How to make Windows Narration narrate a website

Wondering how to make Windows narration narrate a website? Our comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know, from enabling the feature to customizing its settings for optimal performance.

Windows Narrator is a powerful accessibility feature in the Microsoft operating system that can be incredibly useful when used effectively. This tool can narrate entire websites with proper guidance, making your online experience more accessible and enjoyable. Narrator can be especially useful for people with disabilities or for those who want to consume web content hands-free.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore how to use Windows Narrator to read websites aloud in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Using Windows Narrator to read sites aloud in Windows 10

Setting up Narrator

Windows 10 has made it easier than ever to use Narrator for reading web pages aloud. In just a few steps, you can activate the screen reader to provide comprehensive narration across the web. 

Here's how:

1. Press the Windows logo key + U to open the Ease of Access center. Alternatively, click on the Start Menu, select Settings, then Ease of Access, then click on Narrator in the menu on the left side of your screen.
2. Click on "Narrator" in the left-hand menu.
3. Toggle on the "Use Narrator" option.

You can also activate Narrator via a keyboard shortcut. You only need to press the Windows logo key + Ctrl + Enter. A message will appear on your screen explaining that the Narrator keyboard layout has been optimized to work pretty much like other popular screen readers on the market.

If it's your first time using Narrator, you should probably turn it off and explore all the important features before proceeding. To do so, toggle off the "Use Narrator" button or simply use the keyboard shortcut Windows logo key + Ctrl + Enter.

How to customize Narrator

Windows Narrator is undoubtedly a convenient tool, but most users find the default settings somewhat challenging. For instance, Narrator may read the wrong part of the screen or even skip the section you want to hear. For this reason, it's always a good idea to familiarize yourself with the settings beforehand. 

Here's how to open Narrator settings on Windows 10:

1. Press the Windows logo key + Ctrl + N.
2. Use the down arrow to navigate to the different Narrator settings.

You can choose your preferred setup for verbosity, punctuation, and other reading options. There's also a braille display section that allows you to download and install the latest software. Additionally, you have the option to switch narrator voices. By default, Windows provides five options, but you can also download more voices from the Microsoft Store.

If you want the complete guide on using Narrator, click the "Open Narrator home" button below the "Use Narrator" toggle button. This will open a new window with several advanced settings options.

Windows 10 Narrator also offers additional functionality like Scan Mode, which allows you to navigate headings, links, and other elements using the up and down arrow keys.

How to use Windows Narrator

Once you have familiarized yourself with Narrator settings, you can now use the tool to read your first website. Here's how:

1. Open Chrome or any other browser of your choice and navigate to the website you want to read aloud.
2. Press the Windows logo key + Ctrl + Enter to start Narrator.
3. Use the cursor or the down arrow to move through the content.
4. Use the keystrokes Ctrl + Windows logo key + H to start and stop scan mode, which reads the text under the cursor.
5. Use the Alt key to navigate between headings.

To stop Narrator, press the Windows logo key + Ctrl + Enter.

How to use Windows Narrator in Windows 11

In Windows 11, using Narrator is slightly different, but the overall functionality remains the same. Here's how to use it:

1. Press the Windows logo key and Alt simultaneously to open the Accessibility settings.
2. Enable Narrator from the settings menu and customize it according to your preferences.
3. Open your web browser and navigate to the website you want to read aloud.
4. Press the keyboard shortcut, Caps Lock + M, to start the Narrator.
5. To pause or stop the Narrator, press Ctrl.

In Windows 11, you can also use the Narrator Home toolbar to access common commands and shortcuts. The operating system supports a wide range of accessibility features, including an on-screen keyboard and customizable keyboard layout, making it even more user-friendly for individuals with disabilities.

Want a more straightforward option? Try Speechify

If you're looking for an alternative to Windows Narrator, consider trying Speechify. This text to speech service offers natural-sounding narration for all types of text, including web pages, PDFs, and Microsoft Word documents.

With Speechify, you can read aloud your emails and web content right on your browser. You don't have to rely on the built-in screen reader options provided by your operating system.

How does Speechify work? Simply copy and paste the text you want to convert into the Speechify web app or use the Chrome extension to generate the audio directly from web pages. You can then customize the voice, accent, and reading speed to your liking. Perhaps the best part is Speechify's user-friendly interface – it’ll have you listening with ease even if you've never used a text to speech service before.

The service is available on all modern platforms, including Windows, Android, Mac, and Apple's iOS.

Don't just take our word for it. Give Speechify a try today and experience the excellent, natural-sounding narrations for yourself.

FAQ

Is Windows Narrator a screen reader?

Windows Narrator is a built-in screen reader in Windows that reads text and describes events such as notifications and incoming messages.

How do I add voices to Windows Narrator?

To add new voices to Windows Narrator, you can go to the "Settings" app, select "Time & Language," then "Language," and finally click on "Add a language." Once you've added a new language, you can download and install the corresponding text-to-speech voices.

How do I change the language Windows Narrator uses?

To change the language Windows Narrator uses, go to the "Settings" app, select "Ease of Access," then "Narrator," and finally, choose the desired language under the "Personalize Narrator's Voice" submenu.

What are the advantages of Windows Narrator?

The Narrator is a built-in feature in Windows, making it easily accessible and cost-effective. It's also automatically updated by Microsoft, making it a reliable text to speech application.