May 05, 2025

Want to control your PC without even touching it? With Windows 11, you can. Whether your hands are full, you need accessibility support, or you just love tech that makes life easier, built-in voice control features let you navigate, type, and command your computer—all hands-free. In this guide, we’ll walk you through setting up and using voice access, as well as give you tips on other handy accessibility features like Narrator and Live Captions.^1 2

Step 1: Enable Windows voice recognition software

Ever wished your computer would just listen to you? Whether you’re balancing a coffee in one hand and a notebook in the other or need accessibility support, Windows voice recognition software has you covered. Just say, "Open File Explorer," and it appears.

Getting started is easy, and once it’s set up, you’ll be able to control your PC with simple commands. Here’s how to set up voice access:

• Open Settings: Click the Start menu, then select Settings.
• Go to Accessibility: Navigate to Accessibility > Speech.
• Enable voice access: Toggle the Off button to On to turn on voice access and follow the on-screen instructions to download the necessary components.
• Set up your microphone: Windows will guide you through configuring your microphone for the best experience.
• Train your PC: Use the tutorial provided to learn common commands and get comfortable with voice navigation.

Step 2: Navigate your PC with voice control software

Now that you’ve enabled voice access, let’s put it to use. You can control apps, dictate text, and even browse the web—all by speaking. Imagine needing to fire off a quick email. Instead of typing, you just say, "Dictate," and Windows converts your words into text instantly. Or maybe you need to open your web browser—just say, "Open Edge," and you're online in seconds. Voice access turns your PC into a voice-controlled assistant, making everything faster and more efficient.

To make the most of this feature, try these voice commands:

• Say Voice access wake up to start.
• Say Show numbers to see a numbered overlay on clickable page elements for easy navigation.
• Use Switch to [app name] to quickly move between open programs.
• Say Scroll down or Scroll up to browse web pages or documents hands-free.
• Dictate emails or documents with Start dictation, followed by your message.
• Use Correct [word] to fix mistakes without touching the keyboard.

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Step 3: Use Narrator for screen reading

If you ever wished your PC could read aloud to you while you multitask, Narrator is your answer. Narrator uses natural, human voices to read text on the screen aloud.² Picture yourself cooking and following an online recipe, but instead of constantly looking at the screen and scrolling through instructions, you let Narrator read the steps to you. Whether you have vision impairment or just want to reduce screen time, this feature is a lifesaver.

How to enable Narrator:

• Narrrator shortcut: Press Windows + Ctrl + Enter to turn Narrator on and off.
• Adjust settings: Go to Settings > Accessibility > Narrator to customize voice, speed, and verbosity.
• Use Narrator commands: Say "Read current page" or "Read next paragraph" for seamless screen reading.

Step 4: Use Live Captions for better accessibility

Sometimes, listening just isn’t an option—maybe you're in a noisy café trying to follow a tutorial or watching a late-night show without disturbing others. That’s where Live Captions come in.¹ They provide real-time subtitles for any audio playing on your PC, ensuring you never miss a word.

In video calls, Live Captions take accessibility a step further by transcribing what each participant is saying, so you can easily follow conversations—even in noisy environments. Windows 11 intelligently detects audio from your computer and generates captions across different apps, helping you stay engaged no matter the setting. Plus, with support for multiple languages, including English, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, and Danish, Live Captions make communication seamless for diverse users.

How to turn on Live Captions:

• Live Captions shortcut: Press Windows + Ctrl + L to instantly enable Live Captions.
• Customize the appearance: Click the settings icon in the Live Captions bar to change fonts, colors, or position.
• Use it with any app: Live Captions works across browsers, video players, and even video calls.

Take control of your PC, hands-free

Windows 11 makes hands-free computing easier than ever. Whether you're using voice access to dictate messages, Narrator to have content read to you, or Live Captions to follow video, these tools give you control—no keyboard or mouse required. Try them out today in Windows 11 and experience a smarter way to interact with your PC.