Accessibility Turn On or Off Voice Access in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off voice access for your account in Windows 11.

Voice access is a new experience starting with Windows 11 build 22518 that enables everyone, including people with mobility disabilities, to control their PC and author text using only their voice and without an internet connection. For example, you can open and switch between apps, browse the web, and read and author email using your voice.

Voice access is currently available in the English language in the following dialects - English - US, English - UK, English - India, English - New Zealand, English - Canada, English - Australia. The first time you launch voice access it will check if your display language is something that is supported. If yes, you can continue with the setup experience. If it identifies that your display language is not in the supported list of languages, it will still give you the option to launch voice access, but in English (US). You can either choose to proceed at this point or turn off voice access.

Voice access includes an interactive guide that explains how to complete common tasks using your voice. In addition to the interactive guide, you can access a complete list of commands by asking “what can I say?” when voice access is listening. You can also access the complete set of voice access commands.

You can choose to auto start voice access the next time you sign-in to your PC in settings. You can also use voice commands or keyboard shortcuts (Alt + Shift + C and Alt + Shift + B) to control whether voice access is listening or not listening.

Voice access gives real-time feedback of what voice access heard so that you know which word was not recognized correctly.

You can navigate and interact with Windows, including opening and switching applications using your voice. You can also emulate your standard inputs like keyboard and mouse via voice.

Starting with Windows 11 build 22631.3235, you can now use all voice access features on multiple displays, including number and grid overlays which were previously unavailable on any display other than the primary one. The grid overlay feature has been further developed to allow you to not only interact with the screen you are currently using, but also quickly switch to another display. You can also use the drag and drop feature to move files, apps, and documents from one display to another.

Starting with Windows 11 build 22631.4112, Microsoft is making improvements for the spelling and corrections experience in voice access. You will now be able to use the experience for the entirety of voice access session. The spelling experience will now enable you to dictate the characters at a faster speed and offer more editing flexibility inside the experience with dictation commands, namely selection, deletion and text navigation commands.

References:

When you turn on voice activation, it runs the C:\Windows\System32\VoiceAccess.exe application file.

When you turn on voice access for the first time, you will need to set up voice access.

Windows 11 is transitioning from Windows Speech Recognition (WSR) to voice access. WSR is being deprecated. A dialog will pop up when WSR is opened directing you to try voice access and Microsoft has also added a banner under Settings > Accessibility > Speech as well. Voice access, is Microsoft's new assistive technology in Windows 11, uses on-device speech recognition, enabling control of your PC and authoring text without an internet connection. It will support multiple languages and custom commands in a future update (these features are now available for Windows Insiders to try in the Dev and Beta Channels). Microsoft recommends WSR users try and start using voice access today.

EXAMPLE: Voice access in the listening state

This option is only available starting with Windows 11 build 26058 (Canary and Dev).

1 Press the Win + Ctrl + S keys to toggle Voice Access on and off.

This option is only available starting with Windows 11 build 23506 (Dev) and build 22631.2050 (Beta), and build 25931 (Canary).

1 While on the Sign-in screen with your account selected, click/tap on the Accessibility icon. (see screenshot below)

2 Turn On or Off (default) Voice access for what you want.

This option is only available starting with Windows 11 build 26100.4202 (24H2).

1 Open Quick Settings (Win+A).

2 Click/tap on the Accessibility button. (see screenshot below)


3 Turn On or Off (default) Voice access for what you want.






1 Open Settings (Win+I).

2 Click/tap on Accessibility on the left side, and click/tap on Speech on the right side. (see screenshot below)



3 Turn On or Off (default) Voice access for what you want. (see screenshot below)


4 You can now close Settings if you like.





1 Click/tap on the Settings (gear) icon on the voice access toolbar at the top of the screen. (see screenshot below)

2 Click/tap on Turn off voice access.




That's it,
Shawn Brink