Built-in options
How do I use text-to-speech on my iPhone? First decide whether you want your phone to read selected words, read a screen, or speak words you type. Those jobs use different iPhone accessibility settings.
Most people already have the words they want to hear in an article, message, document, or app. The first choice is whether to listen on the iPhone or make a separate recording.
Compare the built-in reading path when you also use an Android phone.
See how Google's speech options differ from the iPhone settings described here.
Follow a broader workflow for preparing written text to be spoken aloud.
Apple's controls handle listening on your device. Text To Speech is a starting point when your goal shifts from hearing existing content to preparing spoken audio for another use.
You want to hear a long page while doing something else. Turn on Speak Screen in Settings, Accessibility, Spoken Content; on some iOS versions the menu is called Read & Speak. Swipe down with two fingers from the top of the screen to begin.
The iPhone reads visible content without requiring you to copy the article into another tool.
how to use text to speech androidYou only need a sentence checked aloud. Enable Speak Selection in the same accessibility area, select text in a compatible app, and tap Speak in the selection menu. The option may sit behind an arrow in that menu.
You can listen to a short passage without starting a full-screen reading session.
how to use text to speechYou want the iPhone to say words you type during a conversation. Look for Live Speech in Settings, Accessibility, enable it, then open its typing panel using the accessibility shortcut configured on your device.
Typed words are spoken in the moment; this is a different task from reading an article aloud.
google text to speechYou have a script that other people need to hear in a finished project. Draft and proofread it first, then assess a dedicated voice workflow instead of assuming an iPhone reading control will provide an exportable track.
You separate private listening from the production task of creating reusable narration.
text to speech voicesBefore changing settings, identify the source of the words and what you need afterward. That prevents a device-reading feature from becoming an awkward substitute for a recording workflow.
For a highlighted phrase, choose Speak Selection. For a page or screen, choose Speak Screen. For words you type for someone nearby to hear, choose Live Speech. Menu names and available features can vary with your iOS version.
Open Settings, then Accessibility, and find the relevant speech setting. Test it with a short paragraph in an app you already use. If selection is unavailable, try text in another app rather than assuming every image or interface can be read.
If hearing the passage is enough, keep using the iPhone control. If you need a voice for a video or presentation, prepare a clean script and check the capabilities and terms of a separate voice service before relying on its output.
The useful distinction is not which option sounds more impressive. It is whether you need immediate listening on your iPhone or a piece of audio for a separate project.
iPhone built-in speech
Text already displayed or selected on the phone
Separate voice workflow
A script you supply for a voice project
iPhone built-in speech
Read content aloud or speak typed words on the device
Separate voice workflow
Prepare spoken content for an intended audience
iPhone built-in speech
Settings, then Accessibility, then the relevant speech control
Separate voice workflow
Review the voice service's current input and output options
iPhone built-in speech
Speak Selection reads text you highlight
Separate voice workflow
A script can be edited before you create the voice output
iPhone built-in speech
Speak Screen reads supported on-screen content
Separate voice workflow
Break a long script into sections for review and revision
iPhone built-in speech
Do not assume reading controls save an audio file
Separate voice workflow
Check whether the chosen service supports the file and usage rights you need
iPhone built-in speech
Personal listening or in-person communication
Separate voice workflow
Narration intended for a separate piece of work
Built-in speech is useful, but it does not remove app restrictions or guarantee a production-ready recording.
An app may display words as an image or restrict text selection. Speak Selection cannot highlight text the app does not make selectable.
WorkaroundTry Speak Screen, look for an accessible text version, or copy text only when the app permits it.
The iPhone's accessibility controls are designed for listening and communication, not as a guaranteed way to save narration in a particular audio format.
WorkaroundFor a separate audio asset, confirm export options with the voice service you choose before starting a project.
Apple may rename menus, and features such as Live Speech depend on the iPhone and iOS version. Instructions written for another device may not match yours.
WorkaroundUse the search field in Settings for Speak Screen, Speak Selection, or Live Speech, then check Apple's current device guidance.
Use iPhone speech controls when you simply need to hear text now. If you are preparing narration, bring a proofread script to a dedicated voice workflow and verify its available voices, output options, and usage terms for your project.
For on-screen reading, open Settings, Accessibility, and find Speak Screen or Speak Selection under the speech-reading controls. Enable the option you want, then use a two-finger swipe down from the top for Speak Screen or select text and tap Speak for Speak Selection. The menu label may vary by iOS version.
Enable Speak Selection in the iPhone's accessibility speech settings. In an app that allows text selection, highlight the passage and tap Speak; you may need to open more actions in the selection menu. If you cannot highlight the words, try Speak Screen or a different text source.
Speak Screen is intended to read supported content shown on the display. After enabling it, swipe down from the top of the screen with two fingers to start reading. Results depend on how the current app presents its content.
Live Speech is the accessibility feature to look for when you want typed words spoken during an in-person conversation or a supported call. Find it in Settings, Accessibility, and follow the setup shown on your device. It serves a different purpose from Speak Screen, which reads existing content.
Do not treat the iPhone's reading controls as a guaranteed audio-export tool. They are primarily for listening or communication on the device. If you need reusable narration, check a separate voice workflow's current export options and permitted uses.