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How to Restore the Speak Cell on Enter Command in Excel
Question details
The user needs a way to reactivate the Speak Cell on Enter functionality, which has been removed from the standard Excel Quick Access Toolbar customization options.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- The user wants Excel to read aloud the contents of a cell immediately after pressing Enter, but the native command is missing from the toolbar settings.
- Observed behavior
- The Speak Cell on Enter command is no longer available in the Excel interface, requiring a VBA command or macro to restore the functionality.
Ensure your computer's sound is turned up and that your operating system's text-to-speech engine is functioning properly before applying these VBA changes.
Enable Speak Cell on Enter via the VBA Immediate Window
Use this quick method if you only need to turn the feature on temporarily for your current Excel session without creating a permanent macro.
This approach uses the Immediate window in the Visual Basic Editor to execute a single line of code. It is the fastest way to enable the speech feature if you rarely use it.
Press Alt + F11 on your keyboard to launch the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) Editor.
Press Ctrl + G to open the Immediate window, which typically appears at the bottom of the editor screen.
Type the following command exactly as shown: Application.Speech.SpeakCellOnEnter = True, and then press Enter.
Create a Permanent Toggle Macro in PERSONAL.XLSB
Create a dedicated toggle macro and assign it to your Quick Access Toolbar, allowing you to turn the speech feature on and off with a single click in any workbook.
Looking for a Lighter Alternative to Excel?
If you are tired of dealing with missing features and complex VBA workarounds in Microsoft Excel, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible spreadsheet editor that feels instantly familiar.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the free download button for your operating system.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Run the downloaded installer file and follow the quick on-screen instructions to set up the software.
- 3. Open WPS Spreadsheets: Launch the application and open any existing .xlsx or .xlsm file to seamlessly continue your work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Microsoft remove the Speak Cells command from the Quick Access Toolbar?
In newer updates, Microsoft streamlined the interface by hiding certain legacy accessibility and audio commands. While removed from the default menus, the core text-to-speech engine remains embedded in the software, which is why it can still be accessed via VBA.
How do I turn off Speak Cell on Enter after enabling it via the Immediate Window?
Press Alt + F11 to open the VBA Editor, press Ctrl + G for the Immediate window, and enter the command: Application.Speech.SpeakCellOnEnter = False. Press Enter to instantly disable it.
What is PERSONAL.XLSB and why do I need it?
PERSONAL.XLSB is a hidden personal macro workbook that automatically loads every time you start Excel. Saving your toggle macro here ensures that you can use the Speak Cell shortcut across any Excel file you open, rather than being restricted to a single workbook.
Will these macros work on Excel for Mac?
The VBA code for Application.Speech relies on the Windows text-to-speech engine. Excel for Mac handles text-to-speech differently through macOS system accessibility settings, so this specific VBA macro is intended for Windows users.
