Sudden problem in using the 'correct' function in Voice Access.

Question

Sudden problem in using the 'correct' function in Voice Access.

Elizabeth Pendleton 0

Last night I suddenly experienced a problem when trying to use "correct that" in Voice Access. The problem affects both my desktop and laptop. The program will now offer me the numbered list of potential corrections, e.g. 1. My 2. my. But when I say "1", the word selected is highlighted in dark grey. It is not corrected at all - though the program thinks it has been, as at the top of the screen I see the number chosen and the option of Add to Vocabulary. This is a catastrophic fault. Given that Voice Access is not great at transcribing what I've said, I'm now left unable to correct the errors (other than using my fingers, which I need to avoid as much as possible). Other functions seem to be working normally.

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Emma1-N 10,755 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Welcome Elizabeth Pendleton,

I understand how disruptive this is, especially if you rely on Voice Access to work hands-free. Since the issue started suddenly and is occurring on both your desktop and laptop, I'd like to narrow down whether this is related to Voice Access itself, a recent update, or a specific application.

Could you please let us know:

Does this happen in all apps (such as Notepad, Word, and your web browser), or only in certain applications?
When you say "correct that", does the numbered list appear normally and only fail after you say the number?
Which Windows 11 version are you running? Press Windows + R, type winver, and share the version/build shown.
Have either device received a Windows update shortly before the issue began?

As a quick test, please try the correction feature in Notepad:

Open "Notepad".
Turn on Voice Access and dictate a sentence with an intentional mistake.
Say"correct that" and then select one of the numbered suggestions.
Let me know whether the word is corrected in Notepad or if it is only highlighted.

I look forward to your reply so we can continue working together to address the issue.

Emma1-N 10,755 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-08-12T07:05:50.8966667+00:00

Hello Elizabeth Pendleton,

I just wanted to check if my previous response addressed your question correctly. If there is anything I may have misunderstood, I would truly appreciate it if you could provide a bit more detail to help me better understand your needs.
Elizabeth Pendleton 0 Reputation points

2026-08-12T12:55:30.76+00:00

Hi there - your response arrived when I'd already left for a night away from home. I'm now back and working through the tests you suggest. Very grateful for your help. It's actually frightening - not merely disruptive. I'll get back to you as soon as I've assembled the data to assist you. Many thanks!
Elizabeth Pendleton 0 Reputation points

2026-08-12T14:28:21.3333333+00:00
Hello again. I've done some testing and the situation at least with the laptop has improved markedly while I've been testing. But my desktop is still as it was when I first noticed the problem.

I'm using Voice Access on my laptop to dictate this and it's behaving as I expect.

To answer your questions: both machines are running version 25H2.

One thing that might be relevant that I didn't think of: Maybe a week or so ago I suddenly found one morning that I could no longer use Voice Access on either my laptop or desktop to write in the text box for a Yahoo email. That is still the case for both my laptop and my desktop. I can however dictate into the address line or the subject line. This is not the end of the world because for short emails I usually dictate from my iPhone and I often dictate longer emails into a Word document. Though I would like it to work correctly in yahoo on my computer/s.

Laptop: this seems now to be working correctly in Word documents, both ones previously saved and a newly created document. This was not the case when I first began testing earlier this afternoon. It worked correctly as soon as I tried out Notepad. It was not working early this afternoon in text boxes on 2 forums that I use regularly but is now.

However it is completely non functional in Excel. It won't select any text using Voice Access. If I put the cursor manually somewhere in the text and ask "Spell out", it responds that the text cursor is not visible. It will “Go to" File etc. I can "Go to" Save As and dictate the name of the new sheet. It will SOMETIMES correct within that new sheet name but it's very hit and miss. However, there is a caveat here. I use Excel for only one very specific purpose and I'm not sure I've ever really tried to use Voice Access for it because of its propensity to be poor with technical words and to insert new text somewhere I didn't expect. So whether it works here or not is far less important for me.

Desktop: the situation is unchanged and there is no improvement.

Notepad: here the "correct that" list of words displays; It registers that I have clicked for instancefor instance
Elizabeth Pendleton 0 Reputation points

2026-08-12T14:29:36.58+00:00
Hmm, it seems to have sent only part of my uncorrected message. I'll try again!

Hello again.

I've done some testing and the situation - at least with the laptop - has improved markedly while I've been testing. But my desktop is still as it was when I first noticed the problem.

I'm using Voice Access on my laptop to dictate this and it's behaving as I expect. (Apart from a weird moment when it suddenly typed everything I dictated twice - but closing down and reopening the machine solved this.)

