Get Your Computer to Say What You Type [How To] [Updated]

By Rich on November 15, 2012 (158 Comments)

XP, Vista, 7, and Windows 8 come with a built in voice database, which you can access via the Microsoft SAPI (Speech Application Programming Interface); in this guide, you’ll learn how to get your computer to say what you type using one of three methods.

Speak to Me!

(Method 1) The easiest way to access this feature is through the Windows speech settings. If you’d like quick access, there’s also a script you can use to access the SAPI via Visual Basic (see below)

Press Start, type speech and click change text to speech settings
Type what you want said in the preview pane and click Preview Voice
Optional: Change the voice (options vary by operating system)

Method 2: Use a Quick Access Visual Basic Script

Copy the following text and paste it into Notepad (Windows Key, type notepad, press Enter)

CreateObject("sapi.spvoice").Speak(InputBox("Speak:"))

Thanks to Jon Davis for the condensed script.

Save the file as speak.vbs
Double-click on speak.vbs, type in your message, and press Enter

Have fun and be creative; you can have your computer greet you at login, for example. Having trouble with the script? See below for help.

Method 3: Use a Tool

If you’d rather skip the script, you can download the Windows Guides text to speech tool for quick access.

Help!

If the script didn’t work:

Your browser may display quotation marks in a different character set. Go back to the Notepad file and replace all the quotes [ ” ] using your keyboard. Save the file and try again.

If the script is error free but it’s still not working, you do not have the SAPI installed on your computer. Download download the SDK and SAPI here

About Rich

Rich is the owner and creator of Windows Guides; he spends his time breaking things on his PC so he can write how-to guides to fix the problems he creates.

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Comments

Angie

Oh my gosh! It worked really well! This is sort of like the ‘text to speach’ translator I have on my site for WebTV users. It includes four different voices to choose from.

Really neat! Thanks, Rich!
Angie

Oh my gosh! It worked really well! This is sort of like the ‘text to speach’ translator I have on my site for WebTV users. It includes four different voices to choose from.

Really neat! Thanks, Rich!
Angie

Oh my gosh! It worked really well! This is sort of like the ‘text to speach’ translator I have on my site for WebTV users. It includes four different voices to choose from.

Really neat! Thanks, Rich!
Gloria

VERY COOL!
Gloria

VERY COOL!
aicorp

This is a cool little VB script. It worked for me.
http://amatoc.com/ aicorp

This is a cool little VB script. It worked for me.
http://amatoc.com aicorp

This is a cool little VB script. It worked for me.
kr

it works.
kr

it works.
kr

it works.
Pradeep

It works. It can also be done by accessing control panel–Sounds,speech…—Speech. In the “speech property” box select the ‘text to speach’ tab. You can figure out the rest. You can even change voices there.
Pradeep

It works. It can also be done by accessing control panel–Sounds,speech…—Speech. In the “speech property” box select the ‘text to speach’ tab. You can figure out the rest. You can even change voices there.
Pradeep

It works. It can also be done by accessing control panel–Sounds,speech…—Speech. In the “speech property” box select the ‘text to speach’ tab. You can figure out the rest. You can even change voices there.
Sonsum

If you have Ubuntu, you can use a program called Festival to do the same.
http://www.clintthewookie.wordpress.com/ Sonsum

If you have Ubuntu, you can use a program called Festival to do the same.
http://www.clintthewookie.wordpress.com Sonsum

If you have Ubuntu, you can use a program called Festival to do the same.
vk

osx is easier in doing this

and

has had it 4 a while
vk

osx is easier in doing this

and

has had it 4 a while
vk

osx is easier in doing this

and

has had it 4 a while
Rick

Pretty cool. Thanks for sharing.
Rick

Pretty cool. Thanks for sharing.
Rick

Pretty cool. Thanks for sharing.
Rod

Cool! Worked for me!
Rod

Cool! Worked for me!
Rod

Cool! Worked for me!
bolton

this is already on all windows computers…no need for a code! lame!!
bolton

this is already on all windows computers…no need for a code! lame!!
bolton

this is already on all windows computers…no need for a code! lame!!
Mark

ha ha.
Just like on the Amiga I had 15 years ago.
Mark

ha ha.
Just like on the Amiga I had 15 years ago.
Mark

ha ha.
Just like on the Amiga I had 15 years ago.
nick

awesome, it works perfect
nick

awesome, it works perfect
nick

awesome, it works perfect
d**kweed

MEHHHH! my OS is best it did it 10 years ago with 6 voices in 10 languages! plus it s**ks me off! top that s**t posers!

f*****g fanboy homos.
d**kweed

MEHHHH! my OS is best it did it 10 years ago with 6 voices in 10 languages! plus it s**ks me off! top that s**t posers!

f*****g fanboy homos.
d**kweed

MEHHHH! my OS is best it did it 10 years ago with 6 voices in 10 languages! plus it s**ks me off! top that s**t posers!

f*****g fanboy homos.
rahul

Just four lines of code and its working perfectly..Superb
rahul

Just four lines of code and its working perfectly..Superb
rahul

Just four lines of code and its working perfectly..Superb
sam

@bolton

this is already on all windows computers…no need for a code! lame!!

yeah, but this is another way to access it.

@d**kweed
f*****g fanboy homos.

…

@vk

osx is easier in doing this

and

has had it 4 a while

but thats not the point!
sam

@bolton

this is already on all windows computers…no need for a code! lame!!

yeah, but this is another way to access it.

@d**kweed
f*****g fanboy homos.

…

@vk

osx is easier in doing this

and

has had it 4 a while

but thats not the point!
sam

@bolton

this is already on all windows computers…no need for a code! lame!!

yeah, but this is another way to access it.

@d**kweed
f*****g fanboy homos.

…

@vk

osx is easier in doing this

and

has had it 4 a while

but thats not the point!
penis burger

i never knew having may computer say penis burger would bring such enjoyment…well ok i lie, i did know that, but stubling on sites like this just make me do it again..yey
penis burger

i never knew having may computer say penis burger would bring such enjoyment…well ok i lie, i did know that, but stubling on sites like this just make me do it again..yey
penis burger

i never knew having may computer say penis burger would bring such enjoyment…well ok i lie, i did know that, but stubling on sites like this just make me do it again..yey
KageTora

Wonderful! My family thought I was on MSN with Steven Hawking!
KageTora

Wonderful! My family thought I was on MSN with Steven Hawking!
KageTora

Wonderful! My family thought I was on MSN with Steven Hawking!

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