how to include my mic and voice input into all writing apps

Place the cursor in any editable text field and press Windows logo key + H—Windows 11 voice typing does not require the writing app itself to display a microphone icon.

Start dictating

1. Open Notes, Notepad, Word, an email, or another writing app.
2. Click where you want the text to appear. Voice typing starts only when the cursor is inside a text box.
3. Press Windows key + H.
4. Wait until the voice-typing panel says Listening…, then speak.
5. To stop, click the microphone on that panel or say “Stop listening.”

Windows voice typing works across editable text fields and requires an Internet connection and a working microphone.^1^

On a touchscreen, open the touch keyboard and select its Microphone button instead.

If Windows+H does not start listening

1. Open Start → Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone.
2. Turn on:
   • Microphone access
   • Let apps access your microphone
   • Let desktop apps access your microphone
3. If the writing app appears in the individual app list, enable it.^2^
4. Go to Settings → Privacy & security → Speech and turn on Online speech recognition. Voice typing uses online speech recognition.^3^
5. Return to a text field and press Windows+H again.

Test the microphone if no text appears

1. Open Settings → System → Sound.
2. Under Input, select the microphone you want to use.
3. Select Start test, speak normally, and then select Stop test.
4. Play the recorded sample and adjust Input volume if necessary.^4^

If Windows does not detect any microphone, check for a physical microphone-mute key or switch first. Then use Device Manager → Sound, video and game controllers to update the audio driver; driver reinstallation should be reserved for cases where the microphone remains completely undetected.^4^

Optional: control the whole PC by voice

For both dictation and voice commands, open Settings → Accessibility → Speech → Voice access. Unlike voice typing, Voice Access can also interact with applications and edit text, rather than only entering text into the active field.^5^

References

1. Use voice typing to talk instead of type on your PC
2. [Windows 11](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/privacy/turn-on-app-permissions-for-your-microphone-in-windows)
3. [Windows 11](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/privacy/speech-voice-activation-inking-typing-and-privacy#voice-typing)
4. [Windows 11](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/hardware/drivers/fix-microphone-problems)
5. Voice access frequently asked questions (FAQs) | Microsoft Support