Call our helpline
0300 180 0028You can also change the language used in Text-to-speech and the voice you hear. To find out how, see How to change the language and voice in Text-to-speech (TTS) and the TalkBack screen reader in Android 11.
Short guide:
- Tap the Settings icon to open the Settings app. Scroll down and tap Accessibility.
- Scroll down to the Screen readers section and tap Text-to-speech output.
- On the Text-to-speech output screen, adjust the slider for Speech Rate to change how fast your device reads aloud.
- Adjust the slider for Pitch to alter the pitch and tone of the voice.
- Tap Play to hear how your new settings sound. To return the settings to their defaults, tap Reset.
- To customise the text-to-speech output further, tap the Settings icon next to Preferred engine.
- Tap Amplify speech volume to boost the volume of the spoken text and make it easier to hear above other audio playing on your device.
- If you use more than one language in Android, tap Language detection to set how Text-to-speech switches between them. Select Aggressive if it's not switching fast enough, or Conservative if it's switching too fast.
Before and after
This section takes you step-by-step through changing the text-to-speech (TTS) settings for screen readers in Android 11, complete with pictures of the screen to help.
Find the Accessibility settings
1. To launch the Accessibility settings on your device, tap the Settings icon 
to open the Settings app. Scroll down and tap Accessibility.
Select Text to speech output
2. On the Accessibility screen, scroll down to the Screen readers section and tap Text-to-speech output.
Adjust the speed
3. On the Text-to-speech output screen, adjust the slider for Speech Rate to change how fast your device reads aloud. Move the slider to the left to slow down the speech or to the right to speed it up.
Change the pitch
4. Adjust the slider for Pitch to alter the pitch and tone of the spoken voice. Move it to the left for a deeper, lower voice, or to the right for a high-pitched voice.
Preview your settings
5. Tap Play to hear how your new settings sound. To return the settings to their default positions, tap the Reset button.
Make more adjustments
6. To customise the text-to-speech output further, tap the Settings icon next to Preferred engine.
Make text-to-speech sound louder
7. Tap Amplify speech volume to boost the volume of the spoken text so that it is easier to hear above any other audio playing on your device.
Adjust language switching
8. If you use more than one language in Android, tap Language detection to set how Text-to-speech switches between them. Select Aggressive if it's not switching fast enough, or Conservative if it's switching too fast.
Note: we have written these instructions for devices running the standard version of the Android operating system. You may find some minor presentation differences if the manufacturer has customised the theme.
Need some more help?
Call our helpline 0300 180 0028 or email enquiries@abilitynet.org.uk
Need free IT Support at Home?
If you are older or disabled and need IT support at home, you can book a free home visit.