ms word transcribe upload audio not working

Syed Naqvi 0 Reputation points
2026-11-10T00:26:34.16+00:00

when i open a blank word document and go to dictate and click transcribe then click 'upload audio' it does nothing. i used to be able to upload files and get a transcription but it does not work anymore. when i go to web ms word it works. i tried the solution of repairing my MS 365 it took a while to repair but it still hasn't fixed the original problem. i have checked all my drivers and software. everything is up to date.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows
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  1. AI answer

    2026-11-10T00:29:20.76+00:00

    Use Word for the web for now, because the inactive Upload audio button matches a newly reported Word for Windows desktop issue while web transcription continues to work.^1^

    Immediate workaround

    1. Open Word for the web in Microsoft Edge or Chrome.
    2. Sign in with the same Microsoft 365 account.
    3. Select Home → Dictate ▼ → Transcribe → Upload audio.
    4. Select the recording and leave the Transcribe pane open while it processes.

    Word supports .wav, .mp4, .m4a, and .mp3; uploaded recordings are stored in the Transcribed Files folder in OneDrive.^2^

    What this indicates

    Because:

    • the desktop button does nothing before a file picker appears,
    • the same account and files work in Word for the web, and
    • Office repair and updates have already made no difference,

    this is not an audio-driver or individual recording-format problem. Do not repeat the Office repair or driver checks.

    There are two remaining possibilities:

    1. A current Word desktop regression. Recent reports describe the same Windows symptom, although Microsoft’s public Word known-issues page does not currently list it.^1^^3^
    2. Desktop eligibility for the account. Microsoft’s current documentation lists Word for Windows Transcribe as available for Microsoft 365 on Windows in commercial tenants, while the web version has separate availability. Since it previously worked with your home subscription, this note alone does not establish that Microsoft intentionally removed access; Microsoft Support would need to verify the entitlement.^2^

    Report and escalate it

    In Word, use File → Feedback and include:

    • “Transcribe → Upload audio does not open the file picker.”
    • Word for the web works with the same account and file.
    • Office repair and all available updates are already complete.
    • Your Microsoft 365 subscription type.
    • File → Account → About Word version and build.
    • The approximate time and time zone when you reproduced it.

    Also open the Windows Get Help app, request Microsoft 365/Word support, and ask them to determine whether the desktop feature is unavailable for your subscription or whether your installation is affected by the current desktop issue. Continue using Word for the web until Microsoft confirms an entitlement change or ships a desktop fix.

    References

    1. MS Word Transcribe feature no longer opens the file picker to upload an ...
    2. Transcribe your recordings | Microsoft Support
    3. Fixes or workarounds for recent issues in Word for Windows
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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    4 people found this answer helpful.
  2. Norah-L 13,570 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-11-10T05:27:32.5766667+00:00

    Hello Syed Naqvi,

    This issue is currently affecting multiple Word users. Similar reports describe the same behavior, where Upload audio does nothing in the desktop app but continues to work in Word for the web. Some users have reported that the issue has been submitted to Microsoft and is under investigation.

    Since Office repair and updates have not helped, there may not be much more you can do from your side at the moment. However, one suggested workaround you can try is to widen the Transcribe pane before selecting Upload audio.

    If that does not help, please continue using Word for the web temporarily. You can also report the issue from Word through Help → Feedback or File → Feedback as AI answer suggested and include your Word version and build number. This sends reports to the relevant product team for further investigation.

    Since this is a user-to-user forum, we can share suggestions based on available information and personal experience, but we cannot access or inspect Microsoft’s backend systems.

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    10+ people found this answer helpful.

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