Read Text Aloud: Make Any Device Speak Your Words

If you want to read text aloud, you usually have one of three goals: listen instead of reading (eyes tired, commuting), proofread your own writing (you hear mistakes you miss), or make content more accessible for yourself or your audience. The good news: most phones, computers, and browsers can already do it.

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Quick answer (TL;DR)

iPhone/iPad: Settings > Accessibility > Read & Speak > turn on Speak Screen or Speak Selection.
Android: Settings > Accessibility > Select to Speak (may be part of Android Accessibility Suite).
Windows: Turn on Narrator (Windows key + Ctrl + Enter) or use Read Aloud inside Word.
Mac: System Settings > Accessibility > Read & Speak > turn on Speak selection.
Chrome (desktop): Open Reading mode, then press Play to hear the page.
Edge: Use Read aloud from the browser menu for web pages and many PDFs.
PDFs or screenshots: If the text is actually an image, you need OCR first (many scanners and note apps have it).

Pick the right read-aloud method

Search results for read text aloud are a mix of device how-tos (iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac), browser features (Chrome/Edge), and online text-to-speech sites. Most guides skip the decision step: which option is best for your situation. Use the table below to choose once, then set it up in 2 minutes.

Some steps vary by OS version (for example, Select to Speak is documented for Android 11+). Limits can change-check the platform help center for the latest.

What you want	Best option	Why it works	Good to know
Proofread a draft quickly	Speak Selection / Read selection	Lets you highlight one paragraph and replay it until it sounds right	Slow down to catch missing words and awkward rhythm
Listen to a web article hands-free	Browser read aloud	Works directly on pages, often with highlighting	Reading mode can remove clutter and improve pronunciation
Listen to a long document (paper, report)	Document app read aloud	Better handling of headings, lists, and page navigation	If it is a scanned PDF, OCR is required first
Read on the go (phone)	Speak Screen / Select to Speak	Fastest for messages, notes, and in-app text	Use headphones and a moderate speed for clarity
Accessibility support	Screen reader tools	Designed for navigation, labels, and full UI control	Not the same as simple text-to-speech playback
Create narration for a video, course, or podcast	Dedicated text-to-speech	More natural voices and repeatable output for publishing	Plan your script and pauses first; see voiceover scripts
Localize audio into another language	Text-to-speech + dubbing workflow	Faster than re-recording everything	Keep terminology consistent; see dubbing basics

Before you start, pick a voice and speed you can listen to for 10+ minutes. Most people prefer slightly faster than normal speech once they get used to it. If you want the basics behind voices, speed, and pronunciation, start with text-to-speech basics.

Create lifelike voiceovers when you need them

Turn scripts into natural narration for videos, courses, and training.

Try ElevenLabs

How to make your device read text aloud (step-by-step)

Use this workflow if you just want the text read out loud right now. No special tools required.

iPhone or iPad (Read & Speak)

Open Settings.
Go to Accessibility > Read & Speak.
Turn on Speak Screen (reads the whole screen) and/or Speak Selection (reads highlighted text).
Open the app you want (Safari, Notes, Mail, etc.). Select text and tap Speak, or trigger Speak Screen.

Android (Select to Speak)

Open Settings.
Go to Accessibility > Select to Speak (install/update Android Accessibility Suite if you do not see it).
Turn on the shortcut (Accessibility button, gesture, or other shortcut).
In any supported app or web page, highlight text and use Read aloud / Select to Speak controls to play, pause, or change speed.

Windows (Narrator) and Microsoft Word (Read Aloud)

Narrator: Press Windows key + Ctrl + Enter to toggle Narrator on/off, then use Narrator to read what is focused on screen.
Word: Open your document, select text if needed, and use Read Aloud from the Review tab to hear it with playback controls.

Mac (Speak selection)

Open System Settings.
Go to Accessibility > Read & Speak.
Enable Speak selection and set a keyboard shortcut if you want.
In any app, highlight text and use your shortcut to start/stop speaking.

Chrome and Edge (web pages)

Chrome (desktop): Open a page, enter Reading mode, then press Play to listen. You can usually pick a voice and speed.
Chrome (Android): On some versions you may see Listen to this page in the menu; if you do not, use Select to Speak as the fallback.
Edge: Open the menu and choose Read aloud for many pages and PDFs, then adjust voice options.

Make the audio clearer (even with basic voices)

Text-to-speech quality is often less about the voice and more about the input. If your text sounds choppy or wrong, fix the script first.

