Dictate / Windows / Voice typing offline
Does Windows voice typing work offline?
No. Voice typing, the Win + H panel, sends your voice to Microsoft's Azure speech service, so it needs the internet. Windows 11 does have one on-device option, Voice access; and dictation apps can run their own model on your PC.
Windows' speech features at a glance
From Microsoft's support pages, read October 2026.
| Voice typing (Win+H) | Voice access | Dictate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Needs internet | Yes, always | Only for setup | No |
| Where speech is processed | Online, by Azure Speech services | On-device, after a one-time language download | On your PC; the model comes with the app |
| Windows versions | 10 and 11 | Windows 11, version 22H2 and later | Windows 10 22H2 or Windows 11 (x64) |
| Made for | Typing by voice | Controlling the PC by voice | Typing by voice: hold a key, speak, release |
| Languages offline | None | 15 language variants | 21 European languages, auto-detected |
| Price | Free | Free | $49 once, lifetime license, no subscription |
Microsoft: “Use voice typing to talk instead of type on your PC”, “Speech, voice activation, inking, typing, and privacy”, “Set up voice access”.
How to check for yourself
- Turn Wi-Fi off, or unplug the network cable.
- Open Notepad, press Win + H and speak. Without a connection, voice typing has nothing to transcribe with.
- Try the same with any app that claims to work offline. If it still types what you say, the speech model is on your PC.
Typing offline, without Voice access
Voice access is a good tool if you want to run Windows by voice. If you only want to type by voice in whatever app you're in, a dictation app with a local model is simpler. Dictate is one: hold Right Ctrl, speak, release, and the text is pasted at your cursor. It understands 21 European languages, including Danish, Dutch, Polish and Swedish, which Voice access doesn't offer.
“Offline Dictation” in the Microsoft Store · 7 days free, then $49 once · Windows 10 (22H2) or 11 · 64-bit PC
More: offline dictation for Windows · a Wispr Flow alternative for Windows · voice access vs voice typing compared · what on-device dictation means.
Questions
Does Windows voice typing work offline?
No. Microsoft says voice typing (Windows logo key + H) “uses online speech recognition, which is powered by Azure Speech services”, so you need to be connected to the internet. On Windows 10, dictation likewise needs an internet connection.
Is there any offline speech recognition built into Windows?
Yes, Voice access on Windows 11, version 22H2 and later. After a one-time download of a language file it recognises speech on-device, in English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Chinese and Japanese (15 language variants). It is designed to control the whole PC by voice: dictation is one of its commands, alongside clicking, scrolling and opening apps.
What about fluid dictation on Copilot+ PCs?
Fluid dictation tidies grammar, punctuation and filler words with on-device language models, in English. Microsoft describes it as a voice typing feature on Copilot+ PCs; it doesn't say the speech recognition itself runs offline.
Is Windows voice typing private?
Your voice is sent to Microsoft to be transcribed, under its privacy statement. If you'd rather it never leaves your PC, use an on-device tool: Voice access, or a dictation app that runs its model locally, such as Dictate.