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This guide takes you from nothing to your first spoken sentence turned into text. It assumes Windows 10 or 11 and no previous experience.

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Before you start

  • A Windows 10 or 11 computer with a 64-bit processor (x64).
  • A working microphone.
SpeechKit is beta software, and the free Windows release is unsigned.

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Steps

1

Download and check the installer

Follow Install on Windows. Download only from the official release, compare the checksum and then start the installer. Windows may show a reputation warning because the release is unsigned.
2

Start SpeechKit and choose your microphone

On the first start, select the microphone that you want to use.
3

Choose your privacy setting

Pick a Network Scope. If you do not want your voice to leave the computer, choose a local provider and a stricter scope. The page Choose your privacy settings explains the choices.
4

Test Dictation first

Click into a text field in any app, for example a note. Use the default Dictation hotkey, Ctrl+Win, and speak a sentence.
5

Look at the result

The text appears in the field where your cursor was.

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Check that it worked

Your spoken sentence appears as text. If not, see the section below.

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If nothing happens

  • Check that the right microphone is selected.
  • Check that the provider you chose is available. A local provider needs to be installed on the computer.
  • A stricter Network Scope suspends settings that need the internet. Settings tell you what is disabled and why.
  • Try Dictation before Assist, Voice Agent or Meeting.

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Next steps