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Brycennin's avatar
Brycennin
Brass Contributor
Jun 01, 2026

How to convert or turn speech to text on my computer?

A tech newbie. I have some voice recordings, online meeting audio, and a few speeches that I would like to turn into readable text, but I am not sure what tool or method works best on Windows 11. I ...
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Jeffrey148's avatar
Jeffrey148
Copper Contributor
Jun 01, 2026

Handy is an excellent choice for a speech to text converter on your Windows PC. It is a free, open-source application that runs entirely offline, meaning your voice recordings and meeting audio never leave your computer. This makes it a great option if you are concerned about privacy or simply don't want to pay for expensive software.

How to get and use Handy:

1. Download from GitHub: Search for "Handy GitHub" in your browser

2. Choose the Windows version

3. Install and open the application

4. Select your preferred model:

  • Choose Whisper Turbo or Whisper Large for best accuracy
  • The model will download once

5. Set your language to Chinese or your preferred language rather than auto-detection

6. Use the shortcut (default is Option + Space on Mac, customizable on Windows) — hold it while speaking or playing your recording, release when done

7. The text appears instantly wherever your cursor is placed

Limitation to know: Handy currently does not automatically add punctuation (periods, commas, question marks). You would need to add these manually or use an AI tool afterward. And. All in all, It is a smart, free solution for your speech to text converter needs.