How to Fix Windows Speech Recognition Not Listening or Not Responding on Windows
Speech Recognition won't start listening, doesn't recognize commands, or shows "Not listening"? Fix speech recognition on Windows 10 and 11.
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Main Troubleshooting Guide
How to Fix No Audio or Sound →Complete symptoms, causes, and step-by-step solutions
Symptoms
You might be experiencing this problem if you notice:
- •Speech Recognition shows "Not listening" and won't activate
- •Microphone icon appears but doesn't respond to voice
- •"Windows Speech Recognition could not start" error
- •Speech Recognition works in some apps but not others
- •"What was that?" displayed repeatedly for every command
Common Causes
- ⚠Microphone not set as default recording device
- ⚠Microphone volume too low or muted
- ⚠Speech Recognition language not matching spoken language
- ⚠Voice training profile corrupted or not completed
- ⚠Conflict with Cortana or third-party voice assistant
Solutions
Solution 1: Set Up Speech Recognition
- 1Windows 10: Control Panel → Ease of Access → Speech Recognition → Start
- 2Complete microphone setup wizard (required)
- 3Complete voice training — takes ~10 minutes, greatly improves accuracy
- 4Windows 11: use Voice Access instead (Settings → Accessibility → Speech)
- 5Voice Access is more modern and works better
Solution 2: Fix Microphone Issues
- 1Settings → System → Sound → Input → select correct microphone
- 2Test: speak and watch volume level indicator
- 3Check permissions: Settings → Privacy → Microphone → ON
- 4Use a headset mic instead of laptop built-in for better results
- 5Disable audio enhancements that might interfere
Solution 3: Improve Accuracy
- 1Redo voice training: Control Panel → Speech Recognition → Train
- 2Speak clearly at normal pace in quiet environment
- 3Position mic 1-2 inches from mouth (headset recommended)
- 4Check language matches your spoken language in Advanced speech options
- 5Say "Correct [word]" to fix misrecognized words — trains the system
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