Voice typing in Word – 3 ways
While creating a Word document, you can try voice typing in Word by simply dictating text without using the computer keyboard keys. For many users, voice typing in Word is a very useful and sought-after feature of a text editor.
In some cases, it is easier to type a test with your voice in Word than to use the usual classic keyboard typing method. For example, in the event that you want to give your fingers a rest, or for various reasons you are having difficulty with the usual input method. Voice typing in Word can help you with this.
Content:
- How to write in Word with your voice in Word for Microsoft 365
- Voice input Word online
- How to type with your voice in Word using the Windows 11 tool
- How to type in Word with your voice: a few tips
- Article Conclusions
- Voice typing in Word (video)
In fact, depending on your typing speed, you may be able to speak text faster than typing it on the keyboard. Plus, you don’t even need any extra hardware: your computer’s built-in or connected microphone will do just fine.
Voice typing in Word is great for sketching and drafting. This method is good for taking notes or just expressing your thoughts. Maybe you don’t like typing. There is no need for a keyboard when you can dictate whatever you need to enter text.
If you are using a Microsoft Word word processor on a Windows computer, you have several voice recognition options that you can use to type text with your voice in Word.
There are several ways to convert voice to text in Word:
- In the Word for Microsoft app or service
- Free in Word online on the web.
- Using the Windows voice input feature.
To type text by voice, the following conditions must be met:
- The computer must have an external microphone built into the laptop or connected to your device.
- A connected Internet connection is provided.
- Having a Microsoft 365 subscription to use the app of the same name on your computer.
- Your PC must be running Windows 11 to use the system tool if you don’t have a Microsoft subscription
In this guide, we will show you how to enable voice input in Word in several ways: using the built-in tools in Word for Microsoft 365 and Word Online, or using the Windows 11 system tool in the regular Microsoft Word editor.
How to write in Word with your voice in Word for Microsoft 365
This method works in Word for Microsoft 365, which you must have a subscription to. Regular versions of Microsoft Office do not have a dictation feature.
To use voice input in Word, you need a microphone and a network connection.
Enter text by voice in Word on a Windows PC as follows:
- Sign in to Microsoft 365 on your device.
- Place your mouse cursor where you want to start dictating.
- Go to the Home tab and click on the Dictate button.
- A window will appear at the bottom of the screen that says “Listen …” with an active microphone, because Word text dictation is already enabled.
- Start speaking clearly and at your normal pace so that the text appears on the screen.
You can stop voice input in Word at any time by clicking on the microphone button, after which it will become inactive. To continue voice recording in Word, click on the microphone icon again, it will say “Press the microphone to continue.”
Close the window at the bottom of the screen to finish working with text dictation.
Voice input Word online
You can use voice typing in Word for free in the online version of Microsoft Office. Not all users know that they have the opportunity to use free versions of office applications directly from the browser.
Despite the fact that these are somewhat truncated versions, their capabilities are enough in most cases. Web apps are available online from OneDrive cloud storage or Outlook.com email with a Microsoft account.
Do the following in Word online:
- First, make sure you have a microphone connected to your computer. It can be built into your laptop, or it can be an external microphone that you plug into your computer’s USB or audio jack.
- In Word Online, open a new blank document or an existing file that needs to be uploaded to the OneDrive cloud first.
- On the Home tab at the top right of the screen, click Dictate.
- In the message that opens, allow the use of your microphone by clicking on the “Allow” button. You can check the “Remember this decision” box so that the next time the microphone is used automatically.
- You will hear a beep and the dictation button will turn blue with a recording indicator in a floating window that you can move around the document. Word Voice Typing is ready to use and listens to you speak.
- Speak clearly and your voice is instantly converted to text in Word Online. The tool should decode whatever you say and print the text in the current document.
Say the punctuation aloud while you are dictating. You can also say “new line”. This will have the same effect as pressing the “Enter” key on the keyboard.
- When you’re done dictating, click the Dictate icon again. Then you will hear a beep, notifying you that voice typing in Word is disabled.
You can still type from the keyboard when voice typing in Word is enabled. But if you click outside the Word document window or switch to another program, then voice recording in Word is automatically disabled.
Click on the “Voice recorder settings” button (gear) to enter the settings. Here you can select the speech language, microphone, enable automatic punctuation, filter sensitive phrases.
How to type with your voice in Word using the Windows 11 tool
Now we will consider voice typing in Word on a computer running on the Windows 11 operating system without using third-party programs. Accessibility features in Windows 11 include voice input.
The integrated voice recognition service will work in any Windows application, including Microsoft Word. Windows Speech Recognition is not supported for Russian.
Do the following:
- Open the Word file, and then move the mouse cursor to the part of the document that you are currently editing.
- Switch the keyboard layout to Russian.
- Press the “Win” + “H” keys.
- A window will open at the bottom of the screen that says “Listening…”. This window can be moved anywhere on the computer screen.
- The instrument is ready to use, start speaking.
- After you finish typing, tap the microphone again to turn off voice dictation.
Voice typing is disabled by pressing any key on the keyboard, after opening another application window, or by clicking outside the window of the current Word document.
Click on the “Settings” (gear) icon in the voice recorder window to go to the settings. Here you can disable the voice input launcher, enable automatic punctuation, select the default microphone.
How to type in Word with your voice: a few tips
You must understand that the voice input tool does not work perfectly, often the typed text needs to be edited or corrected.
Be patient when trying this feature for the first time. Dictating text in Word takes practice, but it pays off—it’s best to read paragraphs from a book to learn how to hear your voice and see how typed text appears on the screen.
Try to pronounce punctuation marks in Word, for example, “period”, “comma”, “new line”, “new paragraph”. Keep in mind that not all punctuation marks are currently supported for voice input in Russian.
After saying “delete this”, the last spoken statement is removed from the text. Say “delete” to delete the last word you typed.
Article Conclusions
In some cases, while working with the Microsoft Word text editor, users need to know how to write text in Word by voice. With dictation, you can type text on the page of a Word document. There are several methods for voice typing using the built-in tools of the application or the Windows operating system, which can be used without the use of third-party software.