If you're using System Voice Recognition instead of "Voice" for voice recognition in Phasmophobia, follow this step-by-step guide to ensure it’s set up and functioning properly.
⚠️ Important: Voice recognition is only supported on Windows 10. If you’re using Windows 11, results may vary.
✅ Getting Set Up
🎙️ 1. Set the Correct Microphone
Make sure your preferred microphone is selected in all the right places:
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Windows: Right-click the volume icon → Sounds → Recording tab
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Steam: Go to Steam Settings → Voice → Set the correct input device
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Phasmophobia: Options → Audio → Select the correct microphone
📸 Refer to the attached image for a visual guide.
🌐 2. Install the English (US or UK) Language Pack
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Press the
Windowskey → open Settings -
Search for Language Settings
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Click “Add a Language”
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Choose English (United States) or English (United Kingdom)
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It must include a microphone icon next to the name
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This installs the speech recognition driver
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🗣️ 3. Configure Speech Recognition Settings
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In Speech Settings, do the following:
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✅ Set your installed language as the Speech Language
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✅ Turn on "Recognize non-native accents"
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✅ Enable Online Speech Recognition
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Set this same language in:
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Cortana Language Settings
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Phasmophobia > Options > Other > Voice Language
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💡 These three language settings (Windows, Speech, Phasmophobia) must match exactly.
🔧 Fine-Tune Your Microphone
🎤 4. Enable Microphone Access
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Go to Settings → Search “Microphone privacy settings”
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Turn on:
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✅ "Allow apps to access your microphone"
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✅ "Allow desktop apps to access your microphone"
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⚙️ 5. Disable Exclusive Mode (Windows Sound Settings)
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Right-click the volume icon → Select Sounds
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Go to the Recording tab → Right-click your mic → Properties
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Under the Advanced tab:
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❌ Uncheck “Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device”
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📌 Repeat this step anywhere the microphone properties are available — including Windows Sound Settings and Privacy Settings
🔒 6. Don’t Run Steam or Phasmophobia as Administrator
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For Steam:
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Right-click the Steam shortcut → Properties → Compatibility tab
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❌ Uncheck "Run this program as administrator"
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For Phasmophobia:
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Navigate to:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Phasmophobia -
Right-click
Phasmophobia.exe→ Properties → Compatibility tab -
❌ Uncheck "Run this program as administrator"
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Verify via Task Manager:
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Open Task Manager → Go to Details tab
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Right-click a column header → Click “Select Columns”
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Enable “Elevated”
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Ensure both Steam and Phasmophobia say NO under the Elevated column
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🧩 Additional Fixes & Workarounds
💽 7. Move the Game to Your C: Drive
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Some users report better recognition reliability when the game is installed on the system drive (usually C:).
🚫 8. Disable Audio/Voice Software
Temporarily uninstall or disable any software that could interfere with mic access:
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Voicemeeter
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Nahimic
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Dolby Atmos
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Logitech G HUB
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Razer Cortex / Surround
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GeForce Experience
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Voicemod
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Any antivirus or firewall apps
Also close any applications that might be using your mic in the background (Zoom, Discord, browser tabs, etc.)
🌍 9. Match Region, Language & Speech (Fallback Fix)
Even if you're not in the U.S. or U.K., you can try:
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Setting your Region, Display Language, and Speech Language to English (United States)
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If that fails, try switching to English (United Kingdom)
🧑🚀 10. Windows Mixed Reality Users
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If you're using WMR headsets, apply the settings shown in the attached image to avoid compatibility issues.