- To lock your PC, just use the following command to make a shortcut to lock your windows computer and then just name it as Lock: rundll32.exe user32.dll,LockWorkStation; And now say Hey Cortana and now Open Lock. So, these are the easy steps that you can follow to turn on and off, sleep or hibernate your Windows 10 PC using voice commands.
- From: CookBoy. The same happen to me, figured it out today how to turn it off. Step 1:Open control panel. Step 2:Click on Optimize visual display under Ease of Access. Step 3:Uncheck turn on narrator. Step 4:Click on apply. Step 5:Restart system. After I restarted narrator popped up at the logon screen but after that everything was cool.
VoiceOver is a visual accessibility feature that allows you to operate your Mac using just your keyboard while having items on the screen read out to you. It's an exceptionally handy tool for the visually impaired and it comes complete with training so that you can learn to use it to its fullest.
Turn Off VoiceOver on Mac VoiceOver is an assistive technology built right into the MacOS software, in order to help people with poor vision. Once VoiceOver is enabled on a Mac, it starts reading whatever is on the screen in a Computer generated voice.
How to enable VoiceOver
- Click the Apple menu button in the top left corner of your screen.
- Click System Preferences.
Click Accessibility. It's on the very bottom right of the System Preferences pane.
- Click VoiceOver.
Click the checkbox next to Enable VoiceOver. If you have never enabled VoiceOver before, a narrator will welcome you to VoiceOver and tell you to press the V key on your keyboard if you've used VoiceOver before or press the Spacebar if you haven't.
Alternatively, you can press Command-F5 to enable VoiceOver.
How to use VoiceOver Training
VoiceOver on Mac takes some getting used to. Yes, you use your keyboard, but keys don't always do what you'd expect them to do. For instance, the arrow keys don't move you around the screen like you'd think they would. Here's how to go through VoiceOver Training:
- Click the Apple menu button in the top left corner of your screen.
- Click System Preferences.
Click Accessibility. It's on the very bottom right of the System Preferences pane.
- Click VoiceOver.
- Click Open VoiceOver Training…
Press the right arrow key through the tutorial and practice the various VoiceOver controls as instructed. Alternatively, you can click Continue.
How to change the VoiceOver voice
If you find the VoiceOver voice a bit difficult to understand or you'd just prefer a different voice, you can change it up in System Preferences.
- Click the Apple menu button in the top left corner of your screen.
Click System Preferences.
- Click Accessibility.
Click Speech.
- Click the dropdown menu next to System Voice.
Click a voice.
- Click the Play button to preview the voice.
Click and drag the slider next to Speaking Rate to speed up or slow down VoiceOver.
How to use VoiceOver Utility
The VoiceOver Utility is where you can control certain aspects of VoiceOver, like the greeting when you turn on your Mac, the modifier key, and more.
- Click the Apple menu button in the top left corner of your screen.
- Click System Preferences.
Click Accessibility. It's on the very bottom right of the System Preferences pane.
- Click VoiceOver.
Click Open VoiceOver Utility…
- Click in the dialog box and type in a new greeting if you want to change it from the default.
Click the checkbox next to Display welcome dialog when VoiceOver starts if you want to enable it.
- Click the dropdown menu next to Keys to use as the VoiceOver modifier if you'd like to change them from the defaults (caps lock and control-option). You can set the keys to be just Caps Lock, just Control-Option, or both.
Click the checkbox next to Allow VoiceOver to be controlled with AppleScript if you'd like to enable the feature.
How to set up VoiceOver Portable Preferences
You can set your preferences for VoiceOver and then take them with you wherever you go using a removable drive.
- Click the Apple menu button in the top left corner of your screen.
- Click System Preferences.
Click Accessibility. It's on the very bottom right of the System Preferences pane.
- Click VoiceOver.
Click Open VoiceOver Utility…
- Click Set Up… next to Portable Preferences.
- Click your portable drive in the list.
Click OK.
How to enable Descriptions
You can enable voice description of visual content so that, when available, you'll hear descriptions of the video you're watching.
- Click the Apple menu button in the top left corner of your screen.
- Click System Preferences.
Click Accessibility. It's on the very bottom right of the System Preferences pane.
- Click Descriptions in the menu on the left.
Click the checkbox next to Play audio descriptions when available to enable descriptions by default. They'll always play if they're available.
