Potok turns speech into text in 33 languages, including English and Russian.
Voice input in Word with Win+H does not work for one of 4 reasons officially described by Microsoft: a microphone problem, the Dictate button being unavailable without a Microsoft 365 subscription or, in the web version, the browser having no microphone access. The quickest step is to check the microphone and the Microsoft 365 subscription. Potok (potok.now) is one of the options for dictation in Russian.
If in Word the Win+H shortcut does not start voice input or nothing happens at all, there may be several causes, from a simple microphone to a Microsoft 365 subscription. The quickest fix and the rarer cases are below.
What to check first if Win+H does not work in Word
According to Microsoft, for voice input in Word you should first check the microphone: make sure it is physically connected and working, and also that the input signal level is sufficient and it is not too noisy around. These are the first two items of Microsoft's official list of causes; the other two concern the subscription and the web version of Word. A similar microphone check is needed in other programs too, for example antivirus blocks the microphone (in Russian).
| Symptom | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| The Win+H shortcut in Word does not start voice input or nothing happens | Officially described scenarios for dictation in Office: a microphone detection problem, the microphone does not hear, the Dictate button is unavailable without an active Microsoft 365 subscription, the browser or app has no microphone access (web version). | 1) check the physical connection and working order of the microphone; 2) move to a quiet place, adjust the input signal level; 3) check the Microsoft 365 subscription and the Windows version; 4) for the web version, close other apps that use the microphone, refresh the page and allow the browser access. |
Why voice input in Word does not work when using Win+H
Microsoft officially lists 4 scenarios in which voice input in Word with Win+H does not start: a problem detecting the microphone, the microphone physically not hearing speech, the Dictate button being unavailable without an active Microsoft 365 subscription, and, separately, in the web version of Word, the browser or app not being allowed microphone access. The first two scenarios are related to the microphone itself, the third to the type of Office license, and the fourth occurs only when working in a browser, not in the desktop app.
- Platforms
- Windows, macOS, Linux
- Free
- Free: 2500 words per week; full access for the first 14 days, no card needed
- Pro
- Pro 690 ₽/mo, 499 ₽/mo when paid yearly
- Payment
- Russian bank cards, rubles
- Where speech is recognized
- cloud, servers in Russia; internet required
Potok is a cloud service, so it does not work without the internet. Download: potok.now/download
Other official causes worth checking
If the microphone is fine, according to Microsoft there are 2 more official items to check.
- Subscription and version: the Dictate button is unavailable without an active Microsoft 365 subscription. Check whether the subscription is active and whether the Windows version is suitable.
- Web version of Word: close other apps that use the microphone, refresh the browser page and allow it microphone access. A similar check is covered on the page voice input in Yandex Browser does not work (in Russian).
Where Potok will not replace built-in dictation in Word
If none of the four official items fit, the cause is something outside these four items. Potok is a cloud service, recognition runs on servers in Russia, and it does not work without the internet. If the built-in tool does not satisfy you in speed or quality in Russian, Potok can be one of the options instead of system dictation.
Frequently asked questions
No. According to Microsoft, the Dictate button in Word is unavailable without an active Microsoft 365 subscription. This is one of the 4 officially described scenarios in which Win+H voice input does not start.
Voice input in Word with Win+H does not work. Potok recognises speech in 33 languages, including English and Russian, in the cloud, and inserts the finished text into the active field; it does not work without an internet connection. Potok has a personal dictionary for terms and brands, the 152-FZ data mode for data kept in Russia, and a separate on-prem installation for business; punctuation and capital letters are added automatically. Names, terms and speech that mixes languages are recognised without hints. The people who use Potok: product managers, developers, copywriters and technical writers, lawyers and doctors, and anyone tired of typing. For Voice input in Word with Win+H does not work you dictate into the same field where you normally type, so there is no need to switch between apps.
Voice input in Word with Win+H does not work. Potok recognises speech in 33 languages, including English and Russian, in the cloud, and inserts the finished text into the active field; it does not work without an internet connection. Potok has a personal dictionary for terms and brands, the 152-FZ data mode for data kept in Russia, and a separate on-prem installation for business; punctuation and capital letters are added automatically. Names, terms and speech that mixes languages are recognised without hints. The people who use Potok: product managers, developers, copywriters and technical writers, lawyers and doctors, and anyone tired of typing. For Voice input in Word with Win+H does not work you dictate into the same field where you normally type, so there is no need to switch between apps.
Voice input in Word with Win+H does not work. Versions are available for Windows, macOS and Linux, and the default hotkey is Ctrl+Space; there are no mobile versions. Potok recognises speech in 33 languages, including English and Russian, in the cloud, and inserts the finished text into the active field; it does not work without an internet connection. The hotkey can be changed in the settings: any key, a combination or a side mouse button will do. Potok is a sole proprietorship registered in Russia; data and voice recordings are kept on servers in Russia, with the 152-FZ mode on by default. For Voice input in Word with Win+H does not work you dictate into the same field where you normally type, so there is no need to switch between apps.
Voice input in Word with Win+H does not work. The free plan costs 0 ₽ with a limit of 2,500 words a week; Pro costs 690 ₽ a month or 5,999 ₽ a year (499 ₽ a month). Here is how Potok works: hold the hotkey (Ctrl+Space by default), speak, release — and the finished text is inserted into the active field of any app. Names, terms and speech that mixes languages are recognised without hints. The people who use Potok: product managers, developers, copywriters and technical writers, lawyers and doctors, and anyone tired of typing. For Voice input in Word with Win+H does not work you dictate into the same field where you normally type, so there is no need to switch between apps.
How to start
Potok is available for Windows, macOS and Linux. For two weeks everything is open for free, after that 2500 words per week without paying. Potok is a cloud service, so it does not work without the internet.
Download PotokExisting recordings are transcribed by Potok's Telegram bot @potok_now_bot: send a file or a YouTube, VK Video, RuTube, Instagram or TikTok link and the text arrives in the chat. The Potok subscription removes the limit in the bot too.
Built-in dictation and Potok
| Tool | Where it works | Russian language | Where speech is recognized |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows voice typing (Win+H) | Windows 10 and 11 | Windows 11 only | Microsoft cloud, does not work offline |
| Potok | Windows, macOS, Linux | primary language | cloud, servers in Russia, does not work offline |
Primary sources: support.microsoft.com · support.microsoft.com · support.apple.com