Are you ready to start dictating your documents and text using just your voice? Instead of offering separated dictation or speech-to-text capabilities, Windows 10 conveniently groups its voice commands underSpeech Recognition, which interprets the spoken word across the operating system for various tasks. We’ll teach you how to get everything ready, as well as how to enable speech-to-text in Windows 10, so you may start chatting away to your favorite OS and improve Windows’ “ear” for your voice.

Note:Speech recognition is only currently available in English, French, Italian, Spanish, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese.

Finding a mic

Before you start, you must be sure that you have the correct hardware for speech-to-text options. It’s easy to overlook this step as we assume that all devices come with built-in mics these days.

However, the issue here is quality. Built-in mics can work well for simple tasks, like Skype conversations or voice commands, but they can also cause distortion, especially with speech-to-text options. In the past, Microsoft has warned that its speech-recognition features are best suited forheadset microphonesthat interpret sounds with greater clarity and are less susceptible to ambient noise. If you really want to use speech recognition on Windows 10, you should get a quality headset that works well with your computer.

If you’re going to invest in hardware, you should do it as soon as possible. Once you train the speech features, it can be difficult to switch devices. Should you decide to buy a mic, follow these steps to verify Windows knows that you want it to be your primary microphone, even over previous mics:

Step 1:In the Windows search box, type “speech.” Doing so will bring up an option to go toSpeech Recognitionin the Control Panel. Select this. When the window opens, selectSet Up Microphoneto begin.

Step 2:Now, choose whether you are using a headset mic or a desktop mic and selectNext. Windows will give you some tips on mic placement, then ask you to read a sentence. Read the sentence into your mic, and selectNext(there’s no grade or test to pass).

Step 3:If everything worked well, your mic should now be set up. SelectFinishto complete the task.

Setting up speech recognition

With your mic ready, it’s time to start configuring your various speech-recognition capabilities. In Windows 10, this is a more seamless process than it has been in the past. These steps and tutorials will affect an array of Windows programs, but you may also want to ensure dictation is enabled in any writing apps that you prefer to use. Begin with the steps below.

Step 1:In the Windows 10 search box, type “speech,” and selectWindows Speech Recognitionin the results.

Step 2:SelectStart Speech Recognitionto begin. If Windows 10 still doesn’t recognize your mic, it will have you go through the mic setup steps again at this point, then begin the speech recognition setup.

Step 3:One of the choices in the setup process is whether to enable Document Reviewor not. This option tells Windows to look at your emails and documents in your search index and look at the words you frequently use. It can help with the recognition software, but it isn’t a necessary step, so choose what you feel comfortable with.

Step 4:Now decide whether you want speech-to-text to be activated with a keyboard or vocal command and clickNext. Use the reference sheet to familiarize yourself with commands you can make and continue through the other preferences. While Windows offers to print out the commands for you, you can easilyaccess them on Microsoft’s website by going here.

Step 5:Windows will also ask if you want to start speech recognition every time you start the computer. If you are using speech recognition for accessibility reasons, this may be an excellent mode to enable.

You should now be ready to go. You can enable or disable speech to text by pressing theCtrl + Windowskeys at any time.

Training your computer and more

You’re all set at this point to use speech-to-text with a variety of files within Windows Docs. But first, you might want to take the time to fine-tune Windows’ voice-recognition capabilities. With a little training, Microsoft’s latest software can learn your voice and process it to text with greater accuracy.

Step 1:Go to theEase of Accessmenu. Click onSpeech Recognition.

Step 2:SelectTrain Your Computer to Better Understand You.

Step 3:Windows will have you read out extended sequences of text, which will help it learn the particular quirks of your voice and intonation, allowing it to understand your voice better.

Near the bottom of the speech-recognition menu is the Speech Reference Card, which is a helpful tool. It provides a cheat sheet on controlling software programs verbally, for those new to voice commands. You can access the cheats in either a small side screen or a print-out.