Fluid Dictation on Windows 11: On-Device AI for Natural Speech-to-Text

Microsoft’s latest Insider Preview builds bring a tangible — and in many ways overdue — improvement to speech-to-text on Windows by introducing Fluid Dictation inside Voice Access, a smarter, faster, on-device dictation mode designed to make spoken text appear as natural, punctuated prose rather than a raw stream of words.

Background​

Windows 11 Insider Preview builds 26220.5790 (Dev) and 26120.5790 (Beta) — delivered under update KB5065779 — introduce a handful of Copilot+ PC features and staged changes for Insiders. The marquee accessibility update for these flights is the new Fluid Dictation capability within Voice Access, plus an expansion of Windows Studio Effects to support more cameras. These builds are being rolled out to Insiders and are gated behind the Copilot+ PC hardware designation for certain features; they also carry known issues that Insiders should weigh before installing.
Voice Access has been Microsoft’s strategic replacement for the legacy Speech Recognition module, evolving from basic command-and-dictation to a richer, AI-powered accessibility surface. Fluid Dictation is the next step: it leverages on-device small language models (SLMs) to automatically smooth punctuation, grammar, and filler-words in real time — all while keeping audio processing local to the machine.

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What Fluid Dictation actually does​

A more natural speech-to-text experience​

Fluid Dictation shifts the voice input workflow from “dictate, then edit” to “speak and get near-ready prose.” Instead of inserting every spoken token verbatim and leaving punctuation and cleanup to the user, the new mode:

• Automatically inserts punctuation (commas, periods, question marks) aligned with natural speech cadence.
• Removes or reduces filler words — for example, trimming “uh,” “um,” and repeated stopwords so transcripts read more cleanly.
• Applies light grammatical corrections to improve readability without changing meaning.

The goal is to remove friction after dictation: users should spend less time manually correcting capitalization, punctuation, and obvious filler, particularly when producing notes, emails, and drafts.

On-device small language models (SLMs)​

Fluid Dictation runs on on-device SLMs. These compact models are purposely designed to operate efficiently on local hardware accelerators (NPUs) found in Copilot+ PCs. That structure delivers two main benefits:

• Low latency: by avoiding round trips to cloud services, the system can process speech faster and present cleaned-up text in near real time.
• Enhanced privacy: audio and intermediate representations remain on the device rather than being uploaded for server-side processing.

This is not a one-size-fits-all LLM experience; the SLMs are optimized for modest footprints and specific tasks like punctuation, filler removal, and lightweight grammar normalization.

Where it works — and where it won’t​

Fluid Dictation is designed to operate in any app that accepts text input, from Notepad and Word to chat windows and web forms. There are, intentionally, protected exclusions:

• It disables itself for secure fields such as password and PIN boxes to prevent accidental leakage or misbehavior.
• Initial availability is English-only across supported locales.
• The feature is currently available exclusively on Copilot+ PCs — machines that include a qualifying hardware accelerator and that meet Microsoft’s Copilot+ criteria.

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How to enable and use Fluid Dictation​

Using Fluid Dictation is straightforward for anyone already testing Voice Access on supported hardware:

• Launch Voice Access from Settings > Accessibility > Speech, or start the Voice Access app from the Start menu.
• If this is the first time opening Voice Access, complete the setup and microphone selection prompts.
• Fluid Dictation is enabled by default on supported Copilot+ PCs. To verify or toggle:
• Open the Voice Access settings flyout (top-right corner of the Voice Access bar) and check the Fluid Dictation toggle.
• Or use voice commands: “turn on fluid dictation” or “turn off fluid dictation.”
• Begin speaking in any editable field. The output should appear smarter and better punctuated immediately.
• To report issues or leave feedback, use the Feedback Hub under Accessibility > Voice access.

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Why Microsoft built Fluid Dictation (and why it matters)​

Accessibility-first, but broadly useful​

Voice Access is an accessibility tool, and Fluid Dictation extends its usefulness for people who rely on voice input due to mobility or visual needs. However, the improvements to dictation quality benefit casual users, power writers, and anyone who prefers speaking over typing.

• For users with disabilities, fewer manual edits means lower cognitive and physical overhead.
• For productivity scenarios (notes, emails, drafts), Fluid Dictation speeds content capture and reduces the “cleanup” phase.