Improvements coming in macOS Catalina
Apple occasionally offers updates to iOS, watchOS, tvOS, and macOS as closed developer previews or public betas for iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and Mac (sadly, no public beta for the Apple Watch). While the betas contain new features, they also contain pre-release bugs that can prevent the normal use of your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV, or Mac, and are not intended for everyday use on a primary device. That's why we strongly recommend staying away from developer previews unless you need them for software development, and using the public betas with caution. If you depend on your devices, wait for the final release.
The next version of macOS includes some new features for VoiceOver. In macOS Catalina, Apple's adding the following:
Simplified tab navigation: You will enjoy improved keyboard navigation, which will require less drilling into unique focus groups. The Tab key now advances through a selection of elements, such as window stoplights, toolbar buttons, and scroll bars.
Hello, Siri: You can now use the female Siri voice for VoiceOver.
Punctuation in iCloud: When you customize the way punctuation marks are spoken, they are now stored in iCloud. In doing so, the marks are consistent across Mac and mobile devices.
Improved VoiceOver support in Xcode: Warnings, line numbers, and breakpoints are now readable with VoiceOver in Xcode.
Enhance your Mac with these solutions
Your Mac could be even more useful with one of our favorite accessories.
Das Keyboard 4 Professional($169 at Amazon)
If you're more into mechanical keyboards, the Das Keyboard 4 should be what you're looking for, with options available for Cherry MX Blue or Brown switches. There's even an option for RGB backlighting, as well as media keys with a built-in volume knob.
Beats Studio3 Wireless Headphones($350 at Amazon)
These over-ear headphones provide a significant sound alternative to AirPods while being just about as easy to use. Like the AirPods, connect easily to your Apple devices thanks to the built-in W1 chip, which allows the pairing to sync across devices logged into iCloud.
Questions?
Let us know in the comments below!
macOS
Main
We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.
Has Siri gotten you accustomed to barking commands at electronics devices? Or has the absence of Siri in your life left you pining for a machine to command?
If you nodded in agreement to either of the above questions, and you own a Mac, did you know it has a built-in speech recognition tool? One that will speak back to you? Even tell you a terrible knock-knock joke?
If you'd like to begin conversing with your Mac, it is a simple process to enable speech recognition. Here's how:
Step 1: Go into System Preferences and choose Speech.
Step 2: Click Speech Recognition at the top (next to Text to Speech) and next to Speakable Items, click On.
Step 3: Click the Calibrate button and adjust the slider as you speak the phrases listed to get the volume level just right.
Step 4: Choose a voice for your Mac. Click Text to Speech at the top of the Speech window and select a name from the pull-down menu next to System Voice. Some are male (Alex, Junior, Ralph) and some are female (Agnes, Kathy, Victoria), while others are deranged (Deranged) or incomprehensible (Bubbles). You can also adjust how fast your Mac will speak by using the slider next to Speaking Rate.
Further, if you go back to the Speech Recognition window, you'll see two options next to Listening Method; you can choose whether your Mac will listen at all times or only when you hold down a key. The default key is Esc, but you can change it to another key or key combination by clicking the Change Key button next to the Listening Key header. I changed it from Esc because with speech enabled, I couldn't escape out of a screen capture, for example, using Command-Shift-4.
Also on the Speech Recognition window, at the bottom is a check box for Speak command acknowledgement. Check this box if you'd like your Mac to play a sound when it understands a command. I found it useful at first, when I was getting used to speaking to my Mac. I found that I was actually speaking too slowly, and when I used a more natural speaking tone and pace, my Mac recognized more of my commands.
With speech enabled, you'll see a small, circular microphone window. The microphone icon is grayed out and when you press your Listening Key(s), it turns black, letting you know your Mac has his or her ears on.
How To Turn Off Voice Command Mac
So, what sorts of commands does it recognize? For a list, click the small arrow at the bottom of the circular microphone window and choose Open Speech Commands window. Here you'll see commands grouped under Address Book, Speakable Items, and Application Switching.
Voice Command Pc
I haven't found a speech command yet that I think I'd use with any regularity, but I do enjoy saying, 'Mail to Mike Elliott' and having my Mac open up a Gmail window addressed to my brother. And under Speakable Items, I like the Move page to top or bottom commands when reading a long Web page (though, admittedly, swiping on the trackpad with three fingers is quicker). Also helpful were the app-switching and -quitting commands. And finally, you can command your Mac to tell you a joke, if you are in the mood for truly awful knock-knock jokes.
Turn Off Voice Command Iphone
Are there speech commands you use with your Mac? If so, tell us your favorites in the comments below. And if you have a Windows 7 machine, here's how to use speech recognition on your computer, as well.