Windows 10 is a modern operating system that integrates very interesting features in order to help our productivity in the office or when we are using multiple programs at the same time and we cannot take our eyes off the monitor. Using voice commands to open sites and programs on Windows 10 is very simple thanks to the integration of Cortana, a recognition system based on artificial intelligence able to understand what you write but above all what we say.
In order to search for sites and programs with the voice on Windows 10, all we have to do is get a PC with a microphone (both the built-in one and a microphone from headphones or earphones are fine) and correctly configure Cortana to recognize our voice commands, which can be recalled both by means of the dedicated key and by voice recognition command.
Activate voice commands on Windows 10
Voice commands are available in the search bar normally visible at the bottom left of all Windows 10 installations; alternatively, a simple circle may appear, based on your preferences.
If the bar or circle does not appear, make sure to activate them by right clicking anywhere on the bar and enabling Cortana -> Show Cortana icon or Show search box .
The bar is more convenient to use because there is a microphone icon, so you can quickly recall voice commands.
We click on this icon to start Cortana and the configuration procedure (if it is the first time that we start the voice commands).
We will see a warning window appear, where Cortana will confirm access to the microphone device (essential for activating voice commands).
We click on Certo to authorize Cortana's use of the microphone; immediately after artificial intelligence will ask you if we want to record our vocal track (by pronouncing sentences), so as to improve recognition and facilitate the search for programs and sites based on our tone of voice.
We click again on Sure to allow the recording of the voice input; if we fear for our privacy or if the PC is used by multiple users we can also click on Later to avoid this step.
Now you are ready to use voice commands, always if the microphone is recognized correctly!
Voice commands
To search for a program or a site with the voice, simply click on the microphone symbol (in the search bar) or on the Cortana icon in the shape of a sphere, then say loudly and clearly the word of the program or the site that we intend to achieve.
To open a program installed on the PC with the voice commands we say "Open" followed by the full name of the program.
The system is quite precise, just remember to correctly pronounce the full name of the program (the name we use is not always the complete one, better to know first the name of the executable with which Windows 10 indexes a program).
As an alternative to the Open command, we can use one of the following variants:
- Open "name" program
- Open "name" app
- Open "name" for me
- Run "name"
If, on the other hand, we want to open a website with voice commands, simply say the "Open site" command followed by the name of the same (better if accompanied by the complete domain, such as facebook.com).
The Cortana system automatically recognizes punctuation, allowing you to type the website correctly, also providing the possibility to choose which web browser to open the searched sites (if we have installed multiple browsers).
As already seen with the voice commands to open programs, there are variants of this voice command to open websites, here are the ones we have tried:
- Open website "name"
- Open Edge on the site "name"
- Open browser on "name"
- Take me to the site "name"
- Open "site"
Opening websites with voice commands is extremely precise, I recommend using them often if we open multiple sites at the same time and do not have time to type by hand.
READ ALSO: Things to say to Cortana in Windows 10 and ways to use the voice assistant
Activate Cortana automatically
We don't want to press the microphone button every time to start a voice search "> To activate this feature, all we have to do is go to Settings -> Cortana and activate the voice Allow Cortana to answer" Hey Cortana " .
Now the microphone will always be active, so you can recall Cortana's voice search at any time without having to click on the microphone icon each time or recall the search bar.
We can instruct Cortana to respond to any command Hey Cortana pronounced (even by strangers) or adjust artificial intelligence to respond only to our voice.
To filter the voice commands so that they only respond to our voice, let's go to Settings -> Cortana and click on Learn to recognize my pronunciation for Hey Cortana .
The system will make us repeat some sentences made to be able to memorize our vocal imprint; at the end of the indicated steps we activate the item Try to answer only to me (now available) to limit the use of Cortana only to us.
READ ALSO: How to activate Cortana on Windows 10 to speak with the PC
Cortana settings
The microphone is not working ">
From here we can check if the microphone is correctly recognized by Cortana, change the permissions relating to privacy and the Web filter used during searches.
If something doesn't work with supported voice commands, this is definitely the right place where we can solve them.
READ ALSO: Turn off your PC by voice in Windows 10
