How to Have Cortana Learn your Voice for 'Hey Cortana' in Windows 10

This tutorial is no longer valid starting with Windows 10 version 2004.

Cortana is your cloud-based personal assistant that works across your devices and other Microsoft services. Depending on the capabilities of your device and the version of Cortana you’re using, Cortana can provide a range of features, some of which are personalized. Cortana on Windows is available in certain regions and languages. If Cortana isn’t available for your Windows device, you can still search for files on your device in the search box on the taskbar. Cortana is also available on other platforms, such as Android and iOS, in select markets.

Cortana works best when you sign in and let her use data from your device, other Microsoft services, and third-party services you choose to connect. To provide you with personalized experiences, Cortana learns from certain data about you, such as your searches, calendar, contacts, and location. You’re in control of how much data you share. If you choose not to sign into Cortana on Windows, you can still chat with Cortana and use her to help you search the web, documents stored in Microsoft services like OneDrive, and your Windows device. See the section about Windows Search in the Privacy Statement for more information. If you don’t sign in, or you choose to sign out, your experiences will be more limited and they won’t be personalized with your Cortana data. On iOS and Android devices, Cortana only works when you sign in.

For more information about Cortana, see: What is Cortana - Microsoft Windows

If Cortana doesn't respond when you speak, you can troubleshoot by checking and setting up the microphone to make sure Cortana can hear you.

This tutorial will show you how to troubleshoot the microphone if Cortana does not respond when you speak Hey Cortana in Windows 10.




Here's How:

1. Open Settings, and click/tap on the Cortana icon.

2. Click/tap on Talk to Cortana on the left side, and click/tap on the Check the microphone link under Microphone on the right side. (see screenshot below)

3. Click/tap on Cortana can't hear me. (see screenshot below)

4. Select (dot) your microphone, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)

5. Click/tap on Set up the mic. (see screenshot below)

6. Click/tap on Next when ready to set up your microphone. (see screenshot below)

7. Read aloud the sentence, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)

8. When troubleshooting has completed, you clan click/tap on Close after reviewing the results. (see screenshot below)

That's it,
Shawn

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