Modern iPhones and iPads come with a range ofaccessibility featuresdesigned to make life easier. One of these features is the ability to have text on your device read aloud.By enabling Speak Screen and Speak Selection, your iPhone or iPad can read selected text or the entire screen.
Many people find this feature useful whether for convenience or necessity. Busy professionals can listen to emails while multitasking, and individuals with visual impairments can navigate apps more easily.Configuring these settings is straightforward and enhances the overall usability of your device.
Once set up, using these speech functions across various apps opens up new ways to interact with your device. From reading long articles to quickly checking notification summaries, these features offer flexibility and efficiency. With a few simple steps, your device can become more accessible and convenient.
Using Text-to-Speech on Your Apple Device
Enabling Speak Selection and Speak Screen
To activate the text-to-speech feature, head toSettings > Accessibility > Spoken Content. Here you may toggle on two options:
Using the Speech Controller
With Speak Screen enabled, a handy Speech Controller appears. It gives you controls like play/pause, rewind, fast forward, and voice speed adjustment. you’re able to even move it around the screen for convenience.
Customizing Your Reading Experience
You can personalize your text-to-speech experience further:
Using Text-to-Speech in Different Apps
Most Apple apps, like Mail, Messages, and Safari, support text-to-speech. However, it may not work in all third-party apps.
Accessibility Features
Apple’s text-to-speech feature is part of its accessibility suite, designed to help users with visual impairments. It’s a helpful tool for those who prefer listening to content instead of reading.
Key Takeaways
Enabling and Configuring Speak Screen and Speak Selection
To make your iPhone or iPad read text aloud, you need to enable specific settings in the accessibility menu. These settings allow customization of reading speed, voice, and pronunciation to suit your preferences.
Navigating to Accessibility Settings on iOS and iPadOS
First, open theSettingsapp on your iPhone or iPad. Tap onGeneral, then find and tapAccessibility. Within the Accessibility menu, locate and selectSpoken Content. Here, you will see options for bothSpeak ScreenandSpeak Selection. Speak Screen reads all content on the screen aloud when you swipe down with two fingers. Speak Selection reads aloud specific text that you highlight. Toggle these features to the ON position to enable them.
Customizing Speech Options
In theSpoken Contentsettings, you can customize how your iPhone or iPad reads text aloud. You can choose different voices and dialects by tapping onVoices. A list of available voices will appear. Select the voice you prefer, and your device will download any necessary files. There’s also an option to turn onHighlight Content, which highlights words as they are read aloud. Additionally, you can activate theSpeech Controller, which provides on-screen controls to manage the reading functions more easily.
Adjusting Speaking Rate and Pronunciation
UnderSpoken Content, you can adjust the speed at which text is read aloud. TheSpeaking Rateslider lets you make the voice read faster or slower. Move the slider right for a faster rate or left for a slower rate. For pronunciation, tapPronunciationswhere you can add customized pronunciations for specific words. This is useful for names or technical terms. Simply enter the word and type out how it should sound, then play and tweak it until satisfied. This ensures that your iPhone or iPad reads text accurately according to your preferences.
Using Speech Functions Across Different Apps and Contexts
iPhones and iPads have versatile speech functions that enhance accessibility. Users can read aloud text, utilize Speak Screen, and engage with Live Text across a variety of apps and contexts.
Reading Aloud Text in Mail, Safari, and Other Apps
To read text aloud in Mail orSafari, first enable Speak Selection in theAccessibilitysettings. OpenSettings, navigate toAccessibility, then tap onSpoken Content. EnableSpeak Selectionand adjust the speaking rate if needed.
When reading an email, highlight the text and tapSpeak. In Safari, highlight text within a webpage and follow the same steps. This feature works similarly in Notes and other apps where text is selectable. This provides users with hands-free reading capabilities, improving convenience and accessibility.
Utilizing Speak Screen for Ebooks, PDFs, and Notes
Speak Screen allows users to have entire screens read aloud. To enable this function, go toSettings>Accessibility>Spoken Content, and turn on theSpeak Screenoption. Activate Speak Screen by swiping down with two fingers from the top of the screen.
This function is beneficial for reading ebooks and PDFs within the Books app or other PDF readers. In the Notes app, Speak Screen reads the entire note aloud, making it easier to review long notes hands-free. This accessibility feature supports better interaction with digital content.
Engaging with Live Text and Other Accessibility Features
Live Text allows users to interact with text in images. Enable Live Text by going toSettings>General>Language & Regionand turning onLive Text. Open the Camera app, point it at an image with text, and use Live Text to select and read the text aloud.
Additionally, other accessibility settings like theSpeech Controllerprovide quick access to speech functions from the home screen. Users can customize pronunciations in theAccessibilitysettings underSpoken Content. These features collectively enhance the reading experience across different contexts.
