Common Text-to-Speech Tools

Tags tts

Text-to-Speech Tools (TTS)

  • Knowing some of the common Text-to-Speech (TTS) tools can be helpful when working with large documents or textbooks.
  • This page will overview some common TTS tools in the web browsers you use every day.
  • Most of the common browsers like Google Chrome and Safari offer TTS reading functions built-in, or by way of an extension or add-on. 
  • These tools can help you to listen to the text that appears on the webpage.

How to Access TTS Tools in Your Browser

  • This section will explain and show you how to access TTS Tools in your browser. 
  • NOTE: These steps can change with updates from the people who create the browsers. We will do our best to keep this updated but do be aware the instructions might have changed since this page was last updated.
     

Option 1: Download the free "Read & Write" browser extension or software. 

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Option 2: Review other options for browser extensions, based on your preferred browser.

From a Google Chrome/Chromium Browser:

Step 1: Start by clicking on the three-dot button in the upper right-hand corner of the Chrome browser. 

screenshot of 3 dot menu

 

Step 2: Once the drop-down menu has opened, select the "Settings" button.

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Step 3: Select the "Accessibility" button.

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Step 4: Select the button labeled "Add accessibility features/Open Chrome Web Store".

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Step 5: Type "Read Aloud" in the search field, and then select the Read Aloud extension page. 

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Step 6: Once you see the extension page, select the "Add to Chrome" button.

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Step 7: You will be asked again if you want to add the "Read Aloud" Chrome extension to Chrome. Select the "Add extension" button.

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Step 8: Once you see the "Read Aloud has Been Added" message, you will know that it has been added to Chrome.

read aloud confirmation window

Step 9: Select the Extensions Button. 

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Step 10: Select the pushpin icon next to the "Read Aloud" extension to pin it to your browser. 

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Step 11: Navigate to the website or page you want to hear.

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Step 12: Select the megaphone icon in the upper-right-hand corner of your browser. 

megaphone icon

Step 13:  The TTS tool should then start reading the page aloud to you. If it doesn't, you might need to click the play button (if you see one).

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To stop playing, follow the steps above select the stop button.

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From a Microsoft Edge Browser: 

Step 1: Navigate to the website or page you want to hear.

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Step 2: In the address bar at the top of the browser click on the "Read Aloud" button. The browser will then begin reading aloud.

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To stop, select the Pause button in the Read Aloud menu bar at the top of the page.

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From an Apple Safari (macOS) Browser:

Step 1: Navigate to the website or page you want to hear.

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Step 2: (Optional) If you see the Reader button appear click the Reader button.

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Step 3: Select the Edit button, select Speech, and then Start Speaking. 

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 To stop, follow the steps above and select the Stop Speaking button.

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Questions?

Contact the IT Portal, or call 952-358-8181

 

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