Word Dictation not working

I've been having the same problem with my new microphone (a Rode shotgun using a Focusright audio interface) on my PC and cannot resolve it this way.

I've been onto Microsoft support five times and nothing has worked. I've got a current subscription, had Office repaired and repaired, uninstalled, reinstalled, the permissions checked over and over, removed potentially conflicting input devices and so on. I have also tried the steps above.

The last time I used support, my PC restarted and lost internet connecting no obvious way to fix it - and of course I couldn't chat with them. I got it working again (but having to reconfig some stuff) after using my personal laptop to communicate - but I don't want to risk using them again because they keep stuffing this up for me! They were also supposed to have a supervisor call me - but that didn't happen.

(Sorry to go on about that - but just saying I don't trust MS Support this time around). The funny thing is the same issue was fixed on my work laptop (yes, I have two) in 5 mins with our IT people fiddling with Device Manager - so God knows why MS can't fix it.  They (my work IT area) also did the 16.0 thing above - I remember them doing that.

Anyway, I can use Win+H without a problem - so will have to use that going forward.  That's obviously not actually a big deal (after all that fuss!) but the fact the Dictate button won't work on my PC and MS doesn't seem able to fix it, mystifies me.