How to Make Your Mac Read Text Aloud
Your Mac can read any text out loud: an email, a web page, a long document. It's useful if you have low vision or dyslexia, if your eyes are tired, or if you want to proofread your own writing by ear.
This feature is called Spoken Content. It's different from VoiceOver, which is a full screen reader. Spoken Content simply reads the text you choose.
How to turn on Speak Selection
1. Click the Apple menu > System Settings.
2. Click Accessibility.
3. Click Spoken Content. On some versions of macOS this is called Read & Speak.
4. Turn on Speak selection.
2. Click Accessibility.
3. Click Spoken Content. On some versions of macOS this is called Read & Speak.
4. Turn on Speak selection.
How to use it
1. Select some text with the mouse or trackpad.
2. Press Option + Escape.
2. Press Option + Escape.
Your Mac starts reading. Press Option + Escape again to stop.
If nothing is selected, your Mac reads whatever text it can find in the current window.
Change the shortcut and add a controller
Click the ⓘ next to Speak selection to see more options:
• Keyboard shortcut. Change it if Option + Escape is awkward for you.
• Highlight content. Words or sentences are highlighted as they're spoken, so you can follow along.
• Show controller. A small panel appears with play, pause, skip and speed buttons.
• Highlight content. Words or sentences are highlighted as they're spoken, so you can follow along.
• Show controller. A small panel appears with play, pause, skip and speed buttons.
Highlighting is especially helpful for dyslexic readers, because you see and hear each word together.
Choose a better voice
The default voice is fine. Others sound more natural.
1. In Spoken Content, open the System voice menu.
2. Choose Manage Voices….
3. Find English (UK), or the language you want.
4. Download a voice marked Enhanced or Premium, and voices labelled Siri if they're listed. These sound far more natural.
5. Select your new voice from the System voice menu.
2. Choose Manage Voices….
3. Find English (UK), or the language you want.
4. Download a voice marked Enhanced or Premium, and voices labelled Siri if they're listed. These sound far more natural.
5. Select your new voice from the System voice menu.
Click Play Sample to hear it. Drag the Speaking rate slider to speed it up or slow it down.
Other things Spoken Content can do
On the same settings page:
• Speak item under the pointer. Your Mac reads whatever you point at. This is good for small labels and buttons.
• Speak typing feedback. Your Mac says each letter, word or selection as you type.
• Speak announcements. Your Mac reads out alerts and dialogue boxes, so you don't miss one hiding behind a window.
• Speak typing feedback. Your Mac says each letter, word or selection as you type.
• Speak announcements. Your Mac reads out alerts and dialogue boxes, so you don't miss one hiding behind a window.
Read aloud from the menu bar
Most Apple apps, including Safari, Mail, Notes, Pages and TextEdit, have a speech command built in:
1. Select the text, or click in the document to read all of it.
2. Choose Edit > Speech > Start Speaking.
3. Choose Edit > Speech > Stop Speaking to finish.
2. Choose Edit > Speech > Start Speaking.
3. Choose Edit > Speech > Stop Speaking to finish.
You can also right-click selected text and choose Speech > Start Speaking.
Make web pages easier to listen to
In Safari, open Reader first (press Shift + Command + R, or choose View > Show Reader). Reader strips out adverts and menus, so Speak Selection reads only the article.
Troubleshooting
Option + Escape does nothing. Check that Speak selection is on. Another app may be using the same shortcut, so try changing it.
I can't hear anything. Check your Mac's volume and that the right output is chosen in System Settings > Sound > Output.
The voice sounds robotic. Download an Enhanced, Premium or Siri voice as described above.
Wrapping up
Turn on Speak selection, download a natural-sounding voice, and press Option + Escape whenever you'd like your Mac to read to you.
