How to Make Your Computer Speak Any Text You Type

Short answer: Windows can read any text aloud, and you can build your own "talking" tool in seconds with a tiny VBScript that pops up a box, takes whatever you type, and speaks it. For everyday reading, Windows also has built-in text-to-speech (Narrator and Read Aloud). Here is the fun DIY version plus the practical built-in options.

Build a "type and speak" tool

1. Open Notepad and paste this:

Dim msg, speak
msg = InputBox("Type something for me to say:", "Talking Computer")
Set speak = CreateObject("SAPI.SpVoice")
speak.Speak msg

2. Save it as talk.vbs (select "All Files" as the type).
3. Double-click it, type any text, and your PC says it out loud.

It uses the speech engine already built into Windows, nothing to install.

Practical built-in text-to-speech

Feature	Use it for
Narrator (Win + Ctrl + Enter)	Full screen reader
Read Aloud (in Edge/Word)	Have articles/documents read to you
Voice settings	Change voice and speed

Read Aloud in Microsoft Edge is genuinely useful, it reads web articles to you in a natural voice while you rest your eyes.

Change the voice and speed

In Settings > Time & language > Speech, you can pick different voices and adjust the speaking rate, so both your script and the built-in readers sound the way you like.

The non-obvious tip: use Read Aloud to proofread

Beyond the fun factor, text-to-speech is a great proofreading tool. Have Edge or Word read your email or essay back to you, your ears catch awkward sentences, missing words, and typos that your eyes skip right over when reading silently. Writing something important? Let the computer read it aloud once before you send it; it is one of the simplest ways to instantly improve your writing.

Frequently asked questions

How do I make my computer speak text I type?

Create a small VBScript using InputBox and SAPI.SpVoice, save it as a .vbs file, then run it, type any text, and your PC speaks it aloud using the built-in speech engine.

Does Windows have built-in text-to-speech?

Yes. Narrator (Win + Ctrl + Enter) is a full screen reader, and Read Aloud in Edge and Word reads articles and documents to you in a natural voice.

How do I change the speech voice or speed?

Go to Settings > Time & language > Speech to choose a different voice and adjust the speaking rate for both your script and the built-in readers.

What is a practical use for text-to-speech?

Proofreading. Having your writing read aloud helps your ears catch awkward phrasing, missing words, and typos your eyes skip over when reading silently.