How to Set Up Voice Isolation in Voice Access on Windows 11
- 16 steps
- Includes a restart or sign-out
Voice Isolation in Voice Access on Windows 11 filters out other speakers and background noise so your computer hears your spoken commands clearly. Voice Access is the built-in tool that lets you control Windows by voice, and Voice Isolation keeps room noise from ruining hands-free navigation.
Setup takes roughly 1 minute. You read a short phrase out loud so the software learns your speaking style, which can boost command accuracy by up to 15 percent. Before you start, find a quiet spot and check that your microphone is plugged in or connected.
Microsoft added Voice Isolation as a one-time voice setup in the update described in KB5101684. This guide covers that method first, then the older steps for PCs that do not have the update yet.
To turn on Voice Isolation, open Settings Accessibility Speech and switch on Voice access. Click the gear icon on the Voice Access toolbar, then choose Improve speech recognition and select Voice Isolation. Read the on-screen text aloud in your normal voice in a quiet room. Voice Access then filters out other speakers and background noise.
Here’s How to Set It Up:
Microsoft’s release notes (KB5101684) describe the newest version of this feature. Voice Isolation filters out other speakers and background noise, and it needs a one-time voice setup. Voice Access now offers two other modes as well: Remove background noise only and No filtering.
Newest method: PCs with the KB5101684 update
- Open Settings Windows Update and install any available updates. Restart your PC if Windows asks you to.
- Open Settings Accessibility Speech, then switch on Voice access. The Voice Access toolbar should now appear at the top of your screen.
- Click the Settings (gear) icon on the right side of the toolbar. A menu opens.
- Click Improve speech recognition. This is the Voice Access settings Improve speech recognition page, where Microsoft placed the noise options.
- Choose Voice Isolation. Because it filters out other speakers, Voice Access asks you for a one-time voice setup. Follow the on-screen prompts and read the text aloud in your normal voice in a quiet room.
- Pick a different mode if Voice Isolation does not suit you. Remove background noise only cuts noise but still listens to any voice. No filtering turns the filtering off.
That’s it. Voice Access now filters out other speakers and background noise using your own voice sample. You can return to the same page to change the mode at any time.
Older method: PCs without the update
- Turn on Voice Access. The quickest route is Settings Accessibility Speech, then switch on Voice access. The Voice Access toolbar should now appear at the top of your screen.
- Click the Settings (gear) icon on the right side of the Voice Access toolbar. A menu opens.
- Click Improve speech recognition in that menu.
- Look for Voice isolation and click Set up next to it. If you see “Set up,” Voice Isolation is ready to be configured.
- If you don’t see “Set up,” it has already been done. Click Manage voice isolation if you want to run the setup again, for example after you switch to a different microphone or move to a different room.
- Click Proceed. The recording screen appears.
- Select your microphone if the right one isn’t already chosen. Check this carefully if you have a laptop mic, a headset and a webcam all connected.
- Click Start recording. Make sure you are in a quiet place when you do this, because any noise during the recording can reduce the benefit.
- Read the text on screen out loud in your normal voice and at your normal speed. Don’t whisper, and don’t speak more slowly or loudly than usual.
- Click Stop recording when you are finished. Voice Access then processes your sample, which takes a short while.
That’s it. Voice Isolation is now set up with your voice sample, and Voice Access should ignore more of the noise around you. If the result is poor, run the setup again in a quieter spot.
Setting up Voice Isolation on Windows 11 helps your computer hear your commands clearly by blocking background noise. On a PC with the KB5101684 update, open Voice Access settings Improve speech recognition and choose a mode.
On older builds, open the Voice Access toolbar at the top of your screen, click the Settings gear icon, and select Improve speech recognition. Then choose the Voice isolation Set up option, pick the right microphone, and record yourself reading the sample text.
Why Set Up Voice Isolation?
This feature allows the computer to ignore surrounding sounds and voices, making voice navigation more reliable. It helps most in shared rooms, offices and homes with a TV or other people talking nearby.
What Happens When Done?
Once setup finishes, Voice Access handles commands more precisely by filtering out background noise automatically. If accuracy drops later, repeat the setup in a quieter spot using Manage voice isolation.
If you would rather stop filtering, such as when you share a microphone with someone else, switch to No filtering on a PC that has the newer update.
Reference:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-insider/release-notes/beta/preview-build-26220-8491
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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