An engaging presentation is one that captivates and impresses your audience. Text-to-speech (TTS) technology of Microsoft PowerPoint is powerful. By integrating TTS into your PowerPoint slides, you’ll not as it were to improve accessibility but also increment group of onlookers engagement. You’ll be able to effortlessly empower the Read Aloud command from the Quick Access Toolbar to have PowerPoint read your text aloud—a basic accessibility feature. Explore the benefits of using TTS in PowerPoint now and make strides in your introduction.

Add the Speak Command to PowerPoint

First, you need to add the Speak feature to your Quick Access Toolbar. This makes it easy to use whenever you need it.

Step 1: Open PowerPoint

Start by opening your PowerPoint presentation. At the top of the window, you’ll see the Quick Access Toolbar.

Step 2: Customize the Toolbar

Click the little downward arrow at the end of the toolbar. From the dropdown menu, select More Commands.

Step 3: Find the Speak Option

In the new window that pops up, change the left dropdown menu to All Commands. Scroll down the list until you find Speak. Click on it, then hit the Add button to move it to the right-side list.

Step 4: Save Changes

Click OK. Now, the Speak icon will show up in your Quick Access Toolbar, ready to go!

How to Use Speak to Read Text Aloud

Now that you’ve added the Speak button, it’s time to use it.

Step 1: Highlight Your Text

In your presentation, highlight the text you want PowerPoint to read aloud. You can select text on slides, speaker notes, or even titles.

Step 2: Click the Speak Button

Click the Speak icon you added earlier. PowerPoint will immediately start reading your selected text out loud.

Step 3: Stop the Reading

If you want to stop, just click the Speak button again. It’s that easy!

By adding this tool, you make your presentations more accessible for everyone — a small change that can make a big difference.

Use PowerPoint’s Built-in Text-to-Speech Feature

PowerPoint also has a built-in Text to Speech option when running a slide show.

Here’s how you use it:

• Open your presentation and click the Slide Show tab.
• Start the slide show by selecting From Beginning or From Current Slide.
• During the slide show, go back to the Slide Show menu and select Speak.
• PowerPoint will read the text on the current slide out loud.

Please note: This feature may not be available in every version of PowerPoint. If you don’t see it, don’t worry! There are other options.

Try Third-Party Text-to-Speech Tools

If your PowerPoint version doesn’t support Speak or you want more voices and languages, third-party tools are a great choice.

NaturalReader

NaturalReader is simple to use. Just copy and paste your text, and it will read it aloud. It supports many languages and offers different voice styles, making your presentation even more engaging.

TextAloud

TextAloud also reads text from PowerPoint and other apps. You can adjust the reading speed, choose from many voices, and even control the volume. It’s a flexible choice for all kinds of needs.

ReadSpeaker

ReadSpeaker is perfect for web-based and mobile presentations. It offers natural-sounding voices, adjustable speed, and handy tools like word highlighting.

WordTalk

Looking for a free option? WordTalk adds voice features to your slides and lets you change the speed, pitch, and volume. It’s simple but powerful.

Balabolka

Balabolka works great with PowerPoint. Just paste your text into it, and it reads it aloud. It supports many languages and saves your speech as an audio file if you need it.

MicMonster

MicMonster is a newer tool that turns text into realistic voiceovers. It offers over 600 voices in 140 languages! With advanced settings for speed, pitch, and tone, it’s great for making your presentations sound professional. Plus, it’s trusted by many brands.

While Microsoft PowerPoint already does a good job, these third-party tools, including options like MiniMax Text-to-Speech, can give you even more control over how your slides sound.

Why Making PowerPoint Read Aloud Matters

Making PowerPoint read aloud isn’t just about convenience — it’s approximately consideration. It makes a difference for individuals with visual impairments, dialect learners, and indeed those who incline toward listening over reading. Also, it can make your practices smoother and help you spot typos or cumbersome wording some time recently your big day.

Using tools like Speak, NaturalReader, or MicMonster can make a big impact without a lot of extra work.

Final Thoughts

Now you know — making PowerPoint read aloud is simple and powerful. Whether you use the built-in feature or a third-party tool, adding voice to your slides can boost your presentation’s accessibility and professionalism.

Next time you build a slide deck, ask yourself: How could adding speech help my audience connect with my message even better?