How to Use Read Aloud in Word: Step-by-Step Guide

Updated 7 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

This guide shows you how to use the Read Aloud feature in Microsoft Word to have your document read back to you. You’ll learn how to start, control, and customize the reading voice, which is useful for proofreading, catching typos, or listening to long documents. No special setup is needed—Read Aloud is built into Word for Windows, Mac, and online.

What You’ll Need

Microsoft Word (desktop version for Windows or Mac, or the free online version at office.com)
An active internet connection for the online version (the desktop app can work offline with installed voices)
A document open in Word (any format, such as .docx or .txt)

Step-by-Step

Open your document in Microsoft Word. It can be a blank page or an existing file—Read Aloud works on whatever text is present.
Place your cursor where you want reading to begin. The feature starts from the cursor position, not the beginning of the document, unless you select text first.
Go to the Review tab on the ribbon at the top of the window. In Word for Windows, it’s usually labeled “Review.” On Mac, it’s also under “Review.”
Click “Read Aloud” (the icon looks like a small speaker with sound waves). The button is in the “Speech” or “Voice” group. On Windows, it’s near the right side; on Mac, it’s in the “Speech” section.
Listen to the playback. Word will start reading from your cursor or selection. A small control bar appears (usually at the top right) with buttons for play/pause, skip forward, skip backward, and a gear icon for settings.
Use the controls:
- Play/Pause: toggles reading on and off.
- Skip forward (the right arrow): jumps to the next paragraph.
- Skip backward (the left arrow): goes back to the previous paragraph.
- Settings (gear icon): opens voice selection and speed options.
Adjust the reading speed by clicking the gear icon and moving the speed slider. The default is usually 1x, but you can slow it down to 0.5x or speed it up to 2.5x (depending on your version).
Choose a different voice (if available). In the same settings menu, you can pick from installed voices (e.g., Microsoft David, Zira, or Mark on Windows; on Mac, you can choose from system voices like Samantha or Alex).
Stop reading by clicking the “Read Aloud” button again, or by closing the control bar (the X on the bar).
For a specific passage: highlight the text you want to hear, then click “Read Aloud.” It will read only the selected text, then stop.

Common Mistakes

Not placing the cursor correctly: If you don’t set the cursor, Word starts from the beginning of the document, which may not be what you want. Always click where you want to start.
Confusing “Read Aloud” with “Speak”: “Speak” (in the Quick Access Toolbar) reads only selected text and is a separate feature. “Read Aloud” is the full-document reader.
Expecting it to work without internet on the online version: The web version of Word requires an internet connection and uses online voices, so it won’t work offline.
Ignoring the control bar location: The bar may appear at the top right of the document, not as a floating window. Some users miss it and think the feature is stuck.
Not adjusting speed for long documents: At default speed, a 10-page document can take a long time. Increase speed to 1.5x or 2x for faster proofreading.

Tips

Use it for proofreading: Hearing your text aloud helps catch awkward phrasing and missing words that your eyes skip over.
Combine with “Find” for navigation: If you want to jump to a specific section, press Ctrl+F (Cmd+F on Mac) to find a word, then place your cursor there before starting Read Aloud.
Change the voice to match your preference: On Windows, you can download additional voices from Settings > Time & Language > Speech. On Mac, go to System Settings > Accessibility > Spoken Content > System Voice.
Use keyboard shortcuts: On Windows, you can press Ctrl+Alt+Space to start or stop Read Aloud. On Mac, the shortcut is Option+Esc (though this may vary).
Read Aloud works on selected text only: If you select a sentence and click the button, it will read just that sentence, which is handy for focusing on a specific paragraph.

Troubleshooting

Read Aloud button is grayed out: This usually happens when the document is protected or in a mode that doesn’t allow editing. Go to Review > Restrict Editing and stop protection, or save the file as a regular .docx.
No sound or voice: Check your system volume and that your device’s audio isn’t muted. Also, ensure that the correct output device is selected in your system settings.
Voice sounds robotic or missing: On Windows, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Speech and ensure “Online speech recognition” is enabled if you want a more natural voice. On Mac, check that a system voice is installed.
Read Aloud stops unexpectedly: If you have a very long document, it may pause. Try closing other programs to free up memory, or restart Word.
It reads in the wrong language: Word uses the language of the document’s proofing language. Select the text, go to Review > Language > Set Proofing Language, and choose the correct language.
On the web version, it doesn’t work at all: Make sure you’re using a supported browser (Edge, Chrome, or Firefox) and that your internet connection is stable. Try refreshing the page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Read Aloud available in all versions of Word?

Read Aloud is available in Word 2019, Word 2021, and Microsoft 365 (Word for Windows, Mac, and online). Older versions like Word 2016 may have a similar feature called “Speak” but not “Read Aloud.”

Can I use Read Aloud on a PDF in Word?

No, Read Aloud works on text in Word documents. If you open a PDF in Word, it converts to editable text, and then Read Aloud can read the converted text.

Does Read Aloud work offline?

On the desktop version, yes, if you have offline voices installed. The online version requires an internet connection.

Can I change the reading speed?

Yes, click the gear icon in the Read Aloud control bar and adjust the speed slider. The range is typically from 0.5x to 2.5x.

How do I stop Read Aloud from reading the whole document?

Click the “Read Aloud” button again, or press the X on the control bar. You can also select text and it will only read the selection.

Why does Read Aloud skip some text like tables or footnotes?

Read Aloud reads main body text. It may skip tables, footnotes, and text boxes. To read those, select the specific text and use “Speak” (if available) or copy the content into a separate document.

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