Windows Voice Clarity and Voice Focus
AI noise suppression from Microsoft, built into the operating system on Windows.
- Vendor
- Microsoft
- Kind
- AI
- Where in chain
- Operating system
- Platforms
- Windows
- Runs on
- CPU
- Price
- Included with Windows 11 (checked 2026-10-18)
- Requirements
- Windows 11. Voice Clarity runs on x64 and Arm64 processors with no extra hardware; Voice Focus needs a PC with an NPU whose maker has installed the Windows Studio Effects driver
- Last verified
- 2026-10-18
What it removes
- Background noise (Voice Clarity and Voice Focus)
- Echo (Voice Clarity)
- Room reverberation (Voice Clarity)
What it cannot do
- Voice Clarity is on by default with no switch Microsoft documents, and it works only in apps that use Windows' communications mode
- Voice Clarity began on Surface devices; Microsoft says it now reaches more PCs but does not list them
- Voice Focus is part of Windows Studio Effects and needs an NPU: if Studio Effects is missing from Quick Settings, your PC probably has none
- Voice Focus is for the built-in microphone, not a USB or Bluetooth headset
Where the setting is
Voice Clarity: no switch; to hear it, use the mic test in Settings → System → Sound → your microphone, which compares Default and Communications modes. Voice Focus: Quick Settings (network, sound or battery icon) → Studio Effects
The noise test hears your mic the way your browser gets it, which may not include Windows Voice Clarity and Voice Focus. Run it to see how much noise your mic picks up, so you know how much the filter has to remove.
Run the noise test →Works with
- Messaging 01
WhatsApp
Voice and video calls from your phone, your computer or a browser
Voice Clarity works in apps that use Windows' communications mode: Microsoft names Phone Link and WhatsApp, and PC games that use that mode for online chat. Voice Focus works on your PC's built-in microphone.
Checked against
Microsoft's own pages, last checked :
- support.microsoft.com · Inside This Update
- support.microsoft.com · Windows Studio Effects
- learn.microsoft.com · Windows Studio Effects Overview