How to Make Microsoft Word Read Out Loud?
Turn Texts into Speech and Read Aloud
Turn Texts into Speech and Read Aloud
TL;DR:
If you want Microsoft Word to read your document aloud, you can do it in just a few clicks. The built-in Read Aloud and Immersive Reader features let you listen to your text, catch mistakes you might miss while reading silently, and multitask while Word does the reading for you.
Be it on Windows, Mac, or Word for the web, these tools make proofreading, language learning, and accessibility easier.
But Word’s text-to-speech is designed mainly for quick, on-screen playback. If you’re looking for more natural-sounding voices, multi-language support, or the ability to save your audio for later, a tool like Speaktor would be a better alternative.
In this guide, I’ll show you how to make Microsoft Word read out loud and explore its limitations. As a bonus, I’ll introduce a powerful alternative, Speaktor, for times when you need natural, multilingual voices and downloadable audio.
Does Microsoft Word support text-to-speech tools?
Microsoft Word supports multiple text-to-speech tools, both built-in Microsoft tools and the native TTS features in Mac or Windows. Some notable ones are:
Read Aloud
Read Aloud reads all or part of your Word document aloud. You can use it directly from the Review tab in Word or within Immersive Reader. Available on Windows and Mac, it’s useful for reviewing drafts, catching errors, or listening to content while multitasking.
Immersive Reader
Immersive Reader consists of a set of reading tools that combine text-to-speech with visual aids like adjustable spacing, line focus, and grammar highlighting. Designed to improve reading fluency and comprehension, it works on Windows and Mac. Access it from the View tab in Word and adjust the pace, voice, and layout for a personalized reading experience.
Speak
Speak reads out only the text you highlight. Available on Windows, it’s ideal for quick checks or selective listening without playing the entire document. You can enable Speak from Word’s Quick Access Toolbar settings, then highlight text and click the Speak button.
Narrator
Narrator is Windows’ built-in screen reader that voices both your text and interface elements such as menus, buttons, and dialog boxes. It’s helpful for navigating Word hands-free and is available in both the desktop app and Office for the web. Turn it on from Windows Accessibility settings.
Speech
Speech is Mac’s native text-to-speech tool, useful for on-demand reading without opening Word-specific features. Once enabled in Settings > Accessibility > Speech, you can select text anywhere, including in Word, and press your chosen keyboard shortcut to hear it read aloud.
How can you make Microsoft Word read out loud?
Here’s a step-by-step guide to use the TTS feature on MS Word, Windows, MacOS, and the web app.
For Windows/MacOS
1. Go to the Review tab and select Read Aloud.
2. To play Read Aloud, click Play in the controls.
3. To pause Read Aloud, select Pause.
4. To move from one paragraph to another, switch between Previous or Next.
5. To exit Read Aloud, select Stop (x).
For Web
In Microsoft Word for the web, you can listen to your documents using Immersive Reader.
Here are the steps to read out your text using Immersive Reader:
1. On the View tab, go to Document Views and select Immersive Reader.
2. In Immersive Reader, click the Play button at the bottom and it’ll start reading your text aloud.
3. To pause reading, select the Pause button at the bottom.
4. To exit Immersive Reader, select the arrow at the top left.
What are the limitations of Microsoft Word Read Aloud?
- Restricted to Microsoft desktop version: The Read Aloud feature is only accessible in the desktop versions of Word (Office 2019, Office 2021, and Microsoft 365) and doesn’t appear in the standard Word for the web interface. If you're using Word for the web, you must switch to Immersive Reader
- Robotic and inconsistent voices: Read Aloud often sounds unnatural or overly mechanical. At times it also regresses to robotic-sounding voices, even if natural voices were previously available
- Limited voice customization: Voice options are restricted to “male” or “female,” and choices vary by system language packs. Some voices like “David, Mark, Zira” for U.S. English are unavailable without installing specific speech packages
- Frequent mispronunciations: At times Word stumbles over complex terms, technical jargon, and invented words like character names
- No audio export: Read Aloud plays audio only on-screen. There's no built-in option to save the audio as an MP3 or WAV file
- Context and content handling: Read Aloud lacks semantic understanding. Sometimes it misreads or skips complex content like embedded charts, images, footnotes, formatting cues, or math
Looking for an advanced text-to-speech tool?
