Yes, Microsoft Word can read to you. Click where you want it to start, go to the Review tab, and select Read Aloud. Word reads your document out loud from that point and highlights each word as it goes. To change the voice or speed, select the gear icon in the Read Aloud controls and use Voice Selection and the Reading speed slider.
These steps follow Microsoft’s Listen to your Word documents article. Microsoft lists Read Aloud for Word in Microsoft 365, Office 2021 and Office 2019, and Word 2024 has the same Review tab button. Word for Mac, Word for the web, and the Word apps for iPhone and iPad can also read to you, with slightly different steps covered below. Read Aloud uses text-to-speech, which means software that turns written text into spoken audio.
What You Need Before You Start
- A supported version of Word. Word 2016 and older don’t have Read Aloud. Use the Speak tool described later in this article instead.
- Speakers or headphones connected and turned up. Read Aloud plays through your normal sound output.
- For the most natural voices: a Microsoft 365 subscription, a signed-in account, and an internet connection. Natural (neural) voices need a stable connection. Without one, Word falls back to the voices installed on your computer.
How to Make Word Read Your Document Out Loud
- Open your document in Word.
- Click where you want the reading to begin. Put the cursor at the top to hear the whole document.
- Go to the Review tab.
- Select Read Aloud. A small control bar appears at the top right of the document, and Word starts reading.
- Use the controls: Play, Pause, Previous and Next to move between paragraphs.
- Select Stop (x) to close Read Aloud. Selecting Read Aloud on the Review tab again also turns it off.
To hear just part of a document, select that text first, then start Read Aloud from the Review tab or select Play in the controls.
To jump to a new spot, select Pause, click in the paragraph you want, and select Play.
Listening is a good way to proofread, because you often hear mistakes your eyes skip over. If Word keeps underlining words that are already correct while you proofread, you can turn off the Frequently confused words check in Word.
If Word isn’t underlining misspelled words at all, here’s how to turn on spell check in Word.
Add Read Aloud to the Quick Access Toolbar
If you use Read Aloud often, put it one click away. Right-click Read Aloud on the Review tab and choose Add to Quick Access Toolbar. You can also go to File > Options > Quick Access Toolbar, set Choose commands from to All Commands, select Read Aloud, then select Add and OK.
How to Change the Read Aloud Voice and Speed
- Start Read Aloud from the Review tab.
- Select the gear icon in the controls at the top right.
- Under Voice Selection, choose the voice you want.
- Drag the Reading speed slider to make it faster or slower. The change applies right away, so you can test it while Word reads.
The voices you can choose depend on your platform, because text-to-speech uses software built into your device or a Microsoft service. Read Aloud also uses the proofing language set for the document, so if Word reads in the wrong accent or language, check the document’s language setting (see the troubleshooting section below).
Add More Voices in Windows
If the voice list is short, you can install more voices in Windows. Microsoft’s voice download guide explains the path:
- Open Start > Settings > Time & Language > Language & region.
- Select Add a language, choose a language that shows the text-to-speech icon, and select Next.
- Make sure Text-to-speech is checked, then select Install.
- Restart Word. The new voice appears under Voice Selection.
To change the default Windows voice and its speed, go to Settings > Time & Language > Speech.
Interactive Read Aloud with Copilot
If you have a Microsoft Copilot license, Word offers Interactive Read Aloud. Reading starts automatically, and you can select Unmute to ask Copilot questions about the document, then select Play or say “Return to reading” to continue. Select Mute to turn your microphone off while Copilot answers. In this version, the voice and speed settings are under the … icon instead of the gear. For more on Copilot features and plans, read about using Copilot in Word.
Read Aloud Keyboard Shortcuts
Word on Windows has these shortcuts:
- Ctrl + Alt + Space: start or stop Read Aloud
- Ctrl + Space: play or pause
- Ctrl + Right Arrow: skip to the start of the next paragraph
- Ctrl + Left Arrow: go to the start of the current paragraph (press Left Arrow twice to go back one more)
- Alt + Right Arrow / Alt + Left Arrow: speed up or slow down
How to Use Read Aloud in Word for Mac
The Mac steps are the same: on the Review tab, select Read Aloud, and use the gear icon to change the speed and voice. Word for Mac also has keyboard shortcuts for Read Aloud:
- Control + Option + Space: start Read Aloud
- Option + Space: play or pause
- Option + Up Arrow: go to the start of the previous paragraph
- Option + Down Arrow: skip to the next paragraph
A Mac can also read selected text in any app, including Word, with its built-in Speak selection feature. Apple’s Mac speech guide gives the path:
- Open the Apple menu > System Settings, then select Accessibility in the sidebar.
- Select Read & Speak.
- Turn on Speak selection.
- Select some text and press Option + Esc. Press it again to stop.
To use a different key combination, select the Info button next to Speak selection.
How to Use Immersive Reader in Word
Immersive Reader opens your document in a clean, full-screen view with reading tools. It helps when you want to follow along on screen while Word reads, or when the page feels crowded.
