Speech Services by Google

Power your device with the magic of Google’s text-to-speech and speech-to-text technology.

Speech Services provides speech-to-text functionality to Google and other third-party apps to convert what you say to text. For example, it can be used by:

• Google Maps when you use your voice to search places

• Recorder app to transcribe your recordings on device

• Phone app Call Screen feature to get a real-time transcription of your caller

• Accessibility apps like Voice Access for operating your device through voice

• Dictation or keyboard apps that you might use to dictate text messages through voice

• Apps that contain a search by voice feature so that you can quickly search for your favourite shows or songs

• Language learning apps that recognise what you say as you practise a new language

• …and many other applications in Play Store

To use Google speech-to-text functionality on your Android device, go to Settings > Apps and notifications > Default apps > Assist app. Select Speech Services by Google as your preferred voice input engine.

Speech Services powers applications to read the text on your screen aloud. For example, it can be used by:

• Google Play Books to 'read aloud' your favourite book

• Google Translate to speak translations aloud so that you can hear the pronunciation of a word

• TalkBack and accessibility applications for spoken feedback across your device

• …and many other applications in Play Store

To use Google Text-to-speech functionality on your Android device, go to Settings > Languages and input > Text-to-speech output. Select Speech Services by Google as your preferred engine.

Note, on many Android devices, Speech Services by Google is already available, but you can update to the latest version here.