How to use text to speech: Windows 10 and Windows 11

Using text to speech is becoming more and more common by the day, and people from all over the world are enjoying the benefits these apps have to offer. If you are using Windows 10 or 11, you already have a built-in text to speech tool you can check out. 

What is text to speech and why do you need it?

Text to speech, or speech synthesis, is a form of software designed to improve the accessibility of devices. The initial idea was to enable visually impaired users to use devices such as smartphones without any problems. 

Over the years, TTS tools improved, and they became essential apps for anyone with reading disabilities, visual impairments, or just those that are auditory learners. And today, almost every device has a built-in text to speech app you can use. 

Even if you don’t struggle with reading, it can be a nice way to increase productivity and efficiency, and multitask while listening to the content instead of reading it. If you want to get more out of these apps, you can always find them in the App Store or Google Play. 

One of the best things about TTS apps is that they sound quite realistic. AI voices are natural-sounding, and they significantly improve the quality of the app. Of course, there are plenty of different options you can find on the market today. 

Using text to speech and voice recognition

Many people use text to speech software and voice recognition simultaneously. It is a new step in communication, and it can save you so much time.  The combination is perfect for those who don’t want to bother typing, and it is available on almost every device. 

So, how do these work? Voice recognition software allows you to dictate the content, and the app will recognize words, and type them in the document, message, or anything else. This allows you to write messages hands-free, and it can be more than convenient. 

There are users who are not able to type messages or any other type of text quickly, and having a voice-to-text app can solve all of these problems. Once the text is done, you can use text to speech tools to allow the app to read texts and hear how it sounds. 

The combination is perfect for anyone who is looking to save time or hear how the text or message sounds. It is also an effective method to proofread the content since you will be able to hear any mistakes. 

Thanks to natural voices, you will notice if there is a comma missing, as well as potential spelling errors. 

What about voice typing tools?

Voice typing is based on speech recognition, and the idea is the same. As long as speech recognition software works properly, the device will be able to understand commands. Needless to say, the options are not limitless. 

But what it allows you is to use your voice to type messages or texts. Whether you are working on a new idea, taking notes, or even sending emails – voice typing can help. Furthermore, you can easily use this feature on Google Docs. 

Keep in mind that voice commands are available only in the English language, and you won’t be able to use any other. At least at the moment. But even with just one language, you can still save so much time. 

Google Docs allows you to easily use this feature, and you can even change fonts, formats, or styles using voice commands. To enable voice typing, you can use the keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+Shift+S). 

Keep in mind that you will need a microphone if you want to use Windows speech recognition. This is the only way to have a “dialog” with your device. 

How can I use text to speech on Windows 11?

When it comes to text to speech the technology is not really new. It has been around for quite some time, and even the earlier versions of Windows offered this app. One of the first versions had Microsoft Sam, and it was a useful but flawed tool. 

Today, the voices you can find sound quite realistic, and the quality is one of the main advantages. You will feel like you were listening to an audiobook or a podcast as soon as you turn on this functionality. 

If you are using the new Windows, finding the TTS tool won’t be challenging. The first thing you need to know is that the app is called Narrator, and you can find it in the Settings in the start menu or taskbar (press Windows key). 

Once you do that, you will find the Narrator in the Accessibility tab, and you can use your cursor to navigate to the appropriate page. 

The Narrator has plenty of speech options you can adjust, and it allows you to pick different Narrator’s voices, reading speed, language, and so on. Unlike voice recognition, the text-to-speech feature supports numerous languages based on the app you are using. 

And to turn it on, all you need to do is move the slider, and the app will be ready for you to use. The other option you can check out is to download a separate tool that will work as a Chrome extension or as an app for your device. 

The best option you can find today is Speechify, and it has numerous functionalities you will want to check out. 

What to know about text to speech on Windows 10 and Windows 11

Text to speech voices on Windows 10 and 11 are identical, and you will have the Narrator regardless of which operating system you are using. As you start the app, you can experiment with different Narrator settings to find the version you enjoy the most. 

But to simplify things, you can always go for Speechify. It works on both Windows 10 and 11, but you can also use it on Apple iOS (both iPad and iPhone), Android, Mac, or anything else. The app also allows you to sync the progress so you can share files via the cloud. 

The app supports iCloud, Dropbox, and even Google Drive. It is a great way to avoid reading by yourself, save time, and ensure that your content is flawless. Speechify will work on Google Docs, notepad, and even websites, and you can add it to your toolbar. 

Needless to say, you can use the screen reader on your laptop as well, as long as you have Windows 10 or 11 installed.