☑️ Top 6 Ways to Fix Microsoft Word Dictation Tool Not Working on Windows 10 and Windows 11
– Reviews News
Microsoft Word includes a handy dictation tool that lets you easily create and edit documents. Free your hands to speak out loud and let the computer type text automatically. However, if you're having trouble using Word's dictation tool because it doesn't work on Windows, you've come to the right place.
In this article, we will share some effective troubleshooting tips to get Microsoft Word dictation tool working again. Of course, you'll need to check basics like volume settings and whether the microphone is working.
1. Check your Office subscription status
Only Microsoft 365 subscribers can use the dictation tool in Microsoft Word and other Office apps. So if you can't find the dictation tool in Word, make sure your subscription is still active.
You can visit the Services and subscriptions page on the Microsoft website, sign in with your Microsoft account, and check your subscription status. In the Summary tab, you will see the expiration date of your subscription.
2. Check microphone permission
Windows lets you enable or disable microphone permissions for each of your apps and programs individually. If you have disabled microphone access for desktop applications in Windows, you may get an "Oops, there was a problem with dictation" error in Word.
To allow Word to access your microphone, follow the steps below.
Step 1: Right-click on the Start icon and select Settings from the list to open the Settings app.
Step 2: In the Settings app, navigate to the Privacy & Security tab. Next, scroll down to App Permissions and select Microphone.
Step 3: Turn on the switches next to "Microphone access" and "Allow apps to access your microphone."
Step 4: Scroll down and turn on the switch next to "Allow desktop apps to access your microphone."
After that, restart Microsoft Word and check if you can use the dictation tool.
3. Eliminate problems with your microphone
Problems with your microphone can also lead you to believe that Word's dictation tool is faulty. If you're using an external microphone on your PC, check its physical connection to see if it's properly connected.
You will need to ensure that your preferred microphone is set as the default audio input device. Here's how.
Step 1: Right-click the speaker icon in the taskbar and select Sound Settings from the menu that appears.
Step 2: Choose your preferred microphone under Input. In addition, you will also need to check its volume.
Step 3: Next, click on your audio input device and then use the Start Test button to see if the microphone is working properly.
Once you have selected the correct input device, try using the dictation tool again.
4. Run the audio recording troubleshooter
Windows has several troubleshooters to fix most system-level issues. So, if the dictation tool still doesn't work properly, you can run the Windows Audio Recording Troubleshooter. Here's how.
Step 1: Click the search icon on the taskbar. Write troubleshoot configuration in the box and select the first result that appears.
Step 2: Go to Other troubleshooters.
Step 3: Click the Run button next to the Audio Recording Troubleshooter and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.
5. Microsoft Office Repair
If the microphone works fine in other applications, there may be a problem with the Microsoft Word application on your PC. Since Microsoft Word is part of the Office suite, you can use Microsoft's Office Repair Tool to fix any problem with Word. These are the steps you need to follow.
Step 1: Right-click the Start icon and select Installed Applications from the list.
Step 2: Scroll down to locate your Microsoft Office product in the list. Click the three-dot menu icon next to it and select Edit.
Step 3: Select Quick Repair and press Repair.
If the problem persists, Microsoft thinks you should perform an online repair. It may take longer, but we will try to resolve any issues with the app. You will of course need an active internet connection to use this option.
6. Allow the browser to access your microphone
The dictation tool is also available in the web version of Word. If you're having trouble using the dictation tool in Word Online, your browser may not have permission to access your computer's microphone. This is how you can fix it.
Step 1: Visit Microsoft Word for the web on your PC.
Step 2: Click the little padlock icon to the left of the URL and select Site Settings.
Step 3: Under Permissions, use the drop-down menu next to Microphone to select Allow.
Likewise, you can enable microphone permissions for Word Online in any other browser you might be using. After that, the dictation tool should work fine.
Speak to type in Word
In most cases, enabling microphone permissions or running the Windows troubleshooter should get the dictation tool working again. If not, you may need to use the Office Repair Tool. Check out all the solutions above and let us know which one works for you in the comments below.
SOURCE: Reviews News
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