An offline alternative to Windows voice typing
Windows has two built-in ways to dictate: voice typing, opened with Win+H, and Voice Access, which replaced the old Windows Speech Recognition. Both are free and good for many people. OiPer is for when you need dictation that works offline in more languages, a hold-to-talk hotkey, or text that is cleaned up before it is typed.
Updated
What Windows already gives you
Know the built-in tools before you install anything.
Voice typing (Win+H)
Press Windows key + H in any text box. Voice typing uses Microsoft’s online speech recognition, powered by Azure Speech services, so it needs an internet connection. It adds punctuation automatically and supports 46 languages and regional variants.
Voice Access
Voice Access controls your whole PC by voice and dictates text. It works without an internet connection once a language is downloaded, and it has a custom vocabulary. It needs Windows 11 version 22H2 or later and supports English, Spanish, French and German.
Windows Speech Recognition is deprecated
Microsoft deprecated Windows Speech Recognition in December 2023 and no longer develops it. Voice Access is its replacement.
Fluid dictation on Copilot+ PCs
On Copilot+ PCs, voice typing can also clean up grammar and filler words with on-device models, in English only.
Why people add OiPer
Where the built-in tools fall short for daily dictation.
Offline in every language you speak
Win+H needs the internet, and Voice Access works offline in four languages. OiPer runs multilingual Whisper models on your PC, so dictation stays offline whatever language you set.
Read about ModelsLanguages Windows does not cover
Voice typing has no Arabic, Bengali or Urdu, for example. Set the language you speak per profile in OiPer, or let the model detect it.
Read about ProfilesHold to talk
Hold your hotkey while you speak and release to type, so recording never starts or stops by surprise. A press to start and stop shortcut is there for long dictation.
Read about ProfilesRewrite and translate before typing
Formatting presets fix punctuation and grammar, turn speech into an email or a prompt, or translate into just under a hundred languages.
Read about FormattingUses your GPU
Local transcription runs on your graphics card when one is usable and on the CPU otherwise.
Read about SettingsHistory with audio replay
Every dictation is saved on your PC with its transcript and recording, so you can recover text that went into the wrong window.
Read about HistoryWhen the built-in tools are enough
Free, already installed and good at what they do.
Short dictation with a connection
If you dictate now and then, are online and speak one of the 46 supported languages, Win+H is quick and needs no setup.
Hands-free control of Windows
Voice Access lets you control your PC using only your voice, without an internet connection. OiPer types what you say and does not control your computer.
OiPer vs Windows voice typing
Feature by feature. Based on public information, checked October 2026.
| Feature | OiPer | Windows voice typing (Win+H) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free for local transcription | Free, built into Windows |
| Where speech is transcribed | Locally, on your PC | Microsoft’s online speech recognition |
| Works offline | Yes | No, needs internet |
| Languages | Multilingual Whisper models | 46 languages and variants |
| How you start it | Hold a hotkey, or press to start and stop | Win+H, stop by voice or button |
| Automatic punctuation | With a formatting preset | Yes |
| Custom words | Dictionary (cloud and OiPer modes) | No (Voice Access has one) |
| AI rewriting and translation | Yes, presets or your own instructions | Fluid dictation cleanup, English, Copilot+ PCs |
| Choose your speech model | Tiny to Large v3 Turbo, or your own API key | No |
| Dictation history | Yes, with audio replay | No |
| Voice commands and PC control | No | Punctuation commands; full control in Voice Access |
| macOS and Linux | Yes | No |
Questions, answered
What people ask before they start dictating with OiPer.
Does Windows voice typing work offline?
No. Microsoft says voice typing (Win+H) needs an internet connection because it uses online speech recognition powered by Azure. Voice Access and OiPer both work offline.
Why is Win+H not working?
Voice typing needs an internet connection, a working microphone and a cursor in a text box, and it only works in Microsoft’s supported languages. If you are offline or speak another language, it cannot transcribe.
What is better than Windows voice typing?
It depends on what you need. Voice Access is better for controlling Windows by voice. OiPer is better for offline dictation in many languages, hold-to-talk and text that is cleaned up or translated before it is typed.
How do I voice type offline on Windows?
Use Voice Access in English, Spanish, French or German after downloading the language, or install OiPer and download a local Whisper model. OiPer then transcribes on your PC with no connection.
Is Windows Speech Recognition still available?
Windows Speech Recognition was deprecated in December 2023 and is no longer developed. Microsoft replaced it with Voice Access on Windows 11 version 22H2 and later.
Is OiPer free on Windows?
Local, on-device transcription is free and unlimited, and no account is required. Paid plans add hosted transcription and formatting models.