What "Speaking" means on a Mac, and which feature you probably want

macOS has two separate features that involve your computer speaking to you, and they do different things. Text-to-Speech reads text aloud — web pages, documents, emails — when you ask it to. Voice Control lets you give your Mac spoken commands instead of typing or clicking. Most people looking to hear their screen read aloud want Text-to-Speech. Voice Control is for people who want to control the Mac by voice.

Both live in System Settings under Accessibility, and both are free. You turn them on the same way you'd turn on any other accessibility feature. Neither requires any special software or setup beyond flipping a switch.

Key Takeaways

  • Text-to-Speech reads selected text or entire web pages aloud; Voice Control lets you command your Mac by speaking instead of clicking.
  • Both features are built into macOS and turned on through System Settings > Accessibility, with no additional software needed.
  • Text-to-Speech works when ready after you enable it — select text and press Option + Esc, or use the Speak command in the Edit menu.
  • Voice Control requires a microphone and a brief training period where you speak a passphrase so your Mac learns your voice.
  • You can choose from multiple voices and adjust speaking speed in the same settings panel where you turn the feature on.

How to turn on Text-to-Speech

Open System Settings (the gear icon in your Dock, or go to the Apple menu and select System Settings). Click Accessibility in the left sidebar. Scroll down and click Spoken Content. You'll see a toggle for "Speak selection" — turn it on.

That's it. Now whenever you highlight text anywhere on your Mac — in an email, a web page, a document — you can press Option + Esc and your Mac will read it aloud. You can also go to any app's Edit menu and look for a "Speak" option there. Some apps like Safari and Mail have their own Speak buttons built in.

While you're in Spoken Content settings, you can choose which voice reads to you (click the dropdown next to "Voice") and how fast it speaks (the "Speaking Rate" slider). Try a few voices — they sound different, and you might prefer one over another. You can also turn on "Speak notifications" if you want your Mac to read system alerts aloud.

How to turn on Voice Control

Open System Settings and go to Accessibility. Click Voice Control. Turn on the toggle next to "Enable Voice Control." Your Mac will ask you to allow microphone access — click OK.

The first time you enable Voice Control, your Mac will ask you to speak a passphrase — something like "Hello computer" or any phrase you choose. Speak it clearly three times so your Mac learns how your voice sounds. This training takes about a minute. After that, your Mac will listen for your voice commands whenever Voice Control is on.

Voice Control works best in a quiet room. If there's background noise, your Mac may misunderstand commands or set up when you don't mean it to. You can turn Voice Control on and off quickly by clicking the microphone icon in the menu bar (top right of your screen) once it's enabled.

Common voice commands that work with Voice Control

Once Voice Control is on, you can say things like "Click Safari," "Open Mail," "Scroll down," "Go back," or "Show me the menu." You can also say "Show commands" and your Mac will display a list of every command it understands in the current app.

You're not limited to built-in commands. You can create custom commands that do specific things — for example, you could say "Open my budget spreadsheet" and have it launch a specific file. To set up custom commands, go back to Voice Control settings and click "Commands." Click the plus button and type what you want to say, then choose what action your Mac should take.

Voice Control takes practice. Your Mac learns your voice better the more you use it, and you'll learn which commands work best in which apps. If your Mac keeps misunderstanding you, try speaking more slowly or in a quieter space.

Choosing a voice and adjusting speed for Text-to-Speech

Go to System Settings > Accessibility > Spoken Content. Click the "Voice" dropdown to see all available voices. macOS includes several English voices (and voices in other languages if you've installed them). Each voice has a different tone and accent — some sound more natural than others, depending on what you're listening to.

The "Speaking Rate" slider controls how fast the voice reads. Move it left to slow down, right to speed up. There's also a "Pause between sentences" option that adds a breath between sentences, which some people find easier to follow. Try different combinations until you find what works for you.

Turning off Voice Control when you don't need it

Voice Control listens whenever it's on, which means your Mac might respond to sounds in the background or conversations nearby. If you find it's activating accidentally, turn it off by clicking the microphone icon in the menu bar (top right) and selecting "Disable Voice Control," or go back to System Settings > Accessibility > Voice Control and toggle it off.

Text-to-Speech doesn't listen in the background — it only speaks when you ask it to. You can leave it on all the time without it affecting your Mac's performance or privacy.

What to do if your Mac isn't speaking or listening

If Text-to-Speech isn't working, make sure you've actually selected text before pressing Option + Esc. Some apps don't support the keyboard shortcut — try using the Edit menu's Speak option instead. If that doesn't work either, check that "Speak selection" is actually toggled on in System Settings > Accessibility > Spoken Content.

If Voice Control isn't responding to your commands, check that your microphone is working. Go to System Settings > Sound and click "Input" — you should see your microphone listed and the input level should move when you speak. If it doesn't move, your Mac isn't picking up sound. Try a different microphone, or move closer to the one you're using. Also make sure Voice Control is actually enabled — the microphone icon should be visible in your menu bar.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Text-to-Speech while I'm doing other things on my Mac?

Yes. Text-to-Speech runs in the background, so you can keep working while your Mac reads. You can pause it by pressing Option + Esc again, or let it finish on its own. The reading stops if you close the app or navigate away from the text.

Does Voice Control work if I have an accent?

Voice Control works with all accents. During the training phase, you speak your passphrase in your natural voice, and your Mac learns it. The more you use Voice Control, the better it gets at understanding you. If it's struggling, try speaking more clearly or in a quieter space.

Will my Mac record what I say with Voice Control on?

No. Voice Control processes sound on your Mac itself — nothing is sent to Apple or stored in the cloud unless you explicitly choose to enable dictation or Siri. Voice Control is local and private.

Can I use both Text-to-Speech and Voice Control at the same time?

Yes. You can have both turned on. Text-to-Speech reads text when you ask it to, and Voice Control listens for commands. They don't interfere with each other, though having Voice Control on means your Mac is always listening for the passphrase you trained it with.

What if I want my Mac to read everything on the screen automatically?

Text-to-Speech reads only text you select. If you want your Mac to read everything — web pages, menus, notifications — you probably want VoiceOver instead, which is a different accessibility feature. VoiceOver is more powerful but also more complex. Go to System Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver to learn more.