If you’ve ever wished Microsoft Read Aloud could sound more natural, handle multiple languages, or let you save audio for later, you should try Speaktor.
Speaktor is an AI-powered text-to-speech app that converts text and uploaded files into clear, lifelike audio. You can listen to articles, emails, and documents while you work, commute, or handle other tasks, without being tied to one platform or format.
How does Speaktor address the limitations of Microsoft Read Aloud?
Here are some of the key features that make Speaktor stand out:
1. Get profession-specific AI voiceovers
Instead of offering the same voice for everyone, Speaktor provides styles tailored to different professions and audiences. Students, educators, YouTubers, podcasters, authors, influencers, marketers, filmmakers, and small business owners can all choose a tone and delivery that matches their content.
2. Generate speech in natural-sounding language
Speaktor’s AI voices sound remarkably human, capturing tone, nuance, and emotion. You can select from multiple accents, genders, and speaking styles to make your audio feel engaging and authentic.
3. Use text-to-speech in 50+ languages
Speaktor supports over 50 languages, including English, Arabic, Hindi, Cantonese, German, and Greek, to mention a few. Create audio that resonates with listeners all around the world.
4. Work across devices
Speaktor isn’t limited to one operating system. You can use it as a web app in your browser, or download the Android and iOS apps to convert text to speech on the go. Enjoy the same high-quality output, no matter which device or operating system you’re using.
5. Export audio files easily
After converting text to speech, you can instantly download the audio files in formats like MP3 or WAV.
How to Convert Text to Speech Using Speaktor?
Follow these four simple steps to turn your text into speech on Speaktor:
1. Upload or paste your text
Upload your document (like TXT, PDF, or DOCX) or simply paste the text directly into Speaktor’s interface.
2. Choose your voice and tone
Select from a variety of realistic AI voices, and optionally adjust the tone to suit your content.
3. Listen to the audio instantly
Speaktor generates and plays your audio within seconds, so you can review it in real time.
4. Download the audio and use it anywhere
Once you're satisfied with the output, download the audio file (MP3 or WAV) for use in videos, presentations, learning materials, or any other project.
Go beyond Read Aloud. Create and save lifelike audio with Speaktor
Microsoft Word’s Read Aloud is a handy built-in tool for quick proofreading or listening on the go, but it’s limited to on-screen playback, basic voice options, and a smaller set of supported languages.
If you need more natural audio, the ability to save files, and voices that match your content’s tone, you’ll quickly find yourself wanting more.
That’s where Speaktor shines. It delivers lifelike AI voices in over 50 languages, lets you customize tone and style for different audiences, and allows you to download your audio in seconds.
Whether you’re creating learning materials, podcast intros, or just prefer listening to documents while you work, Speaktor makes it simple.
Upgrade your text-to-speech experience today. Try Speaktor for free and hear the difference for yourself!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Microsoft Word offers built-in text-to-speech tools like Read Aloud, Immersive Reader, and Speak. Windows also has Narrator, while MacOS includes Speech in Accessibility settings. These work well for basic on-screen listening, but if you need more natural voices, multiple languages, or downloadable audio, Speaktor provides a more advanced experience.
On Windows or Mac, open your document in Word, go to the Review tab, and click Read Aloud. Use the controls to play, pause, or skip text. On the web, open Immersive Reader from the View tab and press Play. If you want the flexibility to save that narration or use more lifelike AI voices, you can copy your text into Speaktor and generate a downloadable audio file in seconds.
Microsoft's TTS voice availability currently supports around 40 languages. For more extensive support across 50+ languages and different dialects, Speaktor is a better fit.
If you only need quick on-screen playback, Microsoft Word Read Aloud feature is a useful free option. But if you want a free trial of high-quality, natural-sounding voices, plus features like audio downloads and cross-device access, Speaktor offers more flexibility while still letting you test it without paying upfront.
Yes. In the Read Aloud controls, you'll see a slider to adjust the voice speed. Slowing it down can help with comprehension, while speeding it up can save time when reviewing long Word documents. If you need more precise speed settings or advanced voice customization, Speaktor offers finer control over playback pace and tone.
Yes. Word's Read Aloud function lets you select from a limited range of different voices, usually categorized by gender and accent. The available voices depend on your system's installed language packs. For a larger variety of accents, tones, and profession-specific voice styles, you can use Speaktor to convert your written text into highly customized audio.