Word Read Aloud can stop because the button is missing, the audio is muted, the wrong voice is selected, or Word is reading the document in the wrong language. Start with the quickest Word checks, then move through sound, language, updates, add-ins, and repair.
The fixes below cover Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2024, Word 2021, Word for the web, and the current Word mobile apps.
Make Word recognize your account
Use this first when Read Aloud is missing from Word or the feature worked before and then disappeared. Word needs to recognize the Microsoft 365 or Office account attached to the app.
Open Word and sign in with the Microsoft 365 account connected to your Office license.
Close Word completely, then open it again.
If Read Aloud still does not appear, sign out of Word, restart the app, and sign back in.
In Word for Microsoft 365 version 2404 build 17531.20000 or later, go to File > Account, select Update License, follow the prompts, and restart Word.
Office 2019 is outside current support as of October 14, 2025. Use Microsoft 365, Word 2024, or Word 2021 for a supported setup.
Start Read Aloud from Word
On Windows or Mac, open the document and go to Review > Read Aloud. In the Read Aloud controls, select Play. Use Pause, Previous, Next, or Stop as needed.
On Windows, press Ctrl + Alt + Space to start Read Aloud. Press Ctrl + Space to play or pause, Ctrl + Left Arrow to skip to the start of the current paragraph, Ctrl + Left Arrow + Left Arrow for the previous paragraph, and Ctrl + Right Arrow for the next paragraph.
To change speed from the keyboard on Windows, press Alt + Left Arrow to decrease reading speed or Alt + Right Arrow to increase it.
On Mac, press Ctrl + Option + Space to start Read Aloud. Use Option + Space to play or pause, Option + Up Arrow for the previous paragraph, and Option + Down Arrow for the next paragraph.
If the controls work but you hear nothing, check the voice settings first, then check your device sound output.
Adjust the voice and reading speed
Start Read Aloud, then select the gear icon in the controls at the top right of Word. Move the Reading speed slider and choose the voice you want under Voice Selection.
For Microsoft 365 users with a Copilot license, Review > Read Aloud opens interactive reading controls. Use Pause, Previous, Next, Exit, Unmute, or Mute, and say Return to reading to switch back to Read Aloud.
In Word for the web, go to View > Document Views > Immersive Reader, then select Play at the bottom. Select the gear icon at the bottom to open Voice Settings, adjust Voice Speed, and choose Female or Male for languages that offer those options.
Fix silent Read Aloud on Windows
When Word moves through the document but no sound comes out, check Windows sound routing and app volume.
- 1.Open Start > Settings > System > Sound, then choose the correct playback device under Output.
- 2.Select Volume mixer, then make sure Word is not muted under Apps.
- 3.Turn up Word's app volume slider and choose the correct Output device for Word.
- 4.In Sound, select your output device, scroll to Advanced settings, and set Audio enhancements to Off.
- 5.Go to Start > Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters, then run the Audio troubleshooter.
Correct the document language
This fixes Read Aloud when it uses the wrong voice, accent, or pronunciation for selected text.
Select the text that sounds wrong.
Go to Review > Language > Set Proofing Language.
Choose the language you want Word to use, then select OK.
To let Word detect the language, return to Review > Language > Set Proofing Language and turn on Detect language automatically.
In Word for the web, use Review > Editor > Set Proofing Language instead.
Add missing Office or system voices
Open Word on Windows and go to File > Options > Language.
Under Office authoring languages and proofing, select Add a Language.
Choose the language you need, select Add, and use the Proofing available link when Word offers a language pack.
Open Start > Settings > Time & Language > Speech.
Adjust Speech language and Voices, change the default voice, set the speed, and preview the voice.
Restart Word after adding languages or changing voice settings so the app loads the new options.
Update Word to restore broken voices
Microsoft fixed a Word for Microsoft 365 issue where neural voices disappeared after Version 2604 Build 19929.20090. Updating Word installs the fixed build for that problem.
On Windows, open Word, create a new document, and go to File > Account. Under Product Information, choose Update Options > Update Now. If Update Now is missing, choose Enable Updates first.
On Mac, open Word and select Help > Check for Updates. When Microsoft AutoUpdate opens, choose Update or Update All, then restart Word after the update finishes.
On iPhone or iPad, open the App Store, tap your profile picture, and select Update next to the Microsoft 365 app or choose Update All. On Android, open Google Play, search for Word or the Office app, and tap Update.
If updating does not bring Read Aloud back, test Word in Safe Mode and check for add-ins next.
Check add-ins and repair Office
The most common software conflict is an add-in or template that changes how Word loads.
On Windows, find the Word shortcut, hold Ctrl, and double-click it.
Select Yes when Word asks whether to start in Safe Mode.
If Read Aloud works in Safe Mode, restart Word normally and remove suspicious add-ins.
Use File > Get Add-ins or Home > Add-ins, open My Add-ins, right-click the add-in, and select Remove.
For Word templates and Word add-ins, go to File > Options > Add-Ins.
In Manage, select Word Add-ins, click Go, open the Templates tab, and clear the checkbox next to the template or add-in.
If Word is still broken, repair Office. Right-click Start, select Installed apps, choose your Microsoft 365 or Office product, select the ellipses, choose Modify, then use Online Repair > Repair for Click-to-run installs.
Use web, mobile, or system reading as a fallback
Use these options when desktop Word is managed by work or school, waiting on an update, or still not reading after repair.
- 1.Open the file in Word for the web, then use View > Document Views > Immersive Reader > Play.
- 2.In Word for iPad or Android, tap the menu icon, tap Read Aloud, and select Play.
- 3.In Word for iPhone, tap the pen icon, tap Review, tap the gear icon, choose Read Aloud, and select Play.
- 4.On Windows, use Narrator as a separate reader: turn on Narrator, place the cursor in Word, press Narrator + R to read from the cursor, and press Ctrl to stop.
- 5.On Mac, use Apple menu > System Settings > Accessibility > Read & Speak, turn on Speak selection, then select text in Word and press the configured shortcut.
On work or school devices, your organization can control Office connected experiences. If cloud-backed voices or Read Aloud features are blocked, ask your IT admin to allow connected experiences for Office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Read Aloud missing from Word?
Word is usually not signed in with the licensed Microsoft 365 or Office account, the license needs a refresh, Word needs an update, or the device is managed by an organization that limits connected experiences.
Why does Word Read Aloud move through the document but make no sound?
Check the Windows output device, Volume mixer, and Word's app volume first. Word can be routed to the wrong device or muted under Apps even when other system sounds work.
Can I use Read Aloud without desktop Word?
Yes. Open the document in Word for the web, go to View > Document Views > Immersive Reader, and select Play. This also helps while waiting for a desktop update or admin fix.
Is Speak the same as Read Aloud in Word?
No. Speak is a supported fallback that reads selected text only. Read Aloud is the main Word feature for reading through a document with playback controls.
