Why is Cortana crashing as soon as the mic button is pressed?

[Windows Central Question]

Hi all. I upgraded to Windows 10 yesterday morning. Everything was working great, including Cortana. Earlier today, I noticed that my "Hey Cortana" feature wasn't working. I looked into it a little bit, and it seems that she just cannot listen. When I press the microphone button, the program Cortana crashes (it fully crashes, as the app disappears from the list in Task Manager). The program itself works just as it should when typing in text.

My microphone (stock X1 Carbon 3rd gen mic, using Realtek High Definition Audio drivers) is on and working. I can use speech recognition just fine. I've also tried restarting my computer, but that doesn't work either.

Anyone else have this problem? Any suggestions to fix this issue?

Thanks for your time.
Joe

 

[fdruid]

Re: Cortana crashing as soon as the mic button is pressed

I have the same issue. In fact, it started not working, but at some point it fixed itself. Now it's back to non-working.

 

[zzluckuxdzz]

Re: Cortana crashing as soon as the mic button is pressed

After search some solutions on GG. i think we have just one choice: Use System Restore Point !

 

[RyderCHIP]

Re: Cortana crashing as soon as the mic button is pressed

So... I'll tell you the most effective and easy solution of all time that should work for most bugs... RESTART YOUR PC -_-

 

[Dan Harvell1]

Re: Cortana crashing as soon as the mic button is pressed

Unfortunately, this is one thing that a reboot will not fix. I've rebooted more times than I care to count and the problem persists. All updates are current and all drivers on all devices are latest and (hopefully) greatest. So, sadly, the stock answer of "reboot" does not apply to this one.

 

[TAN CHEE PING]

Re: Cortana crashing as soon as the mic button is pressed

Well apparently, till Microsoft fix this problem, the temporary workaround when every time Cortana crash after pressing the microphone button is to go into Cortana setting, and turn it off and on again.

It works for me. Hope you guys will find the same too.

And yes, restarting your PC is not helpful here.

 

[iNEIL03]

Re: Cortana crashing as soon as the mic button is pressed

this also happening to me i dont know why

 

[Rico MegaSuper]

Solution: Open Speech Recognition by clicking the Start button Picture of the Start button, clicking Control Panel, clicking Ease of Access, and then clicking Speech Recognition.

Click Set up microphone.

It fixed for me.

 

[SargeBlackburn141]

Mine too.. Anyone know how to fix it??:crying:

 

[Sisaj Guglu]

Go to settings, type speech, and there change from microsoft mark, to microsoft zira.
It fied it for me

 

[Grimwar]

Go to settings, type speech, and there change from Microsoft Mark Mobile, to Microsoft Zira.
It fied it for me

Thank you This worked for me on a Microsoft Lumia 640xl. I had Microsoft Gorge mobile , i changed to Microsoft Zira Mobile and now Cortana works!
Great tip

on a Mobile version 1607, build 10.0.14393.67, which is the Anniversary Update.
1# go to all settings
2# Time & Language
3# Speech
4#At the bottom under the text of
Text-to-speech
Voice
Tap on the Microsoft xxxxx Mobile
Change it to a different Voice.

I had Microsoft George Mobile
I changed it to Microsoft Zira Mobile.

Now Cortana works!

 

[Stephen Lau]

Happens to me as well.

 

[Grimwar]

Happens to me as well.

What happens?

 

[chinni subhash]

Worked

 

[JoeJoevanman]

Changing from Microsoft Mark Mobile, to Microsoft Zira worked 100% for me, Jan 12/2017

 

[Mike-EEE]

Speech Recognition is not found under Ease of Access, or anywhere.

 

[WP_Love]

The solution in my case was to download the correct speech language within settings / speech.

(This will require a reboot)

In my case in was UK English, then make sure that matches what is in Cortana settings.

After that everything worked great.

I think what is broken is the notification that the correct language is not installed, so you are left to guess what the problem is!!

Hope this helps someone.

Cheers,

WP_Love

 

[adrian c2]

I have the same problem too. I use Cortana and it closed when I was trying to talk to her. I ended task of her but that did not stop the problem. If you have the solved the problem, like.