How to Add Natural Voices in Windows 11 Narrator
You can add high-quality, natural-sounding voices to Windows 11 Narrator to improve screen reading. Natural Voices use advanced technology to create speech that sounds more human than older text-to-speech options.
Windows 11 Narrator, a screen-reading application built into the operating system, helps you navigate and interact with your PC by reading text and UI elements aloud. This makes your computer easier to use, especially if you have visual impairments.
You can download and install extra natural voices, like “Microsoft Jenny” or “Microsoft David,” right from Windows Settings. This allows you to personalize the Narrator’s voice for a more comfortable and efficient user experience.
Open Settings, go to Accessibility, then Narrator. Click “Add natural voices,” choose a voice from the list, and click Install. You can then select your new voice in Narrator settings.
What is Narrator?
Narrator is a built-in screen reader for Windows that reads text and other on-screen items aloud. It helps you use your computer without needing to see the screen, making tasks like sending emails or browsing websites easier, especially for people who are blind or have low vision.
Windows 11 enhances the Narrator screen reader. This updated Narrator helps users send emails, browse websites, and write documents with improved functionality, making computer use easier for people who are blind or have low vision.
What Are Natural Voices?
Windows 11 Narrator offers updated natural voices that sound much more like real people, unlike the older, less clear legacy voices. These advanced natural voices use modern text-to-speech technology and can even work offline, meaning you don’t need an internet connection to use them.
- Legacy voices: Older and less clear voices.
- Natural voices: Newer, clearer voices that sound more like real people.
Natural voices in Windows 11 Narrator employ advanced text-to-speech technology to produce a more human-like sound. These natural voices function offline, meaning users can access them without an internet connection, offering greater flexibility and accessibility for screen reader users.
How to Add Natural Voices to Narrator
Follow these steps to add Natural Voices to your Narrator:
Step 1Open Windows Settings
Click the Start menu and select Settings, or press Windows key + I on your keyboard to open Settings quickly.
Step 2Go to Accessibility
In the Settings window, click Accessibility on the left sidebar.
Step 3Select Narrator
Find and click on the Narrator option on the right side.
Step 4Add Natural Voices
Look for the tile that says “Add natural voices” and click it.
Step 5Choose Your Voice
Choose the natural voice you want from the list, then click the Install button.
Step 6Wait for Installation
Windows 11 Narrator voice installation takes a short time. A notification message confirms when the selected voice is ready for use, ensuring the user knows the process is complete.
Step 7Use Your New Voice
Go back to the Narrator settings, and you can now select your new natural voice to use.
How to Remove Natural Voices
To remove a natural voice you’ve installed, you’ll need to use Windows PowerShell:
Step 1Open Windows PowerShell
⚠ Admin privileges required
Step 2List All Natural Voices
Type this command and press Enter to see all installed natural voices:
Get-AppxPackage -Name "*Voice*" | Select Name, PackageFullName
Step 3Find the Voice You Want to Remove
Find the voice you want to remove and copy its full package name.
Step 4Uninstall the Voice
PackageFullName with the full name you copied:Remove-AppxPackage -Package PackageFullNameThat’s it! The voice will be removed from your computer.
More Information
Learn about new accessibility features in Windows 11 from the Windows Experience Blog.
Summary
Adding natural voices to Windows 11 Narrator makes your PC sound much clearer and more pleasant when reading things aloud. These natural voices improve your computer experience and work well even without an internet connection, and they are simple to add or remove.- Adding or removing natural voices in Narrator is simple and makes the voice sound much better.
- Narrator helps you use your PC by reading things aloud, even helping with emails and browsing.
- Natural voices sound clearer and work even offline.
- Legacy voices are not as clear or natural sounding.
- You can customize Narrator voices anytime to fit your needs.
How to change Narrator voice in 🪟 Windows 11?
To personalize the narrator’s voice on Windows 11, go to the Narrator’s Voice section. Use the drop-down menu next to Choose a voice to select a voice that suits your preference.
How do I reset Narrator settings?
Select Restore all defaults to return all commands back to their default settings. To find this setting, press Alt+Tab after Narrator launches, select the Narrator Settings window, and choose Commands.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.
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