Whispering Windows Speech To Text

A minimal Windows 11 setup for using Whispering as a speech-to-text tool for coding prompts.

1. Install Whispering

Download the Windows .msi installer from the official Whispering page. Use the native Windows download; the page lists Windows 10/11 support.

Install it normally.

2. Enable microphone permissions

In Windows 11, open:

Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone

Turn on:

• Microphone access
• Let desktop apps access your microphone

3. Configure the hotkey and output

In Whispering, open the shortcut or hotkey settings and choose something like:

Ctrl + Alt + Space

Avoid Alt + Space, because Windows uses it for window menus. Avoid Ctrl + Space if you use it to switch between Chinese and English input methods.

Set output mode to one of:

• Paste at cursor
• Copy to clipboard + paste

4. Choose a local transcription model

For the most China-friendly setup, start with local transcription:

• Provider: Local
• Engine: Whisper.cpp / Speaches

Recommended models:

Laptop	Model
Weak laptop or battery mode	base.en
Normal modern laptop	small.en
Strong laptop or plugged in	medium.en
English and Chinese	small or medium, not .en

For vibe coding prompts, start with small.en. It is usually accurate enough without being too slow.