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‘Cortana voice commands not working’ in Windows 11, right? This is a common thing that can go wrong with your PC. This voice assistant doesn’t respond when you say “Hey Cortana.” Cortana is still a part of Windows 11, but Microsoft has changed the way that Cortana works. It is no longer part of the default installation or the way the computer starts up.
Cortana is a digital assistant from Microsoft that can save you time on your computer. Using voice commands, it can do many things, like manage your calendar, find information online, open your computer apps, and set alarms or reminders, to name a few. It’s not just another AI because it’s built into all of Microsoft’s 365 products and the most recent versions of Windows 10.
(Solved) ‘Cortana voice commands not working’ issue on Windows 11/10
Check Voice activation settings
When you can’t use voice commands with Cortana on your Windows 11 computer, this is the first thing you should check. On PC, this problem can sometimes be caused by permissions that are wrong or are missing.
Voice action setting lets you choose whether to let apps use voice activation services or not. For example, you need to run this process in the background if you want to use an app with voice commands. Follow these steps to make sure the settings for Voice activation in Windows 11 are correct:
- Press Win+I to open Windows Settings.
- Go to Privacy & security tab on the left side.
- Click on the Voice activation menu on the right side.
- Make sure the Microphone setting is set to On.
- Toggle the Let apps access voice activation services to turn it ON.
- Toggle the Cortana button from under the Apps that have requested voice activation access heading to turn it ON.
Run Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter
If the solutions that have to do with permissions don’t work, you could try running the Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter on your computer. Since Cortana is a Microsoft Store app, you can run the troubleshooter for it to fix this and other common problems. Follow these steps to run Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter on Windows 11:
- Press Win+I to open Windows Settings.
- Ensure that you are in the System tab.
- Click on the Troubleshoot menu on the right side.
- Select the Other troubleshooters option.
- Find the Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter.
- Click the Run button.
- Follow the screen instructions to get it done.
Update Windows
There’s a chance that an old version of Windows 10 is to blame for the problem. Make sure you are using the most recent version of the operating system to fix this.
- Click the Start button.
- Click on Settings.
- Click Update & Security.
- Click Check for updates.
Check Microphone settings
- Open Windows Settings on your computer.
- Switch to the Privacy & security tab on the left side.
- Find out and click on the Microphone setting on the right side.
- Toggle the Microphone access button to turn it ON.
- Toggle the Let apps access your microphone button to enable it.
- Ensure that Cortana button is turned ON.
Update Cortana
- Launch the Microsoft Store app.
- Click the three-dot icon from the top-right corner and select Downloads and updates.
- Look for Cortana in the Available updates list.
- Click the Download icon next to it.
Run the Speech Troubleshooter
- Press Win + I to bring up Settings.
- Head to Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
- Click Additional troubleshooters.
- From the Find and fix other problems section, select Speech > Run the troubleshooter.
Repair Cortana
- Press Win + I to open Settings.
- Go to Apps > Apps & features.
- Select Cortana > Advanced options.
- Scroll down and click the Repair button.
Reinstall Cortana
- Press ‘Windows + X’ keys on keyboard and select ‘Windows PowerShell (Admin)’
- Type the following command and hit ‘Enter’ key to execute. This will uninstall Cortana
- Get-AppxPackage -allusers Microsoft.549981C3F5F10_2.2005.5739.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe | Remove-AppxPackage
- Now, open Microsoft Store and download & install Cortana from there.
Reset Cortana
- Click Start.
- Open Settings.
- Open Apps.
- Click Cortana.
- Click Advanced options.
- Click Reset.
If you know more details about this, than you can check on Microsoft support center.
Causes of ‘Cortana voice commands not working’ issue on Windows 11/10
- Cortana is disabled in the Windows settings.
- The microphone is disabled.
- Interference from an antivirus program or another process.
FAQ
Why Cortana stopped working
Cortana might not work in Windows for the following reasons: In the Windows settings, Cortana is turned off. The microphone has been turned off. Interference from an antivirus programme or another programme.
How do I activate voice commands in Windows 11
- Choose “Start,” “Settings,” “Time & Language,” and then “Speech.”
- Select the Start button under Microphone.
- The Speech Wizard window pops up, and the setup process begins on its own. If your microphone has any problems, the wizard will tell you about them in the wizard dialogue box.
Is Cortana disabled Windows 11
In Windows 11, Cortana is no longer stuck to the taskbar. If Voice activation is on, you can call up Cortana by saying “Cortana” or typing “Cortana” into the search box on the taskbar. Click Search on the taskbar and type “Cortana.” Right-click on Cortana in the search results, and then choose “Pin to taskbar.”
Why is my Cortana not responding to voice commands
Make sure your microphone is turned on and set as the main device: Right-click the volume icon on the taskbar, or press and hold it, and choose Sounds. Check that your microphone is turned on and set as the Default device in the Recording tab.
Why is voice typing not working Windows 11
You can open Settings from the Start menu or by pressing Windows + I while in that app. Then go to Settings and choose Privacy and security. Next, click on the “Microphone” link. If the Microphone access option is off, turn it on.
Is it okay to delete Cortana
It’s no longer tied to Microsoft Search. Instead, it’s a separate app that you can use on its own. Since it is not part of the operating system as a whole, it is easy to remove. You can uninstall Cortana if you don’t want to use it at all and would rather it was gone from your system.