I've had this problem for quite some time now, across two W11 installs (same machine).

My last W11 install I figured the problems might've been caused by speech engine changes within the Insider Preview version of Windows I was using at the time. So I was not going to bring those issues here, using a non-standard installation.

So I returned to flying without it for the next few months.

Well, recently I did a fresh W11 install (completely wiped drive) with a standard version of W11 Pro, and I am having the exact same issue.

I can get through the Wizard and voice training fine, but once I load MCE after an aircraft (ANY aircraft) is loaded, MCE doesn't seem to recognize that I say anything at all. 

I've reset the settings and re-run the Wizard twice.

Any ideas?

On 2/9/2026 at 1:29 AM, crab said:

I've had this problem for quite some time now, across two W11 installs (same machine).

My last W11 install I figured the problems might've been caused by speech engine changes within the Insider Preview version of Windows I was using at the time. So I was not going to bring those issues here, using a non-standard installation.

So I returned to flying without it for the next few months.

Well, recently I did a fresh W11 install (completely wiped drive) with a standard version of W11 Pro, and I am having the exact same issue.

I can get through the Wizard and voice training fine, but once I load MCE after an aircraft (ANY aircraft) is loaded, MCE doesn't seem to recognize that I say anything at all. 

I've reset the settings and re-run the Wizard twice.

Any ideas?

Should have posted before assuming could be WIn11 update causing it.

Never consider wiping C drive or even re-installing flight sim to troubleshoot MCE issues. Restore MCE to factory settings is often the only thing needed, assuming your sound system is working.

This can happen when you have multiple audio devices and somehow MCE sets itself on the wrong device.

Click WIndows menu Start->Multi Crew Experience->Assign sound device.

When the tool runs, carefully select which microphone MCE should use (Audio IN) and where the Audio out should go to hear the crew and click OK.

MCE will then make the necessary changes automatically. 

With MCE running, go to <About> tab and check which devices are showing for "Sound In" and "Sound Out" in case you still can't get speech in or can't hear the crew.

There is one particular scenarion where you won't get speech in. It happens when using a conventional (non-usb) headset with a Realtek built-in sound chip. Typical mistake, pug headset 3 mm jacks to front of the PC.Result, no audio, even though you know your headset runs with other apps.

This is due to te poor Realtek audio drivers which don't distinguish between front mike and rear mike. The solution is to simply plug the headset to the back of the PC, or, un-install Realtek drivers, restart PC and let WIndows detect and use its better drivers. You can then run "Assign sound device tool" to select either "front mike" or "rear mike" and plug headset where it suits you.

This is one of the reasons the Demo often gets removed and available on request.

The vast majority of audio chips on moterboard are from Realtek. If somneone downloads the Demo, doesn't use  a USB headset, doesn't read any info on website or documentation and not having paid any money upfront, could easily just give up and think it doesn't work at all, when it's the most responsive speech reco solution for flight sim right now.