On-device AI: responsiveness and privacy​

Moving language processing on-device aligns with broader industry trends favoring local inference for privacy-sensitive and latency-critical applications. By leveraging SLMs and NPUs on Copilot+ systems, Microsoft is making dictation both faster and more private — a compelling combination for enterprise and consumer users alike.

Hardware-accelerated differentiation​

Restricting some features to Copilot+ PCs (systems with NPUs and vetted hardware stacks) lets Microsoft calibrate performance and user experience tightly. It also creates a marketplace differentiation for OEMs and justifies the Copilot+ branding and premium positioning.

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Windows Studio Effects expansion: what’s new​

Alongside Fluid Dictation, the preview builds expand Windows Studio Effects so that AI-powered camera enhancements (background blur, automatic framing, eye contact correction) can operate on an additional camera — for instance, a USB webcam in addition to the laptop’s built-in camera.

• The Settings path: Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Cameras > select a camera > Advanced camera options > toggle “Use Windows Studio Effects.”
• Initially rolling out to Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs, with AMD and Snapdragon updates following in subsequent weeks.
• This change enables more consistent camera effects across multi-camera setups, which is particularly useful for content creators, hybrid workers, and streamers.

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Known issues and safety considerations​

Insiders should be cautious: bugs in these builds​

Microsoft has flagged several issues in these flights. Two of the most consequential are:

• An intermittent bug that can cause a system to bugcheck (green screen) while hibernating after the previous flight. Insiders experiencing the issue are advised to avoid hibernation until Microsoft provides a fix.
• Audio problems where devices show errors in Device Manager (yellow exclamation marks), sometimes citing components like “ACPI Audio Compositor.” This can lead to audio loss and may require manual remediation or driver rollback.

These are non-trivial stability risks for anyone using a machine as a daily driver. Insiders who need reliable uptime should delay installing Dev or early Beta builds until the issues are resolved.

Privacy and security nuances​

Fluid Dictation’s on-device model reduces cloud exposure, but that doesn’t eliminate every risk:

• Local storage of models and temporary audio artifacts creates a different attack surface. Devices with physical or privileged access are potentially vulnerable to local exfiltration.
• The feature’s restriction from secure fields is a sensible safeguard, but users should remain mindful when dictating sensitive information in other contexts.
• Enterprises must evaluate how on-device AI models interact with corporate data governance and endpoint protection policies before enabling Copilot+ features widely.

Language and inclusivity limitations​

The initial release is English-only. That leaves non-English speakers without Fluid Dictation benefits for now, creating a temporary accessibility gap. Organizations and multilingual users should note that availability will expand over time, but the rollout is limited at first.

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Technical analysis — strengths, trade-offs, and failure modes​

Strengths​

• Reduced latency and immediate feedback: on-device inference avoids network round-trips and associated delays, making dictation feel fluid.
• Improved output quality: automatic punctuation and filler-word removal reduce the post-dictation editing burden.
• Privacy posture: keeping speech processing local aligns with regulatory and user privacy expectations in many scenarios.
• Integration with accessibility stack: Voice Access is positioned as a single, evolving tool that can replace legacy speech recognition for modern needs.

Trade-offs and limitations​

• Hardware gating: limiting Fluid Dictation to Copilot+ PCs means many Windows users will not benefit until hardware adoption widens. This creates a two-tier user experience within Windows 11.
• Model capability vs. LLMs: SLMs are optimized for speed and footprint, but they do not replace the reasoning or generative power of large language models. Complex rewriting, nuanced semantic edits, or creative paraphrasing will remain limited.
• Update and maintenance complexity: on-device models need secure update mechanisms. Enterprises will need to manage model updates alongside drivers and firmware.
• Edge-case miscorrections: automatic grammar fixes can sometimes change meaning, especially when dictating code, commands, or domain-specific nomenclature. Users must remain able to opt out quickly.

Potential failure modes​

• Punctuation errors in rapid speech: rapid-fire dictation can still confuse segmentation heuristics, producing awkward punctuation.
• False positives/over-simplification: filler-word removal might strip emphasis in cases where “um” or “like” carries rhetorical tone or intent (e.g., quoting speech).
• Model drift: on-device models trained on broad data may underperform on specialized vocabularies. Without frequent fine-tuning, domain-specific accuracy may lag.

