What "Speaking" means on a Mac, and where to find it

Your Mac has two separate voice features that people often call "speaking". Text-to-Speech reads text aloud — useful if you want your Mac to read web pages, documents, or emails to you. Voice Control lets you operate your Mac by speaking commands instead of using the keyboard or trackpad. They live in different places in System Settings and do different things, so knowing which one you need matters.

Both are built into macOS and turned off by default. You don't need to download anything or pay for them. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you're running macOS Ventura, Sonoma, or an earlier version, but the settings are in the same general area.

Key Takeaways

  • Text-to-Speech reads content aloud and lives under Accessibility > Spoken Content; you can test it immediately by selecting text and pressing the keyboard shortcut.
  • Voice Control lets you speak commands to your Mac and is found under Accessibility > Voice Control; it requires a microphone and a moment to set up.
  • Both features work best when you know what you're trying to do — reading a document aloud is different from controlling your Mac by voice.
  • You can customize keyboard shortcuts, voice speed, and which voice reads to you, and these settings stay the same across your Mac.

Turning on Text-to-Speech to have your Mac read aloud

Open System Settings (the gear icon in your Dock or Applications folder). Click Accessibility in the left sidebar. Look for Spoken Content — this is the Text-to-Speech feature.

Click the toggle next to "Speak selection" to turn it on. This lets you select any text on your screen, then press the keyboard shortcut (usually Option + Esc) to hear it read aloud. You can change this shortcut by clicking "Customize" next to the toggle. Test it by opening a web page, highlighting a sentence, and pressing your shortcut key.

While you're in Spoken Content, you can also turn on "Speak screen" if you want your Mac to read an entire page or document from top to bottom. This uses a different keyboard shortcut (usually Control + Option + A). You can adjust the voice speed with the slider labeled "Speaking rate" — move it left to slow down, right to speed up.

Turning on Voice Control to speak commands to your Mac

Open System Settings and go to Accessibility again. This time, click Voice Control in the left sidebar. Click the toggle to turn it on. Your Mac will ask you to allow microphone access — click "OK".

The first time you enable Voice Control, your Mac listens for a few seconds to learn your voice and accent. Speak naturally into your microphone. After that, Voice Control stays on and listens for commands whenever you need it. You'll see a small microphone icon in the top right of your screen when it's active and listening.

Voice Control works with hundreds of built-in commands. You can say things like "click the Safari icon", "open Mail", "scroll down", or "go back". You can also create custom commands for tasks you do often. The full list of available commands appears in the Voice Control settings under "Commands" — scroll through to see what your Mac can do.

Customizing voices and speed for Text-to-Speech

In Spoken Content settings, click the dropdown next to "Voice" to choose which voice reads to you. macOS comes with several built-in voices, and they vary by accent and gender. Try a few to find one you prefer — you can hear a sample of each voice before you select it.

The "Speaking rate" slider controls how fast the voice speaks. If you find the default speed hard to follow, slow it down. If you want to move through text quickly, speed it up. This setting applies to both "Speak selection" and "Speak screen", so you only need to adjust it once.

Some voices are more natural-sounding than others, and some are optimized for speed. If you use Text-to-Speech often, spend a minute trying different voices — the one that sounds best to you will make reading aloud less tiring.

Setting up a microphone for Voice Control

Voice Control needs a microphone to hear your commands. Most Macs have a built-in microphone, but it works better if you're in a quiet room. If your Mac's built-in microphone isn't picking up your voice clearly, you can use an external USB microphone or a headset with a microphone.

To choose which microphone Voice Control uses, go to System Settings > Accessibility > Voice Control. Look for "Microphone" and click the dropdown to select a different device if you've plugged one in. Test your microphone by speaking a command like "show me" — if Voice Control responds, your microphone is working.

If Voice Control doesn't respond to your commands, the microphone may be too far away, the room may be too noisy, or your Mac may not have heard you clearly. Speak clearly and at a normal volume. If you're still having trouble, try moving closer to the microphone or reducing background noise.

Turning off Voice Control when you don't need it

Voice Control listens constantly once it's on, which means your Mac will respond to voice commands even when you don't intend to use them. If you find it's triggering accidentally or you just don't need it right now, you can turn it off without losing your settings.

Go back to System Settings > Accessibility > Voice Control and click the toggle to turn it off. Your custom commands and microphone choice will stay saved, so when you turn it back on later, everything will be exactly as you left it. You can also click the microphone icon in the top right of your screen to pause Voice Control temporarily without fully turning it off.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Text-to-Speech and Voice Control at the same time?

Yes. You can have both turned on and use them together. For example, you could use Voice Control to open a document, then use Text-to-Speech to read it aloud. They don't interfere with each other.

What if my Mac doesn't recognize my voice commands?

Voice Control learns your accent and speech patterns over time, so it usually gets better the more you use it. If commands aren't working, check that your microphone is plugged in and selected in Voice Control settings, and try speaking more clearly. Background noise makes recognition harder.

Can I change the keyboard shortcut for Text-to-Speech?

Yes. In System Settings > Accessibility > Spoken Content, click "Customize" next to "Speak selection" or "Speak screen" to set a different keyboard shortcut. Choose something you won't press by accident.

Do I need an internet connection for Voice Control to work?

Voice Control works offline on your Mac. Your voice commands are processed locally on your computer, not sent to Apple's servers, so you don't need Wi-Fi or a data connection.

Can I create my own voice commands?

Yes. In Voice Control settings, click "Commands" and then the plus sign to add a custom command. You can assign a phrase you speak to an action like opening an app, clicking a button, or running a keyboard shortcut.