Transcription in Word

Question

Good morning,

I used to be able to transcribe directly in MS Word. I have a MS365 subscription and accessed the online version because the desktop doesn't have this function for me. Now the transcription function has also disappeared in the online version. I am signed into the right account. Thank you

Answer 1

Transcription in Word for the web depends on specific conditions. If the feature has disappeared, check the following points that are documented for Transcribe:

1. Confirm product and platform support
   • Transcribe is available in Word for Microsoft 365 and Word for the web.
   • For Word on Windows desktop, it is currently only available in Commercial Tenants; for Government tenants, only Word for the web is supported.
   • If the account or tenant type changed (for example, no longer a Microsoft 365 business/commercial subscription), the feature may no longer appear.
2. Browser and sign‑in requirements
   • Transcribe in Word for the web only works when:
     • Signed into Microsoft 365.
     • Using the new Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome.
   • If using another browser (Safari, Firefox, older Edge), the Transcribe command may not be available.
3. Feature rollout and subscription limits
   • Transcribe is an Office Intelligent Service and is released gradually to Microsoft 365 subscribers. If the tenant or license changed, or if using an environment where the feature is not yet (or no longer) enabled, the command can disappear.
   • There is a monthly limit for uploaded audio (300 minutes for standard Microsoft 365 subscriptions; 30,000 minutes for Copilot-licensed users, still rolling out). Hitting the limit does not normally remove the button, but tenant-side changes related to this rollout can affect availability.
4. How Transcribe should appear when available
   • In Word for the web, when supported, Transcribe is under Home > Dictate > Transcribe.
   • If Dictate is present but Transcribe is missing from its dropdown, that usually indicates the feature is not enabled for the current account/tenant or browser.
5. Next steps
   • Verify:
     • The subscription is an active Microsoft 365 business/commercial subscription.
     • Sign‑in is with that subscription account in Word for the web.
     • The browser is the new Microsoft Edge or Chrome.
   • If all of the above are correct and Transcribe is still missing, the issue is likely tenant/feature configuration. In that case, contact the organization’s Microsoft 365 admin and have them open a support ticket via the Microsoft 365 admin center → Help & Support → Contact support, so Microsoft can check feature availability and tenant configuration on the backend.

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References:

• Transcribe your recordings
• Use a screen reader to record and transcribe audio in Word
• Dictate your documents in Word for the web
• Monthly limit for transcription - unable to reach 30,000 minutes despite subscription to Copilot license - Microsoft Q&A

Answer 2

The Microsoft article isn't dated so may not be current. The Transcribe feature still dos not appear in Safari but I do see it in Firefox.

As for your when questions, nobody here can provide an answer to such question. Microsoft does not share its development plans with the general public other than by way of press releases & Microsoft product blogs. Information from other sources is pure speculation.

Answer 3

The Dictate feature should be available in current desktop versions of Microsoft 365. Note that in Mac Word there isn't a Transcribe feature. Please see the very first bullet point in this Microsoft article. AFAIK nothing has changed in that regard. Dictate is located near the right end of the Home tab but is one which collapses if the window is not wide enough to allow it to display:

If it doesn't appear in your installation of Word please provide specific Version Numbers of both Office & macOS as indicated in:

• For Word/Office go to Word> About Microsoft Word
• For macOS go to **> About This Mac**

If the tool is there but doesn't produce the Listening tools show in that screenshot please explain what does or does not transpire relative to your expectation.

Answer 4

Hi @Koala2861 

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Q&A forum. 

Based on what I found through my research and my own testing, the Transcribe feature in Word on the web currently works only in Microsoft Edge and Chrome, as mentioned in the Q&A Assist response.  It is not supported when using Safari, which may explain the experience you are seeing. 

For additional information, you can refer to: Voice Commands and Transcriptions in Microsoft Word | Microsoft 365 Blog 

I hope this helps provide clearer insight into your situation. If you need any further assistance, please feel free to let me know. 

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