Google Text-to-Speech for Android

Overview of the app

Google Text-to-Speech converts on-screen text into audible speech. It integrates with several applications on your phone, such as Google Play Books, and can vocalize text from other apps as well.

Everyday ways to use it

• Listen to a recipe while your hands are busy in the kitchen.
• Have bedtime stories read aloud for children or anyone who prefers listening.
• Hear messages or other text content spoken if reading is difficult or tiring.
• Use it with Google Translate to hear how text sounds in a different language.

Language support and translation

The app already offers support for more than a dozen languages, and Google continues to expand that list. If multilingual output is your main reason for installing the app, check the available languages listed on the app’s store page before downloading.

Is this app necessary for you?

Many Android phones come with text-to-speech functionality preinstalled; you may only need to enable it rather than download a separate app. If your device is not from Google (for example, some Huawei or Lenovo models) or it’s an older handset, installing Google Text-to-Speech can still be beneficial.

How to enable it on Android

To see whether it’s already available on your phone, open Settings and look for the text-to-speech option—commonly found under Settings > Language & Input > Text-to-speech output or within Accessibility settings. If it isn’t present or the built-in engine doesn’t meet your needs, you can install Google Text-to-Speech from the Play Store.