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Guide

Mac text to speech has no sound? How to fix it

The controller pops up, the words highlight, but there's no voice. It's almost always the output device or the voice itself.

Updated 22 October 2026.

Short answerCheck System Settings → Sound → Output first: right device, volume up, not muted. Then open System Settings → Accessibility → Read & Speak (Spoken Content on macOS 14 and 15), click Play Sample next to System voice, and if it's silent or empty, pick the voice again and let it finish downloading. Toggle Speak selection off and on, then restart. Aloud plays through its own player with Apple voices or its on-device Kokoro voice, so it's a second path when system speech misbehaves.

The free built-in fix

  1. Check the output device. System Settings → Sound → Output: pick the right speakers or headphones, raise the volume and make sure Mute is off.
  2. Play the voice sample. Open System Settings → Accessibility → Read & Speak (called Spoken Content on macOS 14 and 15) and click Play Sample next to System voice.
  3. Re-pick the voice. If the System voice menu is blank or the sample is silent, choose a voice again. Apple notes voices aren't available until the download is complete.
  4. Toggle Speak selection. Turn Speak selection off and on again.
  5. Restart. Restart the Mac and test in TextEdit.

The better fix: Aloud

If the built-in tools keep getting in your way, Aloud (ours, $19 once per Mac, macOS 14 or later) is made for this:

  • Its own reading window, notch reader or floating player, with Apple voices or the on-device Kokoro voice (Apple silicon, macOS 15 or later).
  • Select text in any app and press Control-Option-S (or right-click → Services → Read with Aloud).
  • A reading window with a word highlight and click-to-seek, so you can jump to any sentence.
  • Speed from 0.75x to 2x, changed mid-sentence, and resume from the last sentence.

Buy Aloud, $19 once   Launch offer: code LAUNCH25 takes 25% off until Oct 31. 3-day free trial, no card or account.

Questions

Why does the Speak Selection controller show but no sound plays?

Usually the wrong output device, muted volume, or a system voice that isn't fully downloaded. Check Sound → Output and Play Sample.

How do I test the Mac's speech voice?

Open System Settings → Accessibility → Read & Speak (called Spoken Content on macOS 14 and 15) and click Play Sample next to System voice.

Can I read text aloud on Mac without Speak Selection?

Yes. Edit → Speech → Start Speaking works in many apps, and Aloud reads selected text with Control-Option-S.

Is Aloud free?

No. Aloud is $19 once per Mac, 3-day free trial, no account.

Related

More Mac utilities from the developer: SnapState puts your Mac windows, apps and browser tabs back after sleep or a monitor reconnect. $9.99 one-time.