Built-In Text to Speech Options

Do You Use a Laptop or Desktop Computer? You Have Options...

I want everyone to know about assistive technologies that are built right into almost every type of computer today.

Microsoft Windows Narrator

• Microsoft Windows Narrator (built-in) — Watch this Windows text-to-speech video on YouTube Links to an external site. to learn how it works.

Apple MacOS Dictation and Voice Control

• Apple MacOS — Go to the Apple MacOS User Guide Links to an external site. to learn how to set this up

Text to Speech for Chromebooks

Chromebooks have two text-to-speech options built in: ChromeVox, which reads out everything displayed on your screen; and Select-to-Speak.

ChromeVox: Chromebook’s Screen Reader

1. Open the ChromeOS system settings: click on the time block on the bottom right of the screen, or press Alt + Shift + s.
2. Select Settings  and then Accessibility.
3. Under "Text-to-Speech," turn on ChromeVox.
4. After this, you can turn ChromeVox on or off by pressing Ctrl + Alt + z.

Select-to-Speak: Listen to Specific Text

1. Open the ChromeOS system settings: click on the time block on the bottom right of the screen, or press Alt + Shift + s.
2. Select Settings and then Accessibility.
3. Under "Text-to-Speech," turn on Select-to-Speak.
4. To hear text read out loud, you have a couple options:
   • Press and hold the Search key, as you drag the mouse pointer over an area of text. 
   • Select the text you want to be read, then press the Search key + s
5. To stop Select-to-Speak while it’s reading, press Ctrl or the Search keys.