This tutorial will show you how to change the speech recognition mode used to filter noise by Voice Access for your account in Windows 11.
Voice access in Windows 11 enables everyone, including people with mobility disabilities, to control their PC and author text using their voice. For example, you can open and switch between apps, browse the web, and read and author emails using your voice. Voice access uses modern, on-device speech recognition to accurately recognize speech and works even without the internet.
Starting with Windows 11 build 26220.8491 (Beta) and build 2630.8497 (Experimental) for Insiders, Microsoft is introducing Voice Isolation, a new option in Voice Access that helps it focus on your voice, even when others are speaking nearby. Whether you're in a shared office, an open floor plan, or at home with family around, Voice Isolation filters out other voices and background noise so Voice Access can better understand you. All processing happens privately on your device.
Voice Access now offers three speech recognition modes under Voice Access settings > Improve speech recognition:
- Voice Isolation — Filters out other speakers and background noise (one-time voice setup required).
- Remove background noise only — Filters out non-speech sounds like typing or door slams. No additional setup needed.
- No filtering — Default microphone input with no additional processing.
Contents
- Option One: Change Voice Access Speech Recognition Mode in Settings
- Option Two: Change Voice Access Speech Recognition Mode using REG file
1 Turn on Voice Access.
2 Click/tap on the Settings (gear) icon on the right side of the voice access toolbar at the top of the screen. (see screenshot below)
3 Click/tap on Improve speech recognition in the drop menu.
4 Select (dot) Voice isolation, Remove background noise only, or No filtering (default) for the filtering option you want to use.
Voice isolation doesn't appear to currently work yet. It only allows the set up process, and not selectable.
1 Do step 2 (Voice isolation), step 3 (Remove background noise only), or step 4 (no fiktering) below for which mode you want to use.
2 Use "Voice isolation" Speech Recognition Mode in Voice Access
This option doesn't appear to work yet.
3 Use "Remove background noise only" Speech Recognition Mode in Voice Access
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.
Voice_Access_remove_background_noise_only.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\VoiceAccess]
"NoiseFilteringMode"=dword:000000014 Use "No filtering" Speech Recognition Mode in Voice Access
This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.
Voice_Access_no_filtering_background_noise.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\VoiceAccess]
"NoiseFilteringMode"=dword:000000005 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
6 If you have Smart App Control turned on, you will need to unblock the downloaded REG file.
7 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
8 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
9 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
Last edited:
