Fixing Speech Recognition Error

Thanks - this is a great find and an excellent write-up. Your diagnosis and solution are exactly what others will need when ARC reports: "Speech recognition is not supported due to an invalid operating system or missing device."

Short summary (for anyone scanning):

• Root cause: Windows did not have the required language pack / speech language installed (even though English US was set).
• Symptom: Speech Recognition control failed to start with the error you pasted and the microphone waveform area stayed gray.
• Fix: Install the Windows language pack (and ensure the Speech component is installed), sign out / reboot, then restart ARC - speech recognition works again.

Useful links

• Speech Recognition skill manual: https://synthiam.com/Support/Skills/Audio/Speech-Recognition?id=16118
• Camera / audio / microphone troubleshooting: https://synthiam.com/Support/troubleshooting/camera-audio-microphone-issues
• ARC downloads & info: https://synthiam.com/Products/ARC

Step-by-step: install the Windows speech language (expanded)

1. Start > Settings > Time & language > Language & region (or Language depending on your Windows version).
2. If your desired language is not listed, click Add a language and install it.
3. Click the language you installed > Options. Under "Language pack" click Install.
4. IMPORTANT: In Options check that the Speech feature is installed (some installs offer separate components). If Speech is not installed, install it.
5. Go to Settings > Time & language > Speech and set "Speech language" to the installed language if available.
6. Sign out and back in, or reboot the PC.
7. Open ARC and the Speech Recognition skill. In the skill’s Settings make sure the Language drop-down matches your Windows speech language. Also press "Setup Microphone" and confirm the VU meter responds.
8. If it still doesn’t start, check Windows Privacy: Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone - ensure apps (and desktop apps) are allowed to use the mic.

Why the gray waveform happens

• The waveform is gray because the Microsoft speech engine never initialized (missing/invalid speech language or speech component). Installing the language pack + speech component initializes the engine and ARC can use it, restoring the live waveform and letting recognition start.

Extra tips

• Use a headset or close mic for best results (less false positives).
• If you plan to support other languages, install their Speech component and update the Speech Recognition skill’s Language drop-down.
• If you want to add this exact solution to the Synthiam troubleshooting page, post your write-up in Community with screenshots - it's very helpful.

Would you confirm:

• Which Windows version/build (Windows 10/11 and build number) you were on when this happened?
• Did you have to explicitly install "Speech" for the language (some Windows setups separate language pack vs speech pack)?

If you want, I can format your steps + screenshot into a short "Troubleshooting" post and point people to it on the community/support page - want me to do that?

Great find, however, the information is incorrect. The issue you experienced is because a language pack that does not support speech recognition was installed. According to Microsoft Windows documentation, speech recognition requires a supported language pack. Not all language packs support speech recognition. The speech recognition manual has more information on your question. Can you access the robot skills manuals by pressing the? (question mark) icon on the robot skill. You will find that icon next to the X (close) on each robot skill.

Good catch - thanks for the clarification. Synthiam_Support is correct: the root cause is not simply "missing a language pack" but installing a language pack that does NOT include Windows speech support. Not all Windows language packs include the Speech component, and Microsoft only enables speech recognition for supported languages.

Quick summary of the difference

• Symptom you saw: ARC’s Speech Recognition control failed to start and the waveform stayed gray.
• What happened: Windows did not expose a usable speech engine because the installed language pack either lacked speech support or the Speech component wasn’t installed.
• Result: ARC couldn’t initialize Microsoft’s speech engine, so recognition failed. Installing a language pack that includes speech (or explicitly installing the Speech component for that language) fixes it.

What to check / step-by-step

1. Verify the installed language supports speech:
   • Windows Settings Time & language Language & region (or Language).
   • Click the language you want Options. Check whether "Speech" (or "Speech language" / "Speech component") is listed and installed. If it’s not present, that language pack will not provide speech recognition.
2. If Speech is missing, install it:
   • In Options for the language, click Install / Download for the Language pack and ensure the Speech feature is selected.
3. Set the speech language:
   • Settings Time & language Speech set "Speech language" to the installed language that supports speech.
4. Sign out / reboot the PC.
5. Confirm Windows microphone permissions:
   • Settings Privacy & security Microphone - ensure apps (and desktop apps) can access the microphone.
6. In ARC:
   • Open the Speech Recognition skill, open its Settings and confirm the Language drop-down matches your Windows speech language.
   • Click "Setup Microphone" and verify the VU meter moves.
7. If you installed a language that still doesn’t work, remove that language and install a supported speech language (for example, en-US is commonly supported).

Accessing the robot skill manuals & config

• Each robot skill has a question-mark icon (?) in the top-right of the robot skill window (next to the X close button) - click that to open the robot skill manual.
• To edit skill settings, click the kebab (three lines / hamburger) or the Config button in the skill title bar.

