How to Add Natural Voices in Windows 11 Narrator
Natural Voices in Windows 11 Narrator make the screen reader sound much more human.
These voices use newer technology to offer speech that’s less robotic than older text-to-speech options. Narrator itself is a built-in Windows 11 tool that reads your screen aloud, helping you use your PC, especially if you have trouble seeing.
You can add more natural-sounding voices, such as “Microsoft Jenny” or “Microsoft David,” directly through Windows Settings. This lets you pick a voice for Narrator that feels more pleasant and works better for you.
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?
Let’s talk about what Narrator actually is. Narrator is a built-in Windows tool that reads screen content aloud. It’s a screen reader that helps you use your computer by speaking text, buttons, and other items, which is especially helpful if you have trouble seeing the screen.
Windows 11’s Narrator has been improved. This updated version helps users send emails, browse websites, and write documents more easily, especially for those who are blind or have low vision.
What Are Natural Voices?
Natural voices in Windows 11 Narrator sound like real people talking, making it much easier to listen to. These newer voices use advanced technology and can even work without an internet connection, unlike the older, robotic-sounding legacy voices.
- 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. You'll get a notification when your voice is ready to use, letting you know the installation is finished.
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
⚠ You'll need administrator permissions
PowerShell, a command-line tool for Windows, opens when users search for it in the Start menu. To give it permission to make system-wide changes, right-click the PowerShell icon and choose "Run as administrator."
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 PackageFullNameMore Information
Learn about new accessibility features in Windows 11 from the Windows Experience Blog.
Summary
Adding natural voices to Windows 11 Narrator makes your computer sound much more human and pleasant when it reads text aloud. These voices improve how you use your PC, work even without internet, and are straightforward 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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