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How to receive spoken feedback as you type in macOS 12 Monterey

How to receive spoken feedback as you type in macOS 12 Monterey

Short guide:

  1. Click the Apple icon in the top left corner of the screen and select System Preferences.
  2. Click Accessibility.
  3. In the sidebar, click Spoken Content.
  4. Tick the checkbox for Speak typing feedback.
  5. To change the settings for Speak typing feedback, click the corresponding Options button.

Before and after

Illustrations showing a user typing on their computer before and after Speak typing feedback has been enabled

This section gives you step by step instructions on how to hear words and letters spoken aloud as you type them in macOS 12 Monterey, with pictures of the screens to help.

Open System Preferences

1. Click the Apple icon in the top left corner of the screen and choose System Preferences from the menu.

Open the Accessibility settings

2. In the System Preferences window, click Accessibility.

Find the Spoken Content settings

3. In the sidebar, click Spoken Content.

Turn on Speak typing feedback

4. Tick the checkbox for Speak typing feedback.

Change the settings for Speak typing feedback

5. Click the Options button for Speak announcements.

Choose which items to hear

6. Tick the checkboxes for the items you want to hear spoken as you type.

  • Echo characters – hear each character spoken as you type.
  • Echo words – hear each word spoken when you finish typing them. Words are spoken after you press the space bar.
  • Echo selection changes –hear previously typed letters or words spoken when you select them or move the cursor through them.
  • Echo modifier keys – hear the modifier keys (i.e., Shift, Control, Alt, and Command) announced when you press them to perform a keyboard shortcut.

Save your changes

7. When you are happy with your settings for Speak typing feedback, click the OK button.

Close System Preferences

8. When you are happy with your settings, close System Preferences by clicking the Close button (red circle) in the top-left corner of the window or using the Cmd + W keyboard shortcut.

Note: If this does not work it could be because your computer settings are managed by someone else (an IT department or administrator for example). If so, you will need to contact them to access these settings or for help.

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