Potok turns speech into text in 33 languages, including English and Russian.
Voice input (Win+H) in Windows 11 does not work for the same reasons as in Windows 10: the microphone, permissions, the input language or the internet. Win+H recognizes speech in the Microsoft cloud and does not work without a network. The fix is to check 3 settings in order: the microphone, permissions and the input language. Potok (potok.now) is one of the options for dictation in Russian.
If in Windows 11 Win+H voice input does not respond to the voice or does not open at all with the hotkey, the causes turn out to be the same as before, in Windows 10. It is just that in the new version of Windows they should be checked in the current location of the settings.
What it means if Windows 11 voice input does not work
Officially, Microsoft does not single out a separate list of causes for Windows 11: it is the same set as for Windows 10: the microphone, app permissions, the input language and the internet connection. Voice input with the Win+H hotkey technically recognizes speech in the Microsoft cloud, so it does not work without the internet regardless of the Windows version. At the same time, voice input supports Russian specifically in Windows 11; in Windows 10 there is no Russian in it, and this is covered in more detail on the page Windows 11 voice input in Russian.
| Symptom | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Voice input (Win+H) does not respond to speech or does not open | The same official set of causes as for Windows 10: microphone, permissions, language, internet. | Check in turn the microphone (Settings → System → Sound → Input), permissions (Privacy → Microphone) and the input language. |
How to check Windows 11 voice input in order
According to Microsoft, you should check in order, from the most common to the less common.
- Open Settings → System → Sound → Input and make sure a working microphone is selected.
- Check Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone: microphone access must be allowed.
- Check the input language: the voice input language must match the one you dictate in.
If all 3 items are fine and voice input still does not respond, check the internet connection: Win+H recognizes speech in the Microsoft cloud and does not work without a network.
| What is available | |
|---|---|
| Potok | hold the key, speak, release: the text lands in the field under the cursor |
When the problem is not the microphone, permissions or language
If all the checks are passed and Win+H still does not respond, the built-in voice input may simply not suit the way you work with dictation. Sometimes the cause is not voice input itself but a third-party program, for example antivirus blocks the microphone (in Russian). 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 set of causes is the same for both versions: the microphone, permissions, the input language and the internet connection, since voice input with the Win+H hotkey recognizes speech in the Microsoft cloud. The only difference is that voice input supports Russian specifically in Windows 11.
Windows 11 voice input 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 Windows 11 voice input does not work you dictate into the same field where you normally type, so there is no need to switch between apps.
Windows 11 voice input 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 Windows 11 voice input does not work you dictate into the same field where you normally type, so there is no need to switch between apps.
Windows 11 voice input 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 Windows 11 voice input does not work you dictate into the same field where you normally type, so there is no need to switch between apps.
Windows 11 voice input 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 Windows 11 voice input does not work you dictate into the same field where you normally type, so there is no need to switch between apps.
Try it on your own texts
Download Potok for Windows, macOS or Linux: full access for the first 14 days, no card needed. After that, 2500 words per week for free or Pro for 690 ₽ per month. Potok is a cloud service, so it does not work without the internet.
Download PotokYou dictate in the app, and recordings and voice messages are transcribed by @potok_now_bot in Telegram. 60 minutes per month are free; the Potok subscription removes the limit in the bot and in the app.
Primary sources: support.microsoft.com · support.microsoft.com · support.apple.com