To answer your questions: both machines are running version 25H2.

One thing that might be relevant that I didn't think of yesterday: Maybe a week or so ago I suddenly found one morning that I could no longer use Voice Access on either my laptop or desktop to write in the text box for a Yahoo email. That is still the case for both my laptop and my desktop. I can however dictate into the address line or the subject line. This is not the end of the world because for short emails I usually dictate from my iPhone, and I often dictate longer emails into a Word document. Though I would like it to work correctly in yahoo on my computer/s.

LAPTOP

This seems now to be working correctly in Word documents, both ones previously saved and a newly created document. This was not the case when I first began testing earlier this afternoon. It worked correctly as soon as I tried out Notepad. It was not working early this afternoon in text boxes on 2 forums that I use regularly but is now.

However it is completely non functional in Excel. It won't select any text using Voice Access. If I put the cursor manually somewhere in the text and ask "Spell out", it responds that the text cursor is not visible. It will “Go to" File etc. I can "Go to" Save As and dictate the name of the new sheet. It will SOMETIMES correct within that new sheet name but it's very hit and miss. However, there is a caveat here. I use Excel for only one very specific purpose and I'm not sure I've ever really tried to use Voice Access for it because of its propensity to be poor with technical words and to insert new text somewhere I didn't expect. So whether it works here or not is far less important for me.

Desktop: the situation is unchanged and there is no improvement.

Notepad: here the "correct that" list of words displays; It registers that I have clicked, for instance, Option 2 but no change takes place in the text.

WhatsApp: it won't select text using Voice Access alone. If I select text manually it will show the "correct that" menu but it will not allow any change to the dictated text nor will it allow me to choose the option "spell out" - the "correct that" menu box simply disappears.

Word: It will allow me to select a word using Voice Access. It shows the "Correct that" menu. It registers that I have chosen for instance option 2, but no change is made to the text. I can "Spell out" from scratch. But I can't select "Spell that" from the "Correct that" menu. The menu disappears and I get a "Sorry, something went wrong message".

Online forums: it will show the "correct that" menu and registers that I have chosen an option but no change is made to the text. If I select "Spell that" from the "correct that" menu, I get a "Sorry, something went wrong message". but it will allow me to "Spell out" from scratch.

Excel: completely non-functional for Voice Access, but with the same caveat on previous usage as above.

Updates for Windows: Yes, I think there was one recently for the Desktop. I remember setting it to update overnight. But I don't think it was the night before the issues started.

Probably unrelated: for months now the desktop always transcribes "the" [with no quotes] as "!the". I've been unable to eradicate this infuriating error and no one on the Microsoft forum was able to get beyond suggesting using "spell out".

Let me know if you have any ideas on restoring Voice Access functionality on the desktop!

Many thanks, Elizabeth
Elizabeth Pendleton 0 Reputation points

2026-08-12T20:00:44.9666667+00:00

My desktop has just updated Windows. But the issue with correcting Voice Access mistakes remains sadly unchanged. It will select text in Word (and here in this comment) and offer a correct that menu - but it will not make changes chosen from that menu.
Emma1-N 10,755 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-08-13T08:10:29.0966667+00:00

Hello Elizabeth Pendleton,

Thank you for the update. Since the issue persists on the desktop even in Notepad and Word, while the laptop has largely recovered, this suggests the problem is specific to the desktop rather than Voice Access itself.

As a next step, could you test using a new local Windows user account on the desktop and check whether "Correct that" works there? This is the quickest way to determine whether the issue is tied to your current Windows profile or to the desktop's Voice Access installation.
Elizabeth Pendleton 0 Reputation points

2026-08-13T10:26:42.8033333+00:00

I need to work out how to set up a new local Windows user account first! I'm occupied today with business but should be able to start this either tonight or more likely tomorrow. Many thanks.
Elizabeth Pendleton 0 Reputation points

2026-08-13T15:42:13.23+00:00

My next question: I've found the Microsoft Manage User Accounts in Windows page. I can see how to create a new local account. Once I do this, will it be difficult to swap back to my existing Office 365 account? I don't want to find myself unable to access my files etc.
Emma1-N 10,755 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-08-14T07:58:53.0433333+00:00

Hello Elizabeth Pendleton,

No problem, and there's no rush.

Creating a new local account is generally safe because it is only being used as a test. Your existing Microsoft 365/Microsoft account and files will remain on the PC.

When you're finished testing, you can simply sign out of the new local account and sign back into your normal account. You do not need to convert your current account or remove it. The test account will appear as an additional user on the sign-in screen.