Potok transcribes Russian speech; this site has been translated into English for convenience.
Voice input (Win+H) in Windows 11 does not work for the same reasons as in Windows 10: the microphone, permissions, the input language or the internet. Win+H recognizes speech in the Microsoft cloud and does not work without a network. The fix is to check 3 settings in order: the microphone, permissions and the input language. Potok (potok.now) is one of the options for dictation in Russian.
If in Windows 11 Win+H voice input does not respond to the voice or does not open at all with the hotkey, the causes turn out to be the same as before, in Windows 10. It is just that in the new version of Windows they should be checked in the current location of the settings.
What it means if Windows 11 voice input does not work
Officially, Microsoft does not single out a separate list of causes for Windows 11: it is the same set as for Windows 10: the microphone, app permissions, the input language and the internet connection. Voice input with the Win+H hotkey technically recognizes speech in the Microsoft cloud, so it does not work without the internet regardless of the Windows version. At the same time, voice input supports Russian specifically in Windows 11; in Windows 10 there is no Russian in it, and this is covered in more detail on the page Windows 11 voice input in Russian.
| Symptom | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Voice input (Win+H) does not respond to speech or does not open | The same official set of causes as for Windows 10: microphone, permissions, language, internet. | Check in turn the microphone (Settings → System → Sound → Input), permissions (Privacy → Microphone) and the input language. |
How to check Windows 11 voice input in order
According to Microsoft, you should check in order, from the most common to the less common.
- Open Settings → System → Sound → Input and make sure a working microphone is selected.
- Check Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone: microphone access must be allowed.
- Check the input language: the voice input language must match the one you dictate in.
If all 3 items are fine and voice input still does not respond, check the internet connection: Win+H recognizes speech in the Microsoft cloud and does not work without a network.
| What is available | |
|---|---|
| Potok | hold the key, speak, release: the text lands in the field under the cursor |
When the problem is not the microphone, permissions or language
If all the checks are passed and Win+H still does not respond, the built-in voice input may simply not suit the way you work with dictation. Sometimes the cause is not voice input itself but a third-party program, for example antivirus blocks the microphone. 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 set of causes is the same for both versions: the microphone, permissions, the input language and the internet connection, since voice input with the Win+H hotkey recognizes speech in the Microsoft cloud. The only difference is that voice input supports Russian specifically in Windows 11.
Voice Access is a feature of Windows 11 version 22H2 and newer that lets you control the computer and enter text by voice; in Windows 11 22H2 and newer it replaced the classic Windows Speech Recognition. Voice Access has no 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.
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.
It depends on whether the computer is managed by the organization: an administrator can centrally disable speech services with group policy, and then you cannot turn on voice input yourself and need to contact the IT department. If there are no such restrictions, Windows voice input opens with the usual Win+H combination in a text field.
Windows 10's built-in voice typing has no Russian at all; it exists only in Windows 11. If Russian speech is recognized poorly in Windows 11, Microsoft advises checking that Russian is selected as the input language (Win+Space), that the right microphone is selected in Settings → System → Sound → Input, and trying a headset or an external microphone instead of the built-in one. Potok is a separate app with its own model trained for Russian speech, including terms and Russian mixed with English.
Try it on your own texts
Download Potok for Windows, macOS or Linux: full access for the first 14 days, no card needed. After that, 2500 words per week for free or Pro for 690 ₽ per month. Potok is a cloud service: speech is recognized on servers in Russia, and it does not work without the internet.
Download PotokYou dictate in the app, and recordings and voice messages are transcribed by @potok_now_bot in Telegram. 60 minutes per month are free; the Potok subscription removes the limit in the bot and in the app.
Primary sources: support.microsoft.com · support.microsoft.com · support.apple.com