In a significant update for Chrome users on Android, Google modifies the “Listen to this page” functionality, expanding the browser’s accessibility capabilities. This, part of an ongoing effort lasting several months, aims to transform the browsing experience by offering users the option of listening to web page content through an integrated text-to-speech (TTS) tool.
TTS functionality is available on most web pages with large amounts of text. Once the page is completely linked, the “Listen to this page” option appears in Chrome for Android’s three-dot menu, located between the “Translate” and “Add to Home Screen” options. This innovation appears as an extension of the browser’s already extensive functionalities.
A miniplayer appears at the bottom of the screen when activating the function, displaying information such as the page and website name, as well as basic playback controls such as progress indicator, play/pause and close buttons. By tapping the miniplayer, users have access to full controls, which include a slider to fast forward or rewind the audio by 10 seconds and adjust the playback speed, with options ranging from 0.5x to 4x. Additionally, you can enable the “Highlight text and auto-scroll” feature and choose from several voices available in American, British, Indian, and Australian English.
It is important to highlight that the control bar remains displayed even when opening other tabs in the browser. Playback continues even when the device is locked, as long as Chrome remains in the foreground. However, closing the browser or returning to the home screen terminates TTS. However, the browser is able to remember where playback was paused for when it is reopened.
For even faster access, it is possible to set “Listen to this page” as a shortcut in the toolbar next to the Omnibox, configurable through the Settings > Advanced > Toolbar shortcut menu.
This functionality is also accessible in Chrome Custom Tabs, demonstrating Google’s commitment to making its tools more inclusive and accessible.
The release of this feature accompanies the update to Chrome 125 and is being rolled out gradually (server-side). For those interested in testing right away, there is a flag available at: chrome://flags/read-aloud. The availability of this functionality has been improved in recent weeks, marking another important step in the evolution of Google’s browser.
For more information about Chrome updates and other browser-related news, stay tuned for upcoming posts.
