Potok transcribes Russian speech; this site has been translated into English for convenience.
Voice input in Word with Win+H does not work for one of 4 reasons officially described by Microsoft: a microphone problem, the Dictate button being unavailable without a Microsoft 365 subscription or, in the web version, the browser having no microphone access. The quickest step is to check the microphone and the Microsoft 365 subscription. Potok (potok.now) is one of the options for dictation in Russian.
If in Word the Win+H shortcut does not start voice input or nothing happens at all, there may be several causes, from a simple microphone to a Microsoft 365 subscription. The quickest fix and the rarer cases are below.
What to check first if Win+H does not work in Word
According to Microsoft, for voice input in Word you should first check the microphone: make sure it is physically connected and working, and also that the input signal level is sufficient and it is not too noisy around. These are the first two items of Microsoft's official list of causes; the other two concern the subscription and the web version of Word. A similar microphone check is needed in other programs too, for example antivirus blocks the microphone.
| Symptom | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| The Win+H shortcut in Word does not start voice input or nothing happens | Officially described scenarios for dictation in Office: a microphone detection problem, the microphone does not hear, the Dictate button is unavailable without an active Microsoft 365 subscription, the browser or app has no microphone access (web version). | 1) check the physical connection and working order of the microphone; 2) move to a quiet place, adjust the input signal level; 3) check the Microsoft 365 subscription and the Windows version; 4) for the web version, close other apps that use the microphone, refresh the page and allow the browser access. |
Why voice input in Word does not work when using Win+H
Microsoft officially lists 4 scenarios in which voice input in Word with Win+H does not start: a problem detecting the microphone, the microphone physically not hearing speech, the Dictate button being unavailable without an active Microsoft 365 subscription, and, separately, in the web version of Word, the browser or app not being allowed microphone access. The first two scenarios are related to the microphone itself, the third to the type of Office license, and the fourth occurs only when working in a browser, not in the desktop app.
- Platforms
- Windows, macOS, Linux
- Free
- Free: 2500 words per week; full access for the first 14 days, no card needed
- Pro
- Pro 690 ₽/mo, 499 ₽/mo when paid yearly
- Payment
- Russian bank cards, rubles
- Where speech is recognized
- cloud, servers in Russia; internet required
Potok is a cloud service: speech is recognized on servers in Russia, and it does not work without the internet. Download: potok.now/download
Other official causes worth checking
If the microphone is fine, according to Microsoft there are 2 more official items to check.
- Subscription and version: the Dictate button is unavailable without an active Microsoft 365 subscription. Check whether the subscription is active and whether the Windows version is suitable.
- Web version of Word: close other apps that use the microphone, refresh the browser page and allow it microphone access. A similar check is covered on the page voice input in Yandex Browser does not work.
Where Potok will not replace built-in dictation in Word
If none of the four official items fit, the cause is something outside these four items. Potok is a cloud service, recognition runs on servers in Russia, and it does not work without the internet. If the built-in tool does not satisfy you in speed or quality in Russian, Potok can be one of the options instead of system dictation.
Frequently asked questions
No. According to Microsoft, the Dictate button in Word is unavailable without an active Microsoft 365 subscription. This is one of the 4 officially described scenarios in which Win+H voice input does not start.
Press Win+H in any text field to open the built-in dictation panel; for controlling the computer by voice there is a separate feature, Windows Speech Recognition (Win+Ctrl+S).
Yes, they have different shortcuts: Win+H opens Windows voice input, and Potok works on Ctrl+Space by default. For one phrase it is more convenient to use just one of them.
Since the built-in Win+H dictation on Windows 10 officially does not support Russian, a reasonable alternative is a separate app for voice input in Russian, for example Potok: it inserts text into the active field of any app, including on Windows 10.
No: voice typing with extended language support (including Russian) is a built-in feature of Windows 11 specifically, and it cannot be moved or installed on Windows 10 separately. Windows 10 has an older version of dictation with fewer languages (without Russian).
Microsoft names the typical causes: the microphone is not selected as the input device, apps have no access to the microphone, or the current language is not supported by voice typing. To check: Settings → System → Sound → Input; Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone; the input language (Win+Space). Voice typing also does not work if Online speech recognition is turned off in Settings → Privacy & security → Speech.
How to start
Potok is available for Windows, macOS and Linux. For two weeks everything is open for free, after that 2500 words per week without paying. Potok is a cloud service: speech is recognized on servers in Russia, and it does not work without the internet.
Download PotokExisting recordings are transcribed by Potok's Telegram bot @potok_now_bot: send a file or a YouTube, VK Video or RuTube link and the text arrives in the chat. The Potok subscription removes the limit in the bot too.
Built-in dictation and Potok
| Tool | Where it works | Russian language | Where speech is recognized |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows voice typing (Win+H) | Windows 10 and 11 | Windows 11 only | Microsoft cloud, does not work offline |
| macOS Dictation | macOS | yes | on the device or on Apple servers |
| Potok | Windows, macOS, Linux | primary language | cloud, servers in Russia, does not work offline |
Primary sources: support.microsoft.com · support.microsoft.com · support.apple.com