Useful links

• Speech Recognition manual: https://synthiam.com/Support/Skills/Audio/Speech-Recognition?id=16118
• Camera / audio / microphone troubleshooting: https://synthiam.com/Support/troubleshooting/camera-audio-microphone-issues

Would you please confirm:

• Which language pack you had installed (exact name, e.g., "English (United States)" or another language)?
• Which Windows version (Windows 10 / 11 and build if known)?

If you like, I can turn your original write-up into a short troubleshooting post that emphasizes "install a language pack that supports speech" (and include the steps above). Want me to prepare that?

hi all

remember win10 is no longer updateble .

Good reminder - thanks, Nomad_6R. A few clarifications and practical points for anyone using ARC Speech Recognition:

• Microsoft still provides security updates for Windows 10 Home/Pro through October 14, 2025. That means Windows 10 is still receiving critical updates (not "end of life" yet), but feature updates are limited compared to newer Windows 11 releases.
• Speech recognition in ARC relies on the Windows speech engine. That engine and the available speech languages depend on the Windows version/build and which language packs/components are installed - not ARC itself. So even on Windows 10 you can run Speech Recognition, provided a supported Speech language/component is installed.

Quick checklist if you (or someone reading) are worried about speech on Windows 10:

1. Confirm Windows version/build: Start > Settings > System > About (or winver). Tell me the version if you want help diagnosing.
2. Check Windows Update status: Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. Install pending updates - some speech language features may come as optional updates.
3. Verify language + speech component: Settings > Time & language > Language > click the language > Options. Make sure the Language Pack and the Speech component are installed.
4. Set the Speech language: Settings > Time & language > Speech -> set the "Speech language" to a supported language.
5. Microphone permissions: Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone - allow desktop apps to access the mic.
6. Test Windows Speech Recognition standalone: Start > type "Windows Speech Recognition" and run the built-in app to verify Windows itself can initialize speech.

Helpful Synthiam docs:

• Speech Recognition skill manual: https://synthiam.com/Support/Skills/Audio/Speech-Recognition?id=16118
• Camera / audio / microphone troubleshooting: https://synthiam.com/Support/troubleshooting/camera-audio-microphone-issues

Would you (or Nomad_6R) share which Windows build you’re running and whether you’re seeing any ARC errors? I can help diagnose further or draft a short troubleshooting note to add to the Synthiam support resources.

@athena

can it be diff voor usa and belgium ?

Yes - it can definitely be different between the USA and Belgium. Windows speech recognition depends on the exact speech language that is installed and available on your system, and not every Windows language pack (or regional variant such as nl-BE / fr-BE) includes a speech component. In short: some language packs support Microsoft Speech, others do not - so behavior can vary by country / language variant.

What to check (quick steps)

1. Check Speech language in Windows

   • Settings > Time & language > Speech
   • Look at the "Speech language" dropdown - if it’s empty or doesn’t show the language you expect, the speech engine is not available for that language.

2. Check the language pack + Speech component

   • Settings > Time & language > Language & region (or Language).
   • Click the language you have (e.g., "Dutch (Belgium)" or "French (Belgium)") > Options.
   • Under Language pack / Features, confirm the Speech component is installed. If Speech is missing, that language variant will not provide speech recognition.

3. Install a supported speech language (test with enUS)

   • If you’re unsure whether your language supports speech, install English (United States) as a test: Add a language > English (United States) > Options > Install Language pack and ensure Speech is installed.
   • Sign out or reboot after installation.

4. Test native Windows speech first

   • Start > type "Windows Speech Recognition" and run the builtin app. If it starts, Windows speech is available for that language.

5. Check ARC Speech Recognition settings

   • Open the Speech Recognition robot skill, click the ? for the manual if needed.
   • In the skill Settings, set the Language dropdown to match the Windows Speech language. Click "Setup Microphone" and confirm the VU meter moves.
   • If ARC still shows a gray waveform, restart ARC after installing the speech pack.

6. Microphone privacy and permissions

   • Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone - make sure apps (and "Let desktop apps access your microphone") are allowed.

Why Belgium vs USA can differ

• Regional language variants matter (nlBE vs nlNL vs enUS). Microsoft may enable speech for nlNL but not for nlBE, or for frFR but not frBE.
• Installing the language pack is not always enough - some installs separate the core language pack and the Speech feature.
• Windows version/build can also affect language/speech availability.

If you want me to help further

• Tell me the exact language you have installed (example: "Dutch (Belgium) - nl-BE" or "French (Belgium) - fr-BE") and your Windows version (Windows 10 or 11 and WinVer/build).
• Upload the screenshot you posted (I can inspect it) or just paste the language text you see in Settings. I’ll tell you whether that language supports speech and walk you through installing a supported speech pack or how to test with enUS.

Useful links

• Speech Recognition skill manual: https://synthiam.com/Support/Skills/Audio/Speech-Recognition?id=16118
• Camera / audio / microphone troubleshooting: https://synthiam.com/Support/troubleshooting/camera-audio-microphone-issues

Want me to create a short step-by-step you can post in the community (emphasizing "install a language pack that supports speech")?