You don’t need a mouse and keyboard to get around Windows 11. You can actually use voice command to do almost everything.
Voice Commands for Navigation
Windows 11’s Voice Access feature lets you navigate your PC entirely hands-free. To enable voice access, go to Settings > Accessibility > Speech and toggle on Voice Access.
Once enabled, the Voice Access menu will be pinned to the top of the screen. You can now use commands like “Open Start,” “Open File Explorer,” or “Open Settings” to launch apps and menus.
You can also switch between open windows by saying “Switch to,” followed by the app name.
You can also control windows using commands like “minimize window,” “maximize window,” or “restore window.” This makes it easy to manage your desktop layout without using your mouse.
You can use Voice Access to perform system tasks, too, like shutting down, restarting, or putting the PC to sleep. Just say “open start menu” followed by “click power” and then choose “shut down,” “restart,” or “sleep.”
To click on specific items on the screen, say “click” followed by the item’s name. For example, “click documents” will open your Documents folder in File Explorer. You can even right-click by saying “right-click” instead.
Navigation commands work across the entire Windows interface, from the taskbar to context menus. With a bit of practice, you’ll be zipping around your PC without touching your mouse or keyboard.
Control the Mouse Pointer
Voice Access also lets you control your mouse pointer entirely with voice commands. To move the pointer, say “show grid” to display a numbered grid overlay on your screen, then say the number of the grid square you want to move to.
This will zoom into that grid area, giving you a smaller, more detailed grid to work with. If you need to back out to the larger grid, just say, “undo that.”
Once you’ve moved the pointer where you want it, you can left-click by saying “click” or right-click by saying “right-click.” You can even drag and drop by saying “drag” followed by the grid number on which you want to drop the item.
In addition to mouse controls, Voice Access can press keys on your keyboard. For example, you can say “press enter” or “press delete” to perform keyboard shortcuts—perfect for deleting something without reaching for your keyboard.
Dictate and Edit Text
You can also dictate and edit text using Voice Access. Simply place your cursor in any text field, and you’re set to begin dictating.
Voice Access will transcribe your words in real-time, allowing you to compose emails, documents, or messages entirely with your voice.
You can also edit the text using voice commands. For example, saying “delete the last three words” will remove the last three words you typed. Saying “move to the end of paragraph” will place your cursor at the end of the current paragraph.
Voice typing can even insert punctuation and special characters. Just say “comma,” “period,” or “question mark” to add punctuation or “new line” to start a new paragraph.
Search and Browse the Web
You can browse the web using Voice Access. With just a few voice commands, you can open your favorite browser, navigate to websites, and perform searches.
Start by saying, “Open Microsoft Edge” or “Open Google Chrome” to launch your preferred web browser. Once your browser is open, you can use commands to navigate and interact with websites. For example, say, “Go to the search bar,” followed by your search terms.
To click links on a page, say “show numbers” to overlay numbered icons on each clickable element. Then, say the number of the link you want to click. You can also scroll, go back, and open new tabs using your voice.
Customize Voice Shortcuts
While Voice Access comes with a wide range of built-in commands, you can also create your own custom voice shortcuts.
To add a new voice shortcut, say “show commands” or “what can I say” to open the Voice Access command list. Then, click Voice shortcuts in the sidebar and select Create new shortcut.
Give your shortcut a memorable name and specify the action you want it to perform. For example, you can have your shortcut open an app, navigate to a specific folder, or even run a series of keystroke commands.
Once you’ve created your custom shortcut, you can use it anytime by saying its name. With a little creativity, you can build a library of voice shortcuts perfectly suited to your workflow.
Using voice commands can be handy, but it’s important to remember that voice assistants aren’t always perfect. If Voice Access misinterprets a command, say “undo that” and try again.