How to Access and Use Microsoft Word’s Hidden Transcription Feature
How to Access and Use Microsoft Word’s Hidden Transcription Feature
Did you know Microsoft Word has a feature that lets you upload and transcribe audio files? This voice transcription tool is perfect for transcribing interviews, meeting notes, or anything else with speech. Best of all, it’s unlimited in terms of audio minutes and works really well. Here’s how to use it:
The transcription feature is hidden in Word because it’s not available in the version you’re likely using. As of April 2023, transcription is only available in Microsoft Word for the web—the online version you access through browsers like Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, or Apple Safari.
If you’re using Microsoft Word on Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone, or iPad, you won’t find the Transcribe feature in those apps.
How to Access Transcription:
- Go to the Word Online website and sign in with your Microsoft 365 account.
- Create a new Word document or open an existing one.
- Under the Home tab, click the down arrow next to the microphone-shaped Dictate button, and select Transcribe from the menu.
- Using the Transcribe Feature in Word
- The Transcribe panel will open. You can click the Start Recording button to have Word transcribe audio directly from your device’s microphone. Alternatively, click Upload Audio to upload an existing audio file in WAV, MP3, M4A, or MP3 format.
- You can upload recordings from devices like your phone or an audio recorder—perfect for transcribing interviews or meetings.
Editing and Using Your Transcription in Word
Microsoft Word will automatically transcribe the uploaded audio file on their servers. Once the transcription is complete, you can edit it and label the speakers in the Transcribe sidebar. Then, use the Add to Document feature to insert the transcription into your open Word document, and choose whether to include speaker names and timestamps.
After adding the transcription to your Word Online document, you can easily copy and paste it into any other application you need. While Microsoft’s transcription feature works well and is good at picking up even muffled audio, it’s not flawless. You may want to make some edits, especially if you’re planning to publish the transcription.