How to use Read Aloud in Microsoft Word
4 minute read · updated October 28, 2026
3 sources: 1 peer-reviewed research, 2 product documentation
Open your document, go to the Review tab, and select Read Aloud. Use Play, Pause, and Previous or Next to move by paragraph, and the gear icon to change reading speed and voice. Microsoft lists it for Microsoft 365, Office 2019 and Office 2021 on Windows and Mac. On Windows, Ctrl + Alt + Space starts it.
Read Aloud has Word speak your document using your device's text-to-speech, starting from where your cursor is. Microsoft suggests it for proofreading, multitasking, and following a document by ear.[1] Listening to your own draft is one practical way to check for skipped or repeated words.
Start Read Aloud
Read Aloud in Word for Windows or Mac
- Click where you want reading to begin, or select just the text you want to hear.
- On the Review tab, select Read Aloud.[1]
- Select Play in the controls. Select Pause to pause, and Previous or Next to move one paragraph.
- Select the gear icon in the controls, then drag the Reading speed slider and pick a voice under Voice Selection.[1]
- Select Stop (x) to close Read Aloud.
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Start Read Aloud | Ctrl + Alt + Space | Ctrl + Option + Space |
| Play or pause | Ctrl + Space | Option + Space |
| Next paragraph | Ctrl + Right arrow | Option + Down arrow |
| Previous paragraph | Ctrl + Left arrow twice | Option + Up arrow |
| Slower or faster | Alt + Left arrow or Alt + Right arrow | No shortcut listed[1] |
Immersive Reader: spacing, line focus and syllables
Immersive Reader opens your document in a full-screen view where you can change how the text looks and still use Read Aloud. In Word for Windows, select View > Immersive Reader.[2]
- Column Width changes the line length (very narrow, narrow, moderate or wide).
- Page Color changes the background.
- Line Focus keeps a band of one, three or five lines clear and darkens the rest.
- Text Spacing adds space between words, characters and lines.
- Syllables shows breaks between syllables.
- Read Aloud highlights each word as it is spoken.[2]
On a Mac, the same tools are under View > Learning Tools. In Word for the web, choose View, then Immersive Reader in Document Views, and select Play at the bottom of the screen.[2][1] To close it on Windows, select Close Immersive Reader.[2]
Phone and tablet
In Word for iPhone, tap the pen icon to open the ribbon, tap the Review tab, then tap the gear icon and Read Aloud. On iPad, tap the menu icon at the top, then Read Aloud. Both have a gear icon in the controls for reading speed.[1]
Word for Windows also has a smaller tool called Speak, which reads only selected text from a button you add to the Quick Access Toolbar.[1]
Troubleshooting
- There is no Read Aloud button. Microsoft suggests signing in to your Microsoft 365 account, then restarting Word or signing out and back in.[1]
- Natural-sounding voices will not load. Check for a stable internet connection and that you are signed in.[1]
- Word reads in the wrong accent or language. Read Aloud follows the proofing language set for the document. Go to Review > Language > Language > Set Proofing Language and choose the right one.[1][2]
- You are worried about privacy. Microsoft says Read Aloud does not store your content or audio data and uses your content only to produce the audio.[1]
Quick answers
Why is Read Aloud greyed out or missing in Word?
Microsoft says Read Aloud is only in Office 2019, Office 2021 and Microsoft 365, and suggests signing in to your Microsoft 365 account and restarting Word if you cannot see it.[1]
Can Word read only the part I select?
Yes. Select the text, then start Read Aloud from the Review tab or press Play.[1]
How do I change the Read Aloud voice?
Select the gear icon in the Read Aloud controls and choose a voice under Voice Selection.[1]
Review status
Source-checked, not expert-reviewed
Drafted with AI assistance. Each factual claim was checked against the source it links to on 2026-10-28. No clinician, psychologist or dyslexia specialist has reviewed this page. See the claims register.
Sources
- [1]Listen to your Word documents with Read Aloud. Microsoft Support. Accessed 2026-10-28. Product documentation
- [2]Use Immersive Reader in Word. Microsoft Support. Accessed 2026-10-28. Product documentation
- [3]Does use of text-to-speech and related read-aloud tools improve reading comprehension for students with reading disabilities? A meta-analysis. Wood SG, Moxley JH, Tighe EL, Wagner RK. Journal of Learning Disabilities 51(1):73-84. doi:10.1177/0022219416688170, 2018. Accessed 2026-10-28. Peer-reviewed research
Related reading
- How to use Read aloud in Microsoft EdgeStart Read aloud in Edge from the More menu or Reading mode (F9), change the voice and speed, and use Line focus and text spacing in Immersive Reader.
- How to use text to speech on Windows 11 and Windows 10Three ways to have a Windows PC read text aloud: Read aloud in Edge, Read Aloud in Word, and Narrator. Shortcuts, voice and speed settings, and fixes.
- How to use voice typing and dictation on WindowsPress Windows logo key + H to start voice typing, say punctuation and editing commands, change settings, and when to use voice access or Dictate in Word.
- Reading tools and accessibility features: what is built in and what the research saysWhere to find text-to-speech, reader views, dictation and text settings on Apple, Microsoft and Google devices, and what research says about special fonts.