Text-to-speech reads text aloud so you can listen instead of reading
Text-to-speech is a built-in feature on most phones, tablets, and computers that reads words on your screen out loud. You don't need to download anything or pay for it — it's already there. The steps to turn it on depend on what device you use and what you want to read aloud: a single sentence, a whole webpage, an email, or a document.
Once you enable text-to-speech, you'll see a play button or hear a voice icon appear when you select text. Tap it, and your device reads the words at whatever speed you choose. You can pause, rewind, or skip ahead just like an audiobook.
Key Takeaways
- Text-to-speech is built into Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Android — you turn it on in Settings, not by downloading an app.
- On iPhone and iPad, the feature is called Speak Screen or Speak Selection, found under Accessibility settings.
- On Android phones, Google Play Books and Chrome both have read-aloud features you can turn on in their individual settings.
- On Windows and Mac, you can highlight any text and use a keyboard shortcut or menu option to hear it read aloud.
- Most devices let you adjust the voice speed, pitch, and language before you start listening.
Turning on text-to-speech on iPhone and iPad
Apple calls this feature Speak Screen or Speak Selection depending on what you want to read. Speak Selection reads text you highlight with your finger. Speak Screen reads everything on the current screen from top to bottom.
To turn on Speak Selection: Open Settings, tap Accessibility, then Spoken Content. Toggle on Speak Selection. You'll now see a Speak button whenever you highlight text. To adjust the voice speed, stay in Spoken Content and move the Speaking Rate slider left (slower) or right (faster).
To turn on Speak Screen: In Settings, go to Accessibility, then Spoken Content. Toggle on Speak Screen. Swipe down with two fingers from the top of your screen to start reading. The same Speaking Rate slider controls the speed.
Turning on text-to-speech on Android phones
Android doesn't have a single system-wide text-to-speech button like iPhone does. Instead, individual apps have their own read-aloud features. Google Chrome (the web browser) and Google Play Books both include built-in text-to-speech.
In Chrome: Open any webpage. Tap the three dots in the top right corner, then tap Listen to this page. A player appears at the bottom with a play button. Tap it to hear the page read aloud. To change the speed, tap the three dots in the player and select Speed.
In Google Play Books: Open a book you own or have borrowed. Tap the three dots in the top right, then tap Read aloud. A play button appears at the bottom. Tap it to start listening. To adjust speed, tap the speaker icon in the player and choose your preferred speed.
Turning on text-to-speech on Windows
Windows 10 and 11 include Narrator, a screen reader that reads text aloud. You can also use Immersive Reader in Microsoft Edge (the web browser) to read webpages and documents.
To use Immersive Reader in Edge: Open any webpage or document in Microsoft Edge. Click the book icon in the address bar (it appears on most pages). Click Read aloud. A player appears with a play button. Click it to hear the page read. To change speed, click the settings icon (three dots) in the player and adjust the Reading speed slider.
To use Narrator: Press Windows key + Ctrl + Enter to turn Narrator on. It will start reading your screen. Press the same keys again to turn it off. Narrator is more complex than Immersive Reader, so start with Immersive Reader if you're new to text-to-speech.
Turning on text-to-speech on Mac
Mac has a built-in feature called Speak Selection that works on any text you highlight. You can also use Safari's Reader mode to read webpages aloud.
To use Speak Selection: Highlight any text on your screen. Go to the Apple menu at the top left, click System Settings, then Accessibility. Click Speech in the left sidebar. Check the box next to Speak selected text. Now whenever you highlight text, you can right-click it and select Speak to hear it read aloud.
To use Safari Reader: Open a webpage in Safari. Click the Reader icon (it looks like lines of text) in the address bar. Click the speaker icon at the top of the page. A player appears with a play button. Click it to start listening. Adjust the speed using the slider in the player.
Adjusting voice, speed, and language settings
Most devices let you change how the voice sounds and how fast it speaks. On iPhone and iPad, go to Settings > Accessibility > Spoken Content. You'll find a Speaking Rate slider, a Voices dropdown (to pick a different voice), and a Language option if you want text read in a language other than your default.
On Android in Chrome, tap the three dots in the Listen to this page player and select Speed. You can choose from several preset speeds. Some Android apps also let you pick a different voice in their individual settings.
On Windows in Immersive Reader, click the settings icon (three dots) in the player. You'll see sliders for Reading speed and Text spacing. You can also pick a different voice from the dropdown menu.
On Mac in Speak Selection, go to System Settings > Accessibility > Speech. Click the Voice dropdown to pick a different voice. Use the Speaking rate slider to speed up or slow down playback.
Using text-to-speech with documents and emails
Text-to-speech works best with plain text, but you can use it on most documents and emails too. In Gmail on any device, open an email and look for a speaker icon or three-dot menu — some versions of Gmail include a read-aloud button. In Microsoft Word on Windows or Mac, highlight text, then use the Speak feature (Windows: Review tab > Speak; Mac: Edit menu > Speech > Speak).
If your email or document app doesn't have a built-in read-aloud button, you can copy the text and paste it into a web browser, then use that browser's text-to-speech feature. Chrome and Safari both work this way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does text-to-speech work on all websites?
It works on most websites, but some sites with heavy graphics or unusual layouts may not read smoothly. Text-to-speech reads the text it can find on the page in order from top to bottom. If a website is poorly designed, the reading order might jump around or skip sections.
Can I use text-to-speech while doing other things on my phone?
Yes. On iPhone, you can lock your screen or open another app while Speak Screen is reading. On Android in Chrome, the page keeps reading even if you switch apps, though some devices may pause it. Check your device's settings if you want to keep listening while multitasking.
What if I don't like the default voice?
All devices let you pick a different voice in their text-to-speech settings. Go to Accessibility settings on your phone or computer and look for Voice or Voices options. You can usually preview each voice before you choose one.
Does text-to-speech work offline?
On iPhone and Mac, yes — Speak Selection and Speak work without internet. On Android and Windows, it depends on which app you're using. Chrome's Listen to this page needs internet, but some Android apps have offline voices you can download first.