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Do you find it helpful to have text read out loud to you? Whether you have difficulty reading or simply prefer having content spoken to you, Mac offers a built-in feature that can read text out loud. This tutorial will guide you through the steps to enable this feature on your Mac and enjoy the convenience of having text read out loud to you.
Step 1: Click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner of the screen.
Step 2: From the drop-down menu, select "System Preferences."
Step 3: In the System Preferences window, click on "Accessibility."
Step 4: On the left side of the Accessibility settings, locate and click on "Speech."
Step 5: In the Speech settings, click on the checkbox next to "Speak selected text when the key is pressed."
Step 6: By default, the key to trigger the text-to-speech feature is set to Option (⌥) + Esc. If you want to change this key combination, click on the "Change Key…" button and select your preferred combination.
Step 7: Now, whenever you want to have text read out loud, simply select the desired text and press the key combination you set in the previous step.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 1. Easy and quick setup process to enable text-to-speech feature. | 1. Limited customization options for the key combination. |
| 2. Useful for individuals with visual impairments or those who prefer auditory learning. | 2. Computer-generated voices may sound less natural compared to human voices. |
| 3. Can be beneficial for proofreading or reviewing written content. | 3. Mispronunciations or errors in text interpretation may occur occasionally. |
Now you can easily have text read out loud on your Mac whenever you need it. This feature can be particularly useful for those who prefer listening to content or have difficulty reading due to various reasons. Enjoy the convenience and accessibility that the text-to-speech feature on Mac provides!
Video Tutorial: Why is my text-to-speech not working Mac?
How do I make a PDF read out loud on a Mac?
To make a PDF read out loud on a Mac, follow these steps:
1. Open the PDF file: Double-click on the PDF file to open it with the default PDF viewer on your Mac, which is usually Preview.
2. Access the "View" menu: Once the PDF file is open, click on "View" in the Menu bar at the top of the screen.
3. Enable the "Read Out Loud" feature: In the "View" menu, select the "Read Out Loud" option. This will open a submenu with additional options.
4. Choose the reading option: In the "Read Out Loud" submenu, you can select from three reading options: "Read This Page Only," "Read To End of Document," or "Pause." Choose the option that suits your needs.
5. Control the reading: Once you have selected an option, the PDF will start to be read out loud. You can control the reading using the shortcuts provided or by using the "Read Out Loud" submenu. For example, you can pause, resume, or stop the reading at any time.
6. Adjust reading settings: If you want to modify the reading settings, such as voice, speed, or highlight color, you can do so by accessing the "Edit" option in the Menu bar and selecting "Speech" > "Start Speaking." This will open the Speech settings, where you can make adjustments according to your preferences.
By following these steps, you can easily make a PDF read out loud on your Mac using the default PDF viewer and built-in text-to-speech functionality.
How do I get my computer to read text?
To get your computer to read text, you have a few options depending on your operating system and specific requirements. Here are the steps you can follow:
1. For Windows users:
a. Windows 10: The built-in text-to-speech (TTS) feature in Windows 10 allows your computer to read text aloud. You can access it by going to "Settings" > "Ease of Access" > "Narrator." Once enabled, you can select the text you want to be read aloud by pressing the "Ctrl" key and the "Shift" key simultaneously.
b. Windows 7 or earlier versions: You can utilize the "Narrator" feature, although it may not be as robust as in Windows 10. To enable it, go to "Control Panel" > "Ease of Access" > "Ease of Access Center" > "Start Narrator."
2. For Mac users:
a. MacOS: The built-in TTS feature called "VoiceOver" in MacOS allows your computer to read text aloud. You can enable it in "System Preferences" > "Accessibility" > "VoiceOver." Once enabled, you can use commands like "Command" + "F5" to toggle VoiceOver. You can adjust the speech settings under "VoiceOver Utility" in the same Accessibility menu.
b. Safari browser: Another option is to use the built-in TTS feature in Safari. Select the text you want to be read aloud, right-click on it, and choose "Start Speaking." This feature can be handy when reading web articles or specific webpage content.
