Microsoft 365 Version 2607 – Dictate and Windows Voice Typing no longer recognize replayed speech after July 29 update

Question

I am trying to determine whether anyone else has experienced this behavior following Microsoft 365 Version 2607 (Build 20228.20124).

Environment

• Windows 11 Pro
• Microsoft 365 Apps for Business
• Version 2607 (Build 20228.20124)
• Philips PowerMic II (also reproduced using the laptop microphone)

Background

For several years I have used Microsoft Word Dictate to create live transcripts during meetings. The workflow relied on the microphone acoustically capturing both my voice and the other participant's voice played through the speaker.

This worked reliably until July 29, 2026.

Current behavior

• Word Dictate transcribes my live voice correctly.
• Windows Voice Typing (Win+H) also transcribes my live voice correctly.
• Neither will transcribe speech played through the speaker, even though the microphone clearly hears it.

Diagnostics already completed

• Tested with two different Philips PowerMic II devices.
• Tested with the laptop microphone.
• Tested with laptop speakers and PowerMic speaker.
• Sound Recorder successfully records both my voice and the replayed speaker audio.
• Therefore the microphone and Windows audio subsystem are functioning correctly.
• The issue appears only in the Microsoft speech recognition engines (Word Dictate and Windows Voice Typing).

The behavior changed immediately after updating to Microsoft 365 Version 2607.

Question

Has anyone seen this behavior, and is this:

• a known regression,
• an intentional change to the speech recognition engine,
• or is there a configuration or policy that restores the previous behavior?

Answer 1

Hi,

Based on the troubleshooting you’ve already completed, it does not appear to be a microphone or Windows audio input issue.

Since:

• Sound Recorder captures both your voice and the audio played through the speakers.
• The behavior is reproducible with different microphones and the built-in laptop microphone.
• Both Word Dictate and Windows Voice Typing exhibit the same behavior.

This points to the Microsoft speech recognition service rather than the audio hardware or Windows audio subsystem.

At this time, I’m not aware of any published documentation indicating that this is an intentional change or a known regression in Microsoft 365 Version 2607 (Build 20228.20124).

As an additional check, could you confirm whether this behavior also occurs after:

• Updating Windows to the latest available build.
• Starting Windows in a clean boot state to rule out third-party audio enhancement software.
• Rolling back to an earlier Microsoft 365 build (if available) to verify whether the behavior is specific to Version 2607.

If the issue only began immediately after updating to Version 2607 and reverting to an earlier build restores the previous behavior, that would strongly suggest a product regression.

In that case, I recommend opening a support ticket with Microsoft 365 Support so the engineering team can collect diagnostic logs and determine whether this is an unintended change in the speech recognition service.

Please let me know the results of the additional checks above, especially whether testing an earlier Office build changes the behavior.