The universal accessibility icon, shown in place of a product photo.

Apple Live Speech & Personal Voice

by Apple

Free

Built into the operating system. Nothing to buy.

Setup with instructions A family member can turn this on and get useful results in about 30 minutes by following Apple's instructions. It needs some guided setup: finding the settings, saving phrases, and recording a Personal Voice if wanted. It runs on a device you already own, so there is nothing to buy or fit. Someone who relies on it for daily communication may still want a speech-language pathologist's help with phrase choices.

What it is

Summary

AI-generated from vendor-published content · October 7, 2026

Live Speech lets you type what you want to say and have your device say it out loud, including during Phone and FaceTime calls and face-to-face conversations. You can save phrases you use often and group them into categories, such as a Coffee Shop set for ordering. You can pick from dozens of system voices or use a Personal Voice, which is a voice you create that sounds like you. Personal Voice is built by reading 10 randomized phrases aloud, and it's aimed at people who are at risk of losing their voice. These are built-in Apple features, so availability varies by device, region, and language.

Getting it

Where to get it

Apple Visit
Free

This is the vendor WhatCanHelp tracks for this product — it may also be available from other retailers or a local supplier, and prices vary.

Details

Quick Facts Catalog facts · auto-generated
Type
Addresses
Platform
Age range
Complexity
Setup with instructions
Price
Free
Funding
  • Out of pocket
  • School district
  • Vocational rehab

What setup looks like

  • With a guide
    1. Turn on Live Speech in the Accessibility settings on your Apple device, then try typing a phrase and having it spoken.
    2. Build a few saved phrases and sort them into categories for the places and conversations you use most, such as a coffee shop.
    3. To make a Personal Voice, read the 10 randomized phrases aloud in a quiet room. Plan on 30 to 60 minutes to set up Live Speech, build a first set of phrases, and record the Personal Voice. See manufacturer support resources for detailed instructions.

View official support docs → (opens in a new tab)

Sources & fine print

Vendor facts (name, price, platforms, vendor link) sourced from Apple — view on vendor site (opens in a new tab); last checked November 1, 2026.

Classification & description AI-generated from vendor-published content on October 7, 2026 · confidence: high. Vendor specs may lag; verify before relying on details in a clinical or funding artifact.

How listings stay current