Do you enjoy having your favorite passage of scripture, novel, recipe, or the latest news read aloud to you while you are doing other things? With the help of text-to-speech technology, this can easily be done.

In fact, you can have Microsoft Edge read aloud to you in male, female, American, or British accents, among others.

In this article, you'll learn how to use the Microsoft Word read aloud feature to read Word Documents, PDFs, and even website content.

How to Use Microsoft Word's Read Aloud Feature on Desktop

  1. Launch the Microsoft Word desktop application and open the document you want to read aloud.
  2. Click on the Review tab in the ribbon area.
  3. Click on Read Aloud, otherwise, press Alt + Ctrl + Space.
    Read Aloud in Word click Review Read Aloud
  4. Microsoft Word will begin reading aloud from the active page.
  5. You can also select the entire content (Ctrl + A) and click the play button to begin from the very top.
  6. You can use the playback controls to manage how the text is read aloud. Tap the cogwheel button in the top-right corner of the page to access the settings.
    Read Aloud in Word playback controls in right hand corner
  7. From here, you can adjust the reading speed by dragging the Reading speed scroll bar. You can also tap the Voice Selection dropdown to choose either a male or female reading voice.
    Read Aloud in Word adjust Reading speed and Reading voice
    You don't need to worry about keeping pace because the text is highlighted as it is read, and auto scroll automatically moves the reader from word to word, line to line, and paragraph to paragraph.

Related: How to Use Spoken Content to Make Your MAc Read Out Loud to You

How to Use Read Aloud Feature With Microsoft Office Online

What if you don't have an active Microsoft Office license key or Microsoft 365 subscription? You can still use Microsoft Word's read aloud feature online for free. Here's how.

  1. You'll need to have the Microsoft Office extension installed on your browser.
  2. Click on the Microsoft Office logo in the extensions tab and click on Word. Word will open in your OneDrive account if you're already signed in.
  3. Click on New blank document or open a recent document.
    Read Aloud in Word Online click New blank document
  4. Click on the View tab in the ribbon area and click on Immersive Reader.
    Read Aloud in Word Online click Immersive Reader
    Immersive Reader mode strips content of formatting and other clutter that may hamper a smooth read aloud experience.
  5. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the green play button.
    Read Aloud in Word Online click play button
  6. You can also pause the reader by clicking on the pause button.
  7. Click on Voice Settings (speaker icon with a cogwheel) to manage the playback controls.
    Read Aloud in Word Online playback controls
  8. The default reading speed is 1. Reading speed ranges from 0.5 (the slowest) to 2.5 (the fastest). Use the scroll bar under Voice Speed to adjust as needed.
  9. You can also select between male and female voices.
  10. If you click on a word like “install”, a clipart is generated showing someone trying to install something, plus a speaker icon that you can click to listen to its pronunciation.
    Read Aloud in Word Online click on particular words
    This is great for comprehension, as it allows you to visualize certain words or objects that you aren't yet familiar with while reading a passage.
  11. Simply click the back arrow in the top-left corner of your screen to Exit the “Immersive Reader” mode.

Related: The Best Voice-to-Text Browser Extensions

How to Use the Read Aloud Feature in Microsoft Word Mobile App

You can also enjoy the read aloud feature while using Microsoft Word on your mobile device. Here's how.

  1. Launch the Microsoft Word app on your mobile phone and open a recent document.
  2. Alternatively, tap on Open in the bottom right of your screen and select the document you want to open from the other available file locations.
  3. Once the document is open, tap on the three dots button in the top right-corner of your screen.
  4. From the menu options below your screen, tap on Read Aloud.
  5. The playback controls will appear at the bottom of the screen, with which you can manage playback.
  6. Tap the speaker icon with a cogwheel to access the Reading Speed and Voice Pack settings.
  7. Tap x to exit the reader.

The reader pauses when your phone's backlight goes off. To enjoy longer screen time during a read aloud session, consider extending your phone's backlight or display duration.

Download: Microsoft Office for Android | iOS (Free, with in-app purchases available)

Related: How to Make Your iPhone Read Text Out Loud

How to Read a PDF Aloud Using Microsoft Word

Here's how to read a PDF aloud using Microsoft Word on a desktop.

  1. Open Microsoft Word on your desktop, click on File > Open. Alternatively, press Ctrl + O.
  2. Select and click on the PDF file you want to read aloud.
  3. Review the warning message displayed on the screen and click OK when done. Word will convert the PDF file into an editable Microsoft Word document. Note that this process may take a while depending on the size of the PDF file.
    Read Aloud in Word read a PDF in Word
  4. Click on the Review tab in the ribbon area, then click on Read Aloud.
  5. Manage your playback settings via the playback controls on the screen, just as you would do when reading a Microsoft Word document aloud.

You can also have a PDF file read aloud to you on your smartphone following this exact same process using the Microsoft Word mobile app.

How to Read Aloud a Webpage in Microsoft Word

Most browsers like Microsoft Edge have a built-in read aloud feature that allows you to vocalize a webpage. If yours doesn't, you can still read a webpage aloud using Microsoft Word by converting the webpage to a PDF, then reading it aloud in Microsoft Word. Here's how.

  1. Go to the webpage you want to read aloud and press Ctrl + P.
  2. Make sure that Destination is set as Save as PDF, then click Save.
    Read Aloud a webpage as PDF to Word
  3. Open Microsoft Word on your desktop, click on File > Open. Alternatively, press Ctrl + O.
  4. Select and click on the “Webpage file” you want to read aloud.
  5. Review the warning message displayed on the screen and click OK when done.
  6. Click on the Review tab in the ribbon area, then click on Read Aloud.

Related: How to Use Voice-Typing on Microsoft Word and Get More Done

Do More With Microsoft Word Read Aloud Feature

The read aloud feature can be especially useful as a hands-off way of keeping tabs on your favorite content. The dyslexic, visually impaired, and visual and auditory learners will love this nifty little trick in Microsoft Word.

Since the read aloud feature doesn't require you to sit and stare at a screen, it can also help to prevent eye strain. So, if you love reading but hate the eye strain that follows it, here's your remedy.

If you use Microsoft Edge as your preferred browser, we've also covered how to use the read aloud feature in Edge, so you can enjoy being read aloud to when working in Microsoft Word or on the web.