How to Get Microsoft Word to Read Your Document Aloud

This guide shows you how to use the built-in Read Aloud feature in Microsoft Word to have your document read back to you. You’ll learn the exact steps for Windows, Mac, and the web version, plus how to adjust the voice and speed. No additional software or downloads are needed—the feature is already in Word.

What You’ll Need

• Microsoft Word 2019, Microsoft 365, or the free Word for the web.
• A device with audio output (speakers or headphones).
• An internet connection is required for the online voices in Microsoft 365; offline voices may need to be installed separately.

Step-by-Step

1. Open your document in Microsoft Word.
2. Place the cursor where you want reading to begin, or select a specific passage. If you select nothing, Word reads from the cursor to the end.
3. Go to the Review tab in the ribbon at the top of the window.
4. Click “Read Aloud� (in the Speech group). The reading will start immediately, and a small control bar appears in the top-right corner.
5. Use the control bar to pause, play, skip forward or backward by paragraph, or close the reader.
6. Adjust the voice and speed by clicking the gear icon (Settings) on the control bar. Use the sliders to change reading speed and choose from available voices.
7. To stop, click the “Read Aloud� button again or press the close (X) on the control bar.

Keyboard shortcut: On Windows, press Ctrl + Alt + Space to start or stop Read Aloud. On Mac, press Option + Esc.

Common Mistakes

• Clicking “Speakâ€� instead of “Read Aloud.â€� The “Speakâ€� button (in the Quick Access Toolbar) only reads selected text and is not the same feature.
• Not placing the cursor correctly. If you want to hear the whole document, place the cursor at the very beginning. Otherwise, Word starts from wherever the cursor is.
• Expecting it to work offline. The natural-sounding online voices require an internet connection. If you’re offline, Word may fall back to a basic voice or not read at all.
• Confusing Read Aloud with Immersive Reader. Immersive Reader is a separate view that also reads aloud, but it’s not the same as the Review tab feature.

Tips

• Use it for proofreading. Hearing your text can help you catch awkward phrasing and typos that your eyes miss.
• Change the voice to one you prefer. In the Settings, you can select different voices (e.g., Microsoft David, Zira, or Mark) and adjust the speed to a comfortable pace.
• Select a passage to read only that part. Highlight a paragraph or sentence, then click Read Aloud—Word will read only the selection.
• Use the “Skip forwardâ€� and “Skip backâ€� buttons to jump paragraph by paragraph, which is handy for reviewing sections.
• On Mac, you can also use the “Speakâ€� command under Edit > Speech, but Read Aloud is more integrated and easier to control.

Troubleshooting

Read Aloud button is grayed out. This usually means your Word version doesn’t support the feature, or you’re in a compatibility mode. Make sure you’re using a supported version (Microsoft 365, Word 2019 or later). Save the file in the current .docx format, not an older .doc format.

No sound is playing. Check your device’s volume and make sure the correct output device is selected. If you’re using Bluetooth headphones, ensure they are connected properly. Also, verify that your system’s audio isn’t muted.

The voice sounds robotic. This can happen when the online voices aren’t available (e.g., you’re offline). Connect to the internet, or install offline voices from your system’s text-to-speech settings.

Read Aloud stops after a few sentences. This may be due to a temporary glitch. Try closing Word and reopening the document, or restarting your computer. Also, ensure your Word is updated to the latest version.

On the web version, Read Aloud is missing. The free Word for the web includes Read Aloud, but it may be hidden under the “View� tab. If you don’t see it, try opening the document in the desktop app.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I use Read Aloud in Word for free?
A: Yes, Read Aloud is available in the free Word for the web and in the desktop app if you have a Microsoft 365 subscription or a one-time purchase of Word 2019 or later.

Q: How do I change the reading speed?
A: Click the gear icon on the Read Aloud control bar and drag the “Speed� slider. You can adjust it from 0.5x to 2x normal speed.

Q: Can I make it read only a specific section?
A: Yes, select the text you want to read, then click Read Aloud. It will read only the highlighted portion.

Q: Does Read Aloud work with other languages?
A: Yes, it uses the text-to-speech voices installed on your system. You can switch the language by changing the voice in the Settings, but you may need to install additional language packs.

Q: Why is the voice different from my system’s narrator?
A: Word’s Read Aloud uses its own set of voices (often online neural voices) that are separate from your operating system’s narrator. You can choose between them in the Settings.

Q: Can I use keyboard shortcuts to control Read Aloud?
A: Yes, while Read Aloud is active, you can use Ctrl+Space to play/pause, Ctrl+Right arrow to skip forward, and Ctrl+Left arrow to skip back (on Windows).

Related

• Make ChatGPT the Default Search Engine in Firefox
• SQL Server Single-User Mode: Set Up Access Safely
• Restore Old WhatsApp Chats After Skipping Restore