Text to Speech on Windows: 4 Free Ways to Hear Any Text
Windows has several free ways to read text out loud. Here's when to use Narrator, Edge's Read aloud, Word's Read Aloud, or a browser tool with natural voices.
Windows has three free text to speech options built in: Narrator (press Windows logo key + Ctrl + Enter), Read aloud in Microsoft Edge for web pages, and Read Aloud in Word for documents. For PDFs, ebooks and more natural voices, Free Voice Reader runs in any browser with no sign-up.
Which one you want depends on what you're reading. Here's each, with the official steps.
How do I get my Windows PC to read text to me?
For web pages, use Edge's Read aloud; for Word documents, Word's Read Aloud; for anything else, paste it into a browser tool. Narrator reads everything on screen, which is built for people who are blind or have low vision rather than for casual listening.
Because Narrator reads buttons and menus as well as text, it can feel like a lot if you only wanted to hear an article. Start with the option that matches your content.
How do I use Narrator?
Press the Windows logo key + Ctrl + Enter to start Narrator, and press the same keys again to stop it. You can also press Windows logo key + Ctrl + N to open Narrator settings and turn on Use Narrator (Microsoft: Introducing Narrator).
Microsoft describes Narrator as a way to use your PC without a mouse if you're blind or have low vision: it reads and interacts with things on screen, like text and buttons.
How do I have Edge read a web page aloud?
Open the page in Edge, select Reading mode in the address bar or press F9, then select Read aloud on the Reading mode toolbar (Microsoft support).
You can adjust the voice and reading speed from the Read aloud controls.
How do I have Word read a document aloud?
In Word, go to Review > Read Aloud, or press Ctrl + Alt + Space; Ctrl + Space plays or pauses (Microsoft support). Change the voice and speed from the gear icon.
Our Word Read Aloud guide covers Word on the web and mobile too.
Which Windows option should I use?
Match the tool to the content:
| Option | Cost | Best for | Shortcut |
|---|---|---|---|
| Narrator | Free, built in | Full-time screen reader use | Windows logo key + Ctrl + Enter |
| Edge Read aloud | Free, built in | Web pages and articles | F9 for Reading mode, then Read aloud |
| Word Read Aloud | Included with Word | Word documents | Ctrl + Alt + Space |
| Free Voice Reader | Free tier, no sign-up | PDFs, EPUBs, pasted text, scanned pages | None, runs in the browser |
How do I read PDFs and ebooks aloud on Windows?
Upload them to Free Voice Reader. It accepts PDF, Word, EPUB, text and image files up to 10 MB on the free tier, and runs OCR in your browser for scanned pages.
Free cloud voices read up to 5,000 characters per conversion. For a long document, choose a local voice: it downloads once (roughly 90 to 330 MB (it depends on your browser)), runs in your browser with no character limit, and keeps your text on your PC. Our guides on reading a PDF out loud and EPUB to audiobook go step by step.
Can I get more natural voices on Windows for free?
Yes. Free Voice Reader's local voices use Kokoro-82M, an open model under the Apache 2.0 license, and the free cloud list covers 75 languages.
If you want to compare engines, our offline TTS comparison looks at the local options in depth.
Frequently asked questions
Is there text to speech built into Windows 11?
Yes. Narrator is built in, and Edge's Read aloud handles web pages.
What's the shortcut for text to speech on Windows?
Windows logo key + Ctrl + Enter starts and stops Narrator. In Word, Ctrl + Alt + Space starts Read Aloud.
Can I save Windows text to speech as an MP3?
Not with the built-in tools covered here. Free Voice Reader offers MP3 download with Lifetime Boost or a subscription. See text to MP3.
Does Free Voice Reader need an install on Windows?
No. It runs in a recent browser. The local voices download a model into your browser the first time.
Try the browser option now: paste some text and press play.
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