3. For mobile devices:
a. iOS (iPhone, iPad): Apple devices have a built-in TTS feature called "Speak Screen" that reads text aloud. To enable it, go to "Settings" > "Accessibility" > "Spoken Content" and toggle on "Speak Screen" or "Speak Selection." You can then swipe down with two fingers from the top of the screen to activate it.
b. Android: Android devices have varying options for TTS based on the device manufacturer and Android version. The most common way is to install a TTS engine from the Google Play Store. For example, one popular TTS engine is Google Text-to-Speech. Once installed, you can customize the settings in "Settings" > "Accessibility" > "Text-to-speech output."
Remember to explore the specific settings of your operating system or device, as there might be additional customization options available. These steps should help you get started with having your computer or mobile device read text aloud.
Can I get my Mac to read a PDF to me?
Yes, you can have your Mac read a PDF to you. Here are the steps to achieve that:
1. Open the PDF file using the Preview application. You can either double-click on the PDF file or right-click on it and choose "Open With" and then select Preview.
2. Once the PDF file is opened in Preview, go to the "View" menu at the top of the screen and click on "Read Out Loud."
3. If you want to have the entire document read out loud, select "Start Speaking" from the "Read Out Loud" menu. Alternatively, if you only want a specific portion of the PDF to be read, you can select the desired text, right-click on it, and choose "Speech" followed by "Start Speaking."
4. The Mac will begin reading the PDF content using the default voice. You can customize the voice and its settings by going to the "System Preferences" and selecting "Accessibility." From there, click on "Speech" and explore the available options.
That’s it! Your Mac will now read the PDF file to you using the built-in text-to-speech feature.
How do I get Safari to read my text aloud on Mac?
To get Safari to read your text aloud on a Mac, you can follow these steps:
1. Open Safari: Launch the Safari web browser on your Mac by clicking on its icon located in the dock or by using the Spotlight search feature.
2. Open the webpage or text: Navigate to the webpage or open the text on Safari that you want to have read aloud.
3. Select the text: Highlight the specific portion of the webpage or text that you want Safari to read aloud. You can do this by clicking and dragging the cursor over the desired text.
4. Right-click or control-click: Once the text is selected, right-click or control-click on the highlighted text to open the contextual menu.
5. Choose "Speech" option: In the contextual menu, hover over the "Speech" option, and then choose "Start Speaking" from the sub-menu. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut by pressing Option + Esc.
Safari will begin reading the selected text aloud using the computer’s default text-to-speech voice. You can control the playback by pausing, stopping, or adjusting the volume using the controls available in the playback toolbar.
Note: Make sure your Mac’s text-to-speech settings are configured correctly, including selecting the desired voice and adjusting speech rate, if needed. You can customize these settings by going to the Apple Menu, selecting "System Preferences," then "Accessibility," and finally choosing "Speech" from the sidebar.
How do I use text to speech on my Mac?
To use text-to-speech on your Mac, you can follow these steps:
1. Open the System Preferences by clicking on the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and selecting "System Preferences."
2. In the System Preferences window, locate and click on the "Accessibility" icon.
3. On the left-hand side of the Accessibility window, you will find a list of various accessibility features. Locate and click on "Speech."
4. In the Speech settings, you will see the "Speak selected text when the key is pressed" option. By default, it is set to "Off." Enable this option by clicking the checkbox next to it.
5. You can now choose a key combination to invoke the text-to-speech feature. Click on the "Change Key" button and press the desired key combination on your keyboard (e.g., Option + Esc).
6. Use your preferred text editor or any other application that allows text selection. Select the text you want to hear, and then press the key combination you assigned in the previous step.
7. Your Mac will start speaking the selected text using the default voice. You can adjust the speech rate, voice, and other settings by clicking on the "Open VoiceOver Utility" button in the Speech settings pane.
Remember to adjust the volume on your Mac or connected speakers to hear the text-to-speech output clearly. This feature can be useful for reading articles, emails, or any other text on your Mac without having to read it yourself.
Note: This answer assumes you’re using macOS Catalina or later. The steps may vary slightly depending on the version of macOS you have installed.