Dictating text into edit fields on Windows

By Prateek Dujari., 14 April, 2026

Forum
Windows

Hi, I’m completely blind and use jaws and occasionally narrator screen readers on my Windows 11 PC. I want to be able to dictate text into edit fields on Microsoft apps as well as third-party apps. For example, dictate text into an open word document, into the subject line or the email body while composing an email in Outlook, field for searching on Spotify, the edit prompt field on the ChatGPT app, etc. How can I do this please? Thanks!

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Comments

By Brian on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 - 17:35

Regardless of screen reader software, anytime you're in a text field, just press the Windows key + H. You may be presented with a permissions dialogue the first time you use it, but otherwise this is how you dictate in Windows 11.

HTH.

By Maldalain on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 - 18:24

If you use NVDA, there are few ad-ons that can do that, and they are very good.

By Brian on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 - 04:13

Yes, Windows key + H is the dictation hotkey for Windows 11.

How to start voice typing

To use voice typing, you'll need to be connected to the internet, have a working microphone, and have your cursor in a text box.

Once you turn on voice typing, it will start listening automatically. Wait for the "Listening..." alert before you start speaking.

To turn on voice typing:

ā–Ŗ   Press Windows  key+H on a hardware keyboard.

ā–Ŗ   Press the Microphone button on the touch keyboard.

To stop voice typing:

ā–Ŗ   Say a voice typing command like "Stop listening".

ā–Ŗ   Press the microphone button on the voice typing menu.

Notes:  ā–Ŗ Press Windows  key+Alt+H to navigate through the voice typing menu with your keyboard.

ā–Ŗ   Echo cancellation ensures Voice Typing listens only to your voice. It automatically suppresses audio coming from your speakers, such as Narrator or app playback so your dictated text stays clean, accurate, and free from unintended echoes. 

Source:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/use-voice-typing-to-talk-instead-of-type-on-your-pc-fec94565-c4bd-329d-e59a-af033fa5689f

Note: ignore the part on that page about downloading a dictation language. If you have Windows 11 installed, you likely already have the dictation language installed as well.