Windows + H command does nothing!

Question

Please help. I need the ability to dictate feedback in my online teaching course.

It seems that the dictation function is not working anymore. I used to rely on it regularly, but now, when I try to activate it by pressing the Windows + H key, nothing happens.

The shortcut does not respond at all. I have confirmed that the Windows key is functional, as other shortcuts work perfectly fine. This issue is quite concerning for me as a teacher who needs to provide feedback through online courses using dictation. Please assist me in resolving this problem, and restoring the dictation function on my device.

Answer 1

Greetings, Peter! My name is Arif, and I will assist you today.

I'm sorry to hear about the issue. Can you let me know when it started and what steps you've already taken to resolve it?

• Select your preferred microphone in Settings at Start > Settings > System > Sound > Input, and if using an external microphone, ensure it's correctly connected to your PC.
• First, verify voice typing availability in the current language; if not supported, install your desired language from the supported list. Then, run the Recording Audio troubleshooter via Windows Settings at Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Recording Audio or Speech.
• Close the Microsoft Text Input Application in Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) by selecting it under 'Apps' and clicking 'End Task'.

For additional information, please visit the following article link related to your issue:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/voi...

Warm Regards,

Arif

Answer 2

Hey Arif,

I have attempted all the recommended solutions, but unfortunately, none of them have yielded any changes. In response to your inquiry, I have been experiencing this issue for the past month since an update.

I have tried researching solutions, but they all seem to suggest activating the online speech recognition option, which is currently greyed out and inaccessible. (see screenshot below).

Answer 3

Dear Peter,

Thank you for the explanation!

Have you checked for all pending Windows updates and driver updates?

Does your PC have any Administrator user profile, or is it just your own user profile with administrator rights?

Have you attempted to create a test user account to check if Windows + H is working correctly? If it is, try renaming the test user to your desired name and transfer any missing items or settings from your old user profile to the new one.

To create a new user profile, follow the steps below:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/cre...

1. Access Settings via the Start button.
2. In the Settings window, select Accounts.
3. Under "Family & other users," click Add account.
4. Choose "I don't have this person's sign-in information."

Opt for "Add a user without a Microsoft account" and provide the required username and password.

6. Click Next and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the setup.

Alternatively, select "Add other users" in step 3 and choose "Add a local user or administrator account" in step 4 for a local user account.

Warm Regards,

Arif

Answer 4

Hi Arif,

Thank you for getting back to me. I really appreciate your help.

I have checked for any pending Windows updates and driver updates, but it seems like there aren't any.

Just to let you know, my PC has an Administrator user profile.

Also, I tried creating a new user profile, but unfortunately, the Windows + H command still doesn't seem to be working.

Do you have any other suggestions on what I can try next? I'm really hoping we can solve this issue together.

Thank you so much for your time and assistance.

Answer 5

Hi Arif,

I wanted to let you know that I was able to find a solution to my problem. I found this helpful resource at:
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/voice-typing-not-available-speech-service-is/f7f723dd-ac35-4bcc-8788-935d3af63694  ... which provided the solution I needed.

Thank you for all of your assistance throughout the process, it was greatly appreciated.