How do I get text to speech on a Chromebook?
Open Chrome, go to speechma.com and paste your text into the box above. Pick a voice, enter the 5-digit code and click generate. Click download and the MP3 saves to your Chromebook. There is no extension to add and no app to install, which matters on school-managed devices where installs are often blocked.
This is handy for students making a narrated Google Slides project, teachers recording audio directions, or anyone who wants a document read aloud as a file they can replay. Each conversion takes up to 2,000 characters, and you can run as many as you need.
How to save text to speech as an MP3 on a Chromebook
- Copy your textIn Google Docs or a web page, press Ctrl + A to select all and Ctrl + C to copy. For a long document, copy one section at a time.
- Paste into SpeechmaClick the text box above and press Ctrl + V.
- Choose a voiceFilter by language and country, then click play on a few previews.
- GenerateSet speed or pitch if needed, type the 5-digit code and click generate.
- DownloadClick download. Chrome shows the file in the downloads bubble near the address bar.
- Find the fileOpen the Files app (the Launcher, then Files), choose My files and then Downloads.
How do I add the MP3 to Google Slides or Drive?
Google Slides inserts audio from Google Drive, so first upload the MP3: open Drive, click New, then File upload, and pick it from Downloads. Then in Slides, choose Insert, then Audio, and select the file. Set it to play automatically or on click. Our full walkthrough for adding voiceover to Google Slides covers sharing permissions so your teacher or classmates can hear it.
For video projects, browser editors such as Canva and WeVideo accept MP3 uploads too. See adding voiceover in Canva.
One more classroom-friendly trick: put the MP3 in a shared Drive folder and turn its link into a QR code with Chrome’s built-in share menu. Print the code on a worksheet or a station card, and students can scan it with a tablet or phone to hear the directions again. It works well for science stations, reading centers and substitute plans, because the instructions sound the same no matter who is in the room.
Speechma vs ChromeOS Select-to-speak
Chromebooks include a built-in reading feature. Here is how it compares in general terms.
| ChromeOS Select-to-speak | Speechma in Chrome | |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Reads selected text on screen aloud | Creates a downloadable audio file |
| Saves an MP3 | No | Yes |
| Voices | System voices for your language | 1,700+ voices, 75+ languages and accents |
| Best for | Reading web pages and documents while you follow along | Projects, presentations, study audio, videos |
| Setup | Turned on in Accessibility settings | None, just open the site |
Per Google’s help page, Select-to-speak is turned on under Settings, Accessibility, Text-to-Speech. Your school administrator may control some settings.
Chromebook tips
- If the download does nothing, your school may limit downloads. Ask your teacher or IT team.
- Rename the file in the Files app before uploading so you can find it in Drive later.
- Use the pause buttons in Voice Effects for real pauses, and commas for natural breaths in your script.
- Pin the Speechma tab or bookmark it with Ctrl + D for quick access.
- Plug in headphones before you preview voices in class so you do not disturb the room.
- Your history stays in your browser. Download anything you want to keep before clearing browsing data.
Converting a long document?
Split it into parts of about 2,000 characters and number the files. Or use SpeechmaPRO.com, which also runs in Chrome, for 10,000 characters at once with no captcha.
Frequently asked questions
Does Speechma work on school Chromebooks?
Is it free?
Where do my MP3s go on a Chromebook?
Can I put the audio in Google Slides?
Do I need a Chrome extension?
Can my Chromebook read text aloud without making a file?
Make better voiceovers, faster
- New voices and features the day they launch
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- Creator stories, community picks and early access
