# Text-to-Speech Plugin **URL:** \ **Category:** Feature\ **Created:** [October 20, 2026, 7:30pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/text-to-speech-plugin/415230 "2026-10-20T19:30:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1 ## AI-generated summary This feature request proposes a **Text-to-Speech (TTS)** plugin for forums, arguing that listening to threads is a modern convenience similar to AI-narrated stories. [Johnny_McIvor](/t/-/415230/1) suggests integrating the **Piper TTS** engine, allowing users to toggle playback per post and customize speed, voice, and pitch via a dedicated interface. In response, [merefield](/t/-/415230/2) notes that browsers like Edge on Windows 11 already offer "Read Aloud Selection" features, a capability confirmed by [putty](/t/-/415230/3) on Mac, though with robotic quality. Johnny_McIvor counters in [post 4](/t/-/415230/4) that native browser tools are inconsistent across devices (e.g., failing on Google Pixel) and lack granular control over which specific posts to read. The author concludes that TTS is an underestimated opportunity for social media and may proceed to develop the plugin independently.
**Author:** ![Johnny\_McIvor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/johnny_mcivor/32/218747_2.png) [@Johnny\_McIvor](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Johnny_McIvor)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2026, 7:30pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/text-to-speech-plugin/415230/1 "2026-10-20T19:30:33Z")
If we’re trying to modernize forums, I think a decent text-to-speech feature would be rock-solid. People write walls of text, and it’s convenient to just listen to a thread while you’re working on something. Nowadays people listen to AI-narrated stories while they work, it’s a pretty popular trend Idea: Create a plugin that allows you to integrate Piper TTS directly into threads. Every post has a checkbox that can be ticked and a little button to play text-to-speech. There are also options to set the playback speed, voice, pitch, and voices of other speakers. I assume that the engine would need to be hosted from some external source, but it could be worth it. ---
**Author:** ![merefield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/merefield/32/176214_2.png) [@merefield](https://meta.discourse.org/u/merefield)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2026, 7:42pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/text-to-speech-plugin/415230/2 "2026-10-20T19:42:01Z")
In Edge on Windows 11 I just selected the text of your Post, right clicked and it offered me “Read Aloud Selection” I’m certain there is something similar on mac these days? ---
**Author:** ![putty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/putty/32/370902_2.png) [@putty](https://meta.discourse.org/u/putty)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2026, 7:45pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/text-to-speech-plugin/415230/3 "2026-10-20T19:45:56Z")
Can confirm I see something similar on Mac, albeit very robotic. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_McIvor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/johnny_mcivor/32/218747_2.png) [@Johnny\_McIvor](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Johnny_McIvor)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2026, 8:10pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/text-to-speech-plugin/415230/4 "2026-10-20T20:10:18Z")
The problem is that this relies upon the TTS of the device you’re using plus it doesn’t work on many devices My Google Pixel couldn’t do it for instance despite the fact that it works on various websites Plus you can’t select the posts you want to read On my linux laptop the TTS is horrendously primitive I’ll probably just vibe code this myself but I think TTS is an underestimated possibility for social media