Disclosure: we make SofaDeck, which is one of the options below. Facts about Windows and other products were checked on 23 October 2026 and can change.
Short answer: on Windows 11, turn on Voice access (Settings → Accessibility → Speech) and say "what can I say". On Windows 10, use Windows Speech Recognition from the Control Panel. On either, Win+H starts voice typing for dictation. If you want to talk to your PC from the sofa, a phone voice remote such as SofaDeck puts the microphone in your hand. Below are the commands that are actually useful for each, grouped by what you want to do.
Which voice tool you have
| Tool | Windows version | What it's for | Microphone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voice access | Windows 11 22H2 and later | Full hands-free control: apps, clicking, scrolling, dictation | The PC's mic or a headset |
| Windows Speech Recognition | Windows 10 (deprecated; removed from current Windows 11) | Older full voice control | The PC's mic or a headset |
| Voice typing (Win+H) | Windows 10 and 11 | Dictating text into any text box | The PC's mic or a headset |
| SofaDeck voice remote | Windows 10 and 11 | Quick commands from a phone: media, volume, apps, websites, timers | Your phone's mic |
Voice access commands (Windows 11)
Voice access processes speech on the PC after a one-time download of the speech model, so it works offline. Start it from Settings or the quick settings accessibility menu, then:
| To do this | Say |
|---|---|
| Pause or resume listening | "voice access sleep" / "voice access wake up" |
| Open, switch and close apps | "open Edge", "switch to Outlook", "close window" |
| Click something by its name | "click Start", "click Save", "click File" |
| Click things that have no name | "show numbers", then say the number |
| Point anywhere on screen | "show grid", then the square numbers to zoom in |
| Scroll | "scroll down", "scroll up", "scroll to top" |
| Press keys | "press Enter", "press Escape", "press Control C" |
| Edit text | "select that", "delete that", "undo that", "new line" |
| See every command | "what can I say" |
Command wording from Microsoft's Voice access documentation, checked 23 October 2026. Microsoft adds commands and languages over time.
Windows Speech Recognition commands (Windows 10)
Windows 10 users still have the classic tool. Open it from Control Panel → Ease of Access → Speech Recognition and run the short training once for better accuracy. The essentials: "start listening" and "stop listening"; "open Start"; "open" plus an app name; "click" plus a button or menu name; "show numbers"; "mousegrid" to point anywhere; "scroll down"; "correct that" to fix a dictation mistake; and "what can I say?" for the reference card. If you are on Windows 11, read what replaced Windows Speech Recognition.
Voice typing commands (Win+H)
Press Win+H in any text box and talk. Say punctuation out loud ("comma", "period", "question mark", "new line"), or turn on automatic punctuation in the voice typing settings. Say "stop listening" or press Win+H again to stop. It is dictation only: it types, but it does not open apps or click buttons.
Phone voice-remote commands (SofaDeck)
Voice access is built for full hands-free use at the desk. For quick jobs from the couch — pausing a film, turning the volume down, opening a site on the TV PC — a phone voice remote is simpler: tap the mic on your phone, say one command, done. SofaDeck understands more than 40,000 phrasings, for example:
- Media and volume: "pause", "next song", "what's playing", "volume 30", "mute", "skip ahead 10 seconds".
- Apps and websites: "open Spotify", "open my downloads", "open YouTube", "search for pizza near me", "lo-fi beats on YouTube".
- PC power: "lock the PC", "screen off", "sleep in 45 minutes", "cancel the sleep timer".
- Typing: "type see you at eight", "press enter".
- Your own buttons: say the name of any button on your deck; Pro adds custom phrases and window, tab and editing shortcuts.
- Chains: "open Spotify then volume 40".
The full, searchable list is on the SofaDeck voice commands page (or say "what can I say" on your phone).
- Install SofaDeck on your Windows PC (free from the Microsoft Store or sofadeck.com).
- Scan the QR code with your phone's camera and type the 6-digit PIN shown on the PC.
- Tap the microphone button on the phone and say a command, such as "open Spotify", "volume 30" or "lock the PC".
- Say "what can I say" to open the full, searchable command list on your phone.
Direct installer .exe · 3.7 MB Store version signed by Microsoft No account Local network only Signed updates SofaDeck installs on your Windows PC. Your phone is the remote — it works in the phone’s browser.One email from support@dixonappstudio.com. No list unless you tick the box. PrivacyOr on your PC, go to sofadeck.com/getTips for reliable recognition
- Use a microphone close to your mouth: a headset for Voice access, the phone itself for a phone remote.
- Speak at a normal pace and volume; shouting makes recognition worse.
- Turn music down before you speak, or pause it with a button first.
- Short, specific commands ("volume 20") beat long sentences.
For a wider comparison of hands-free options, see how to control your PC with your voice and accessible PC control.
Frequently asked questions
What are the voice commands for Windows 11?
Windows 11's built-in voice control is Voice access (Settings → Accessibility → Speech → Voice access). Useful commands: "open Edge", "switch to Word", "close window", "click Save", "show numbers", "show grid", "scroll down", "press Enter", "select that", "delete that", "voice access sleep" / "voice access wake up", and "what can I say" for the full list.
How do I use voice commands on Windows 10?
Windows 10 still has Windows Speech Recognition: Control Panel → Ease of Access → Speech Recognition → Start Speech Recognition. Say "start listening", then commands such as "open Start", "open Notepad", "click File", "show numbers", "mousegrid", "scroll down" or "what can I say". Voice typing (Win+H) is available on both Windows 10 and 11.
Is there a voice command to shut down or lock Windows?
Voice access has no single built-in "shut down" command; you open Start and click Power by voice. A phone voice remote such as SofaDeck understands "lock the PC", "sleep in 30 minutes" and "shut down" directly (sleep, restart and shut down always ask you to confirm on the phone).
Can I control Windows by voice from across the room?
Built-in Voice access listens through the PC's microphone, so it works best with a headset or a mic close to you. A phone voice remote puts the microphone in your hand, which is more reliable from the sofa or across a room.