a good idea to run through the welcome tutorial. Say âClick start guideâ to continue.
Finish the tutorial
6. Now follow the tutorial and learn how to use Voice access and its features.
Pausing and restarting Voice access
7. While Voice access is enabled you can click the microphone icon in the top-left corner to pause and restart voice processing.
Change the Voice access options
8. Click the Settings icon in the top-right corner to change the Voice access options or turn Voice access off.
Use numbers to select
9. If you have a screen with a lot of buttons, links or icons, you can say âShow numbersâ. Ever item you can interact with will have a numbered label attached. Say âclickâ followed by the number to click on that item, or âdouble-clickâ to double click on it.
Use the grid to select
10. Alternatively, say âshow gridâ to overlay a grid on the screen. Say the number of the box with the item you want to click in it, and youâll get a smaller grid, enabling you to select a smaller section of that area. Continue until you click on the item you want to click on.
Note: If this does not work it could be because your computer settings are managed by someone else (an IT department or administrator for example). If so, you will need to contact them to access these settings or for help.
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