Speech, voice activation, inking, typing, and privacy

Summary

Your privacy is important to Microsoft. Windows 11 gives you control over how speech, voice activation, inking, and typing features collect and use data. This article explains what data is used and how to manage these settings.

Speech recognition

Windows 11 supports two types of speech recognition:

• Device‑based speech recognition: Processes your voice locally on your device. No voice data is sent to Microsoft.

• Online speech recognition: Uses Microsoft cloud‑based services for more accurate recognition. Voice data is sent to Microsoft only to provide the service and create text transcriptions. Microsoft does not store, sample, or listen to voice recordings without your permission.

For more info, see How does Microsoft protect my privacy while improving its speech recognition technology?

When online speech recognition is turned off, only device‑based features (such as Narrator) are available.
 

Turn online speech recognition on or off:

1. Select Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Speech.

2. Turn Online speech recognition to On or Off.

Voice typing

In Windows 11, Dictation is called voice typing. Voice typing converts speech to text using online speech recognition. Voice typing uses online speech recognition technologies to power its speech-to-text transcription service.

You can use voice typing without contributing voice clips. Contributing voice clips is optional and helps improve the service. For more info, see Learn more about Microsoft and your voice data.    

Start voice typing:

• Press Windows logo key + H, or

• Select the microphone on the touch keyboard.

Manage voice clip contribution:

1. Open voice typing (Windows logo key + H).

2. Select Settings.

3. Follow the links to start or stop contributing voice clips.

Voice activation

Voice activation lets supported apps respond to spoken keywords. Each app must request permission before listening for voice keywords or accessing the microphone.

When an app is listening, a microphone indicator appears on the taskbar.

Microsoft does not collect voice recordings on behalf of third‑party apps. Each app manages voice data according to its own privacy policy.
 

Change voice activation settings:

1. Select Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Voice activation.

2. Turn Let apps access voice activation services On or Off.

3. Expand the setting to control whether apps can activate when your device is locked.

4. Manage voice activation permissions for individual apps.

Inking and typing personalization

Windows 11 creates a custom word list from words you type or write to improve typing and inking accuracy. This list is associated with your Microsoft account and can be used across Microsoft products.
 

Turn off inking and typing personalization:

1. Select Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Inking & typing personalization.

2. Turn off Custom inking and typing word list.

Turning this off clears your custom word list.

Summary

Microsoft gives you control over how Windows 10 speech, voice activation, inking, and typing features collect and use data. This article explains how these features work and how to manage them.

Speech recognition

Windows 10 supports:

• Device‑based speech recognition: Processes your voice locally on your device. No voice data is sent to Microsoft.
   

• Online speech recognition: Uses Microsoft cloud‑based services for more accurate recognition. Voice data is sent to Microsoft only to provide the service and create text transcriptions. Microsoft does not store, sample, or listen to voice recordings without your permission.

When online speech recognition is turned off, Windows uses only device‑based speech recognition, and no voice data is sent to Microsoft.

Turn online speech recognition on or off:

1. Select Start > Settings > Privacy > Speech.

2. Turn Online speech recognition On or Off.
    

Contribute voice clips (if available)

Some versions of Windows 10 let you choose whether to contribute voice clips to improve speech recognition.

1. Go to Start > Settings > Privacy > Speech.

2. Under Help make online speech recognition better, choose:

   • Start contributing my voice clips, or

   • Stop contributing my voice clips.

     Note: If this option isn’t available, voice clips aren’t contributed.​​​​​​​

Voice activation

Voice activation allows supported apps to respond to spoken keywords. Apps must request permission before accessing the microphone or listening for keywords.

Voice activation can work even when your device is locked, depending on your settings and power state.
 

Change voice activation settings:

1. Select Start > Settings > Privacy > Voice activation.

2. Turn Allow apps to use voice activationOn or Off.

3. Turn Allow apps to use voice activation when this device is lockedOn or Off.

4. Manage voice activation permissions for individual apps.

Inking and typing personalization

Windows 10 collects commonly used words to improve typing and handwriting recognition. These words are stored in a custom word list associated with your account.
 

Turn off inking and typing personalization

1. Select Start > Settings > Privacy > Inking & typing personalization.

2. Under Getting to know you, turn the setting Off.

Turning this off clears your custom word list.