Word for Windows
- Select the View tab, then select Immersive Reader.
- Select Read Aloud on the Immersive Reader ribbon. Word highlights each word as it reads.
- Use Column Width, Page Color, Line Focus, Text Spacing and Syllables to make the text easier to follow. Line Focus dims everything except one, three or five lines.
- To leave, select Close Immersive Reader.
Word for the Web
Word for the web uses Immersive Reader for listening. Word for the web is free with a Microsoft account, so this works even if you don’t have the desktop app.
- On the View tab, go to Document Views and select Immersive Reader.
- Select the Play button at the bottom.
- Select the gear icon at the bottom to open Voice Settings, where you can change the voice speed and choose a female or male voice.
- Select the arrow at the top left, or press Esc, to exit.
Word for the web reads the document inside Immersive Reader. Immersive Reader isn’t available for protected documents in Word for the web, so open those in the desktop app instead. If you end up stuck in a reading view in desktop Word, here’s how to get your Word document back to normal view.
How to Use Read Aloud on iPhone and iPad
- iPad: tap the menu icon at the top, then tap Read Aloud. Tap the gear icon in the controls to change the reading speed.
- iPhone: tap the pen icon at the top to open the ribbon, tap the Review tab, tap the gear icon, and then tap Read Aloud.
On both, use Play, Pause, Previous and Next, and tap Stop (x) when you are done. If reading stops when your screen locks, unlock the device and tap Play again, or set a longer Auto-Lock time while you listen.
Your iPhone can also read text in other apps with Speak Screen, and you can change its speaking rate.
How to Read Only Selected Text With Speak
Word for Windows has a second tool called Speak. Speak reads only the text you select, while Read Aloud reads the whole document from your cursor like an audiobook. Speak is also the option for Word 2016 and older. To use it, add it to the Quick Access Toolbar first, as described in Microsoft’s Speak text-to-speech article:
- Next to the Quick Access Toolbar, select Customize Quick Access Toolbar.
- Select More Commands.
- In the Choose commands from list, select All Commands.
- Scroll to Speak, select it, then select Add and OK.
- Select some text, then choose the Speak icon on the toolbar. To hear the whole document, press Ctrl + A first.
Word reads only the words you highlighted. Select the Speak icon again to stop. Speak also works in Outlook, PowerPoint and OneNote.
How to Have Word Read a PDF
Word can’t read a PDF directly, but it can convert one into a document it can read.
- In Word, select File > Open and choose the PDF.
- Select OK when Word says it will convert the PDF into an editable document. The layout may not match the original exactly, and your PDF file isn’t changed.
- Go to Review > Read Aloud.
Troubleshooting Read Aloud
| Problem | What to try |
|---|---|
| No Read Aloud button on the Review tab | Check your version under File > Account. Word 2016 and older don’t have it, so use Speak. In Microsoft 365, make sure you’re signed in, then restart Word or sign out and back in. |
| Read Aloud is grayed out | Some documents open in Read Mode or Protected View. Press Esc or select Enable Editing for a file you trust, then try again. |
| Only robotic voices, or no natural voices | Natural voices need a Microsoft 365 account and a stable internet connection. Office 2019 and 2021 offer a smaller set of built-in Windows voices. |
| Wrong language or accent | Select all text (Ctrl + A), then go to Review > Language > Set Proofing Language, pick the right language, and select OK. Install that language’s voice in Windows if it’s missing. |
| No sound | Check the volume and the output device in the taskbar sound menu. Read Aloud uses the same speakers as other apps. |
| Windows reads menus and buttons too | That’s Narrator, not Read Aloud. Press Windows key + Ctrl + Enter to turn it off. |
Read Aloud doesn’t store your content or audio data, and it uses your content only to produce the audio.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why don’t I see Read Aloud on the Review tab?
Read Aloud is in Microsoft 365, Office 2019 and newer versions. Older versions such as Office 2016 don’t include it, but you can use Speak on Windows instead. In Microsoft 365, signing out and back in often brings it back.
Can Word read just part of a document?
Yes. Select the text you want to hear, then start Read Aloud from the Review tab.
Is Read Aloud free?
Read Aloud is included with Word at no extra cost. Word for the web is free with a Microsoft account and reads documents through Immersive Reader. The most natural voices need a Microsoft 365 subscription.
Can I use Read Aloud in Outlook or PowerPoint?
Outlook has its own Read Aloud for email, and Speak works in Outlook, PowerPoint and OneNote once you add it to the Quick Access Toolbar.
Is Read Aloud the same as Windows Narrator?
No. Narrator is the Windows screen reader, which reads buttons, menus and dialog boxes as well as text. If it turned on by accident, turn off Narrator in Windows 11.
More Word Guides
- How to search for a word in Microsoft Word
- How to add or remove borders in Word
- How to double space in Word
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are checked step by step against the device or app maker’s own documentation and tested on his own devices whenever he has the hardware or software, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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