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Practical tips and troubleshooting​

For Insiders who want to try Fluid Dictation​

• Ensure your PC meets the Copilot+ hardware requirements (NPU and vendor support) and that you are enrolled in the Dev or Beta channel matching the preview builds.
• Complete Voice Access setup and confirm the Fluid Dictation toggle is enabled.
• Test in a few contexts: a plain text editor, an email draft, and a chat window to compare raw transcription vs. Fluid Dictation output.
• Use the voice toggles (“turn off fluid dictation”) if you see undesired behavior while testing.

If you encounter the hibernation or audio bug​

• Avoid hibernation until a fix is pushed in a later flight.
• If audio stops working:
• Open Device Manager and inspect devices showing warnings.
• Roll back recent audio drivers or reinstall the vendor’s latest drivers.
• Use System Restore to revert to a stable snapshot if audio is critical.
• Report bugs through Feedback Hub (Accessibility > Voice access for dictation issues; appropriate categories for audio and hibernation).

Enterprise rollout considerations​

• Pilot on a small set of Copilot+ devices before a wider deployment.
• Validate compatibility of SLM updates with existing endpoint management tooling.
• Establish policies for device-level AI features, balancing productivity gains against data governance.
• Include IT in training materials — users need to know when automatic corrections might alter technical text or code.

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Broader implications for Windows and PC AI​

Fluid Dictation is another concrete example of Microsoft’s pivot to embedding AI affordances across Windows components — particularly where latency, privacy, and accessibility intersect. The approach of shipping task-specific SLMs that run on NPUs can scale many micro-AI features across the OS with acceptable power and performance trade-offs.
This strategy carries a few macro implications:

• OEM differentiation will intensify: device makers who enable NPUs and Copilot+ partner stacks will gain exclusive features that improve day-to-day productivity and accessibility.
• Software fragmentation is a risk: with some features tied to Copilot+ hardware, there is a potential for uneven user experiences across the Windows ecosystem.
• Enterprises will need updated procurement policies: AI-capable features will likely become part of device selection criteria, especially for knowledge-worker or accessibility-focused deployments.

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Verdict: meaningful step with practical limits​

Fluid Dictation represents a meaningful, well-designed step forward for speech-to-text on Windows. Its strengths are obvious: faster, cleaner transcriptions, privacy-conscious on-device processing, and an accessibility-first design that benefits a wide audience. Expanding Windows Studio Effects to additional cameras is similarly practical and user-focused.
However, the rollout strategy — Copilot+ exclusivity, English-only support at launch, and the presence of stability bugs in the preview channel — means the feature’s immediate impact will be concentrated among early adopters and those with AI-enabled hardware.
For users and organizations evaluating adoption:

• Consider trying Fluid Dictation on a Copilot+ device to assess gains in real workflows.
• Treat preview builds as experimental; delay production deployments until stability is confirmed.
• Expect ongoing iteration: on-device models, localization, and camera support will expand over time.

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What to watch next​

• Widening language support: when Fluid Dictation expands beyond English, the accessibility benefits will scale globally.
• Broader Copilot+ reach: as more OEMs ship NPUs with Windows devices, on-device SLM features will become more ubiquitous.
• Stability fixes: Microsoft’s roadmap should address the hibernation and audio issues quickly; watch Insider release notes for remediation.
• Model management features: IT and users will benefit from clearer controls for model updates, telemetry opt-outs, and enterprise policy support.
• Developer access: if Microsoft exposes a stable SLM API for third-party apps, expect an ecosystem of voice-enabled productivity tools to emerge.

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Fluid Dictation turns a long-standing promise—speech input that feels natural and requires minimal cleanup—into a practical reality for qualifying Windows users. It’s not a universal cure for all dictation pain points yet, but it’s a decisive architectural move: small, efficient on-device models powering everyday interactions in the operating system. The next steps will determine whether this approach becomes an inclusive win for all Windows users or a premium perk that remains limited to those with the latest AI-capable hardware.

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Source: Windows Report Windows 11 25H2 gets fluid dictation in voice access