---
title: "Offline speech to text on Windows | DictationDesk"
canonical: https://dictationdesk.com/use-cases/offline-speech-to-text-windows
last_modified: 2026-11-01
publisher: Surge Software Solutions Private Limited
---

# Offline speech to text on Windows | DictationDesk

> DictationDesk has an offline mode for Windows: speech is turned into text on your own PC by whisper.cpp, an open-source speech engine, with no internet connection.

DictationDesk has an offline mode for Windows: speech is turned into text on your own PC by whisper.cpp, an open-source speech engine, with no internet connection. It is the same hold-Ctrl+Win, speak, release flow, the same filler removal and corrections, and because it runs on your machine it costs ₹0 to use.

## The problem

Cloud dictation stops when the Wi-Fi drops, on a train or in a client's office, and some work should not leave the laptop at all. Most popular dictation apps for Windows are cloud only.

## How to do it with DictationDesk

1. **Create your account (optional for offline)**: An account syncs your dictionary and snippets. The app also works fully offline in English without one.
2. **Install the app**: The Windows installer includes the English base model (148 MB on disk). More models can be downloaded from Settings → Offline model.
3. **Turn on Offline only**: In the app's settings, choose offline mode so speech never goes to a server.
4. **Hold Ctrl+Win and speak**: Speak as usual and release. whisper.cpp transcribes on your PC; the on-device cleaner removes fillers and applies corrections.
5. **Check the result**: In our Windows test the offline engine typed “So hello team. The demo is at 6 today. Thanks.” from a sentence full of fillers and a correction.

## Tips

- The model is loaded only while transcribing, so memory stays low when idle.
- Larger models (small, small.en) are more accurate but slower on older CPUs.
- AI polish and command mode need the cloud; offline keeps to the on-device cleaner.

## When DictationDesk is not the right tool

Offline speech recognition on a laptop CPU is slower and a little less accurate than our cloud engine on a GPU, and AI clean-up and command mode need the cloud. If you mainly want the most polished text, use cloud mode; if you need Mac support today, DictationDesk is not available there yet.

## Questions

### Is offline dictation charged after the free period?

No. It runs on your PC, so it costs us nothing and is priced at ₹0.

### Which languages work offline?

English today. Indian languages are built for the cloud path and switched off.

### Does offline mode send anything?

If you are signed in, the app reports word counts for your stats, never the text or audio. Offline only mode keeps everything on the PC.

Where things stand: the DictationDesk Windows app is in private testing and not downloadable yet. Today you can create your account, set up your dictionary, snippets and team, and try the AI clean-up in your browser. We email you when the app is ready. macOS and phone keyboards are planned, with no date yet.

Price: free for your first 3 months, with everything unlocked. After that you pay only for what you use, at our cost with no markup: about ₹2.20 per hour of cloud audio and ₹0.02 per AI clean-up (our estimates). Offline dictation is ₹0. No card needed to start.

Related: /use-cases/private-dictation-no-audio-stored, /use-cases/lightweight-dictation-low-ram, /vs/wispr-flow, /pricing

Last updated 2026-11-01 · by Venu Gopal Reddy Muvva, founder