Windows 11 delivers a lot of accessibility features to help users with different needs and situations interact with their devices. One such feature is Windows 11 voice access, which lets you control your PC entirely using your voice. You can do everything from opening apps and files to writing text with your voice through this feature, but you first have to set it up and learn the key commands.
This guide shows how to use voice access in Windows 11.
How to Set Up Voice Access Windows 11
We’ll begin with a look at how to enable the feature and configure Windows 11 voice access for best results.
Step 1. Open the Settings menu. A quick way to do this is by pressing “Windows” and “I” together, or you can use the Start menu shortcut.
Step 2. Go to “Accessibility” and then select “Speech.”
Step 3. Toggle “Voice access” on and you should immediately see a new bar at the top of the screen, asking if you want to set up voice access. Click “Yes, continue.”
Step 4. In the pop-up window, select your microphone to proceed with setup, or click on “Add new microphone” if you want to use a different one.
Step 5. Once you’ve selected your mic, you can press “Done” to exit the setup. Or click on the “Start Guide” to learn more about how voice access works.
How to Use Voice Access in Windows 11: Commands and Tips
Next, let’s look at some of the main voice commands you can use with Windows 11 voice access to carry out various tasks on your computer.
You can say “Click” and then whatever you want to click on to select different items, apps, and files. It’s just like moving a mouse around, but without having to manually do so. If there are lots of clickable items on the screen, say “show numbers here.” A series of numbers will then appear next to all clickable items, and you can simply say “Click X,” where “X” is the number next to the item you want to select.
Controlling the Cursor
Say “show grid here” at any time to make a grid appear over a window or the entire screen. Then you can say a number from the grid to focus the cursor in that particular area, and continue this process to pinpoint what you want to click on. When your cursor is in the place you want, you can just say “Click” to select something.
Dictating Text
One of the best features of voice access is using your voice to type out texts or edit text. You’ll need to first select a text box or place where you can type. Then say the words you want to type in. You can use additional commands, like “select that” or “delete that” to select or delete what you just wrote, respectively.
Helpful Voice Access Windows 11 Tips
- Try to keep background noise to a minimum so the PC can hear and understand you clearly.
- Click the question mark icon in the top-right at any time to get help or a list of commands.
- Speak as clearly as possible and enunciate each word.
- Switch to a different mic if your chosen one isn’t working properly or well.
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