Remove junk formatting: Extra line breaks, copied headers/footers, and bullet symbols can make speech awkward. Paste into a plain editor, clean it up, then try again.
Add punctuation for pauses: Commas and periods are your best friends. A short sentence usually sounds better than a long one.
Expand acronyms the first time: For example, write Search Engine Optimization (SEO) once, then use SEO later.
Help with names: If a name is mispronounced, try adding a comma, changing capitalization, or adding a phonetic hint in parentheses for your own listening.
Choose the right speed: Start at 1.0x. Once it is understandable, increase slightly until it feels efficient but not stressful.
Split long text: Many online readers have input limits or struggle with very long pages. Use a character/word counter to split sections cleanly and keep your place.

Common problems (and quick fixes)

It will not read: Try selecting smaller text, switching to Reading mode, or using a different app (for example, a document reader instead of a browser).
Wrong language/voice: Check your device TTS language settings and pick a matching voice or dialect.
PDF reads like an image: That means the PDF is scanned. Run OCR, then try Read Aloud again.
Pronunciation is off: Simplify punctuation, remove weird symbols, and expand abbreviations. For consistent results, keep a small pronunciation checklist for your brand terms.
Privacy concerns: If the text is sensitive, prefer OS-level features (Speak Screen, Select to Speak, Narrator) instead of pasting into random websites.

When you need a more human-sounding voiceover

Built-in read aloud is perfect for accessibility and proofreading. But if you want publish-ready narration (YouTube videos, product demos, courses, podcasts, internal training), you typically need more natural voices, better language coverage, and repeatable output.

That is where ElevenLabs fits as a next step. In practice, it is useful when you want to create lifelike voiceovers from any text and reuse the same voice style across projects.

Multilingual output: Generate audio in many languages for global audiences, without rebuilding your whole workflow.
Voice consistency: Keep a consistent sound for a channel or brand, including optional voice cloning when you have explicit consent.
Video dubbing: Create localized versions faster than recording everything again (see dubbing basics).
Creator-friendly workflow: Draft a script once, polish it, then generate clean narration (see voiceover scripts).

Important: Only clone voices with clear permission, avoid impersonation, and consider disclosing synthetic narration where appropriate. Results can vary by language, input text, and voice settings.

Keep one voice across languages

Create audio

Mistakes to avoid

Using read aloud as a substitute for accessibility testing: Screen readers are designed for navigating interfaces, labels, and controls. Simple text-to-speech playback does not guarantee your site or doc is accessible.
Assuming scanned PDFs are readable: If the PDF is an image, text-to-speech cannot read it until you run OCR.
Listening at max speed too soon: Fast audio hides problems. Start slower for proofreading, then speed up for consumption.
Leaving headings and lists messy: Good structure improves both comprehension and how the voice pauses.
Sharing sensitive text with unknown websites: If you would not paste it into a public form, keep it inside OS-level features.

FAQ

How do I get my iPhone to read text aloud?

Go to Settings > Accessibility > Read & Speak, enable Speak Screen and/or Speak Selection, then select text in an app and tap Speak (or trigger Speak Screen).

How do I make Android read selected text aloud?

Enable Select to Speak in Settings > Accessibility, turn on its shortcut, then highlight text in a supported app and use the Read aloud controls.

Can Chrome read a web page aloud without extensions?

Yes on many setups: Chrome Reading mode can play the page aloud. If you do not see it, Select to Speak (Android) or a system screen reader is the reliable fallback.

Can text-to-speech read PDFs?

Often yes if the PDF contains real text. If it is a scanned PDF (image-only), run OCR first so the words become selectable text.

Why does it mispronounce names, acronyms, or symbols?

Most voices follow punctuation and common word patterns. Expand acronyms the first time, remove odd symbols, and add commas or short sentences to guide pauses. For brand terms, keep a small list of preferred spellings that the voice reads correctly.

Is text-to-speech the same as a screen reader?

No. Text-to-speech reads text as audio. A screen reader is an accessibility tool that also helps you navigate buttons, menus, form fields, and page structure.

Is it legal to publish AI-generated narration?

It depends on your content rights and local laws. Make sure you have the right to narrate the underlying text, and if you clone a voice, get explicit consent. When in doubt, disclose synthetic narration to your audience.

Conclusion

If your goal is focus and proofreading, start with built-in read aloud on your device: set a comfortable voice, slow down for the first pass, and fix anything that sounds off. If your goal is publish-ready audio, tighten your script first, then generate narration with a dedicated workflow that you can repeat consistently.

Next step: pick one setup above, test it on a short paragraph, then run a full page at a speed you can actually understand. Once it feels good, you can save a shortcut and make read text aloud part of your daily writing routine.