How to use Dictation in Windows with any app

Hey Heroes!

Sometimes it is easier to speak than to write. And for these occasions, Microsoft Windows gives us the Dictation tool, also known as Microsoft Speech Services. With this tool, we can dictate everything that we want to say into any app or program where we would normally write text. This tool natively uses Microsoft Speech services to translate our voice into written text, depending on the language that we have set for our keyboard.

This means that if you have more than one keyboard language, whatever language is selected at the moment where you start your dictation will be the language that Microsoft will recognize. If you’re like me and you have more than one language set up (let’s say English, Portuguese, or Spanish), then you need to be very mindful when you start dictating to make sure that you’re speaking in the same language that your keyboard is set. Otherwise, the dictation tool will not be able to recognize what you’re saying.

To use the dictation tool, all you have to do is press ⊞ Win + H (Windows Key + H). It will open up the MS Dictation tool and you can then just click on the microphone and start speaking (again, make sure the language of the keyboard is set to the same one you are speaking with)

You can choose to enable auto punctuation as well, and there is also this list of commands that you can use to make your writing better. The more you use the dictation tool, the more Windows will be able to recognize your voice and your speech pattern and get better at typing your spoken words with fewer mistakes.

Links: Windows Speech Recognition Commands

You can watch a quick video on how to use it on my YouTube here.

Also, note that MS Word 365 has a Dictate feature, that you can use on any device when using MS Word 365. In this tool, you can also select the spoken language to improve accuracy.

Happy dictating! 😊 Did you find this useful and easy to do?