How to Use Read Aloud in Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge can read webpages, selected text, and PDFs out loud when you want to listen instead of stare at the screen. The controls are built into Edge, so you do not need a separate extension for the main Read Aloud feature. Use these current options to start it, control it, and fix it when the option is missing.

1. Start Read Aloud from the Edge menu

The standard desktop path works across current Microsoft Edge on Windows, macOS, and Linux when the feature is available.

1. 1.Open the webpage in Microsoft Edge.
2. 2.Select Settings and more.
3. 3.Select More tools.
4. 4.Select Read aloud.

If Read aloud appears directly inside Settings and more, select it there and skip More tools.

2. Use the faster desktop shortcuts

• For the quickest mouse path, open the page, right-click anywhere on it, and select Read aloud.
• For the keyboard shortcut, press Ctrl + Shift + U on Windows or Linux. On Mac, press Command + Shift + U. The same shortcut starts or stops Read Aloud.
• You can also select the Read Aloud icon in the toolbar or address-bar area, then use the Read Aloud toolbar at the top of the browser.

3. Read only the text you select

Use selection reading when you only need one recipe step, one paragraph, or one section of a long page.

Highlight the sentence, paragraph, or section you want to hear, then right-click the selection and choose Read aloud selection. On a touch device or in the Edge mobile app, press and hold the selected text, then choose Read aloud selection when it appears.

4. Listen to PDFs in Edge

1. 1.Open the PDF in Microsoft Edge.
2. 2.Select Read aloud in the PDF toolbar.
3. 3.For selected PDF text, select the text first when the PDF supports selection, then use the Read aloud option.

Edge’s built-in PDF reader includes Read Aloud in current versions, so you do not need the old experimental flag mentioned in older tutorials.

5. Change the voice and speed

Start Read aloud, then select Voice options in the Read Aloud toolbar. Choose the voice you want and adjust the reading speed from that same panel.

On Windows, add more device voices through Settings, Time & Language, then Speech. Online voices need internet access, while offline use gives you only some voice options.

6. Open articles in Immersive Reader

Immersive Reader strips supported pages into a cleaner reading view before Edge reads them out loud.

1. 1.Open a supported webpage in Microsoft Edge.
2. 2.Select Reading mode or Enter Immersive Reader in the address bar, or press F9.
3. 3.Select Read aloud on the Reading mode toolbar.

For only part of a page, select the text first, right-click it, choose Open selection in Reading mode, then select Read aloud. Reading mode is available on supported webpages, not every page.

7. Use Read Aloud on iPhone and Android

• Open the Microsoft Edge mobile app on iPhone or Android, open a webpage, then use the More menu to select Read aloud when it appears.
• To hear only part of the page, press and hold selected text and choose Read aloud selection.

Microsoft lists Read Aloud support for current Edge mobile on iOS and Android, with menu placement varying by app version.

8. Fix Read Aloud when it is missing

Update Edge from Microsoft’s official Edge download page for your device; Read Aloud availability can vary by device, market, and browser version, so updating Edge is the first consumer fix.

If the browser is managed by work, school, or family IT, Read Aloud can be disabled by policy. When Edge says it is managed or Read aloud is missing across webpages and PDFs, contact the person or team that manages the device.

Skip two old fixes: Ctrl + Shift + G and PDF Read Aloud flags. Microsoft’s current shortcut is Ctrl + Shift + U on Windows and Linux, Command + Shift + U on Mac, and PDF Read Aloud is built into Edge’s PDF reader.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Microsoft Edge Read Aloud work on PDFs?

Yes. Open the PDF in Microsoft Edge and select Read aloud in the PDF toolbar. Current Edge includes PDF Read Aloud without using an old experimental flag.

What is the keyboard shortcut for Read Aloud in Microsoft Edge?

On Windows and Linux, press Ctrl+Shift+U. On macOS, press Command+Shift+U. The older Ctrl+Shift+G shortcut is from older guidance, not Microsoft’s current shortcut documentation.

Can Edge read only part of a webpage?

Yes. Select the text you want, then right-click and choose Read aloud selection. On mobile, press and hold selected text and choose Read aloud selection when it appears.

Can I change the Read Aloud voice in Microsoft Edge?

Yes. Start Read Aloud, open Voice options in the Read Aloud toolbar, then choose a voice and adjust the speed. Online voices require internet access.

Is Copilot Vision the same as Read Aloud in Edge?

No. Copilot Vision lets you talk with Copilot about a supported page, video, or PDF. Read Aloud is the Edge feature that reads page or PDF text out loud.

Can Windows read pages aloud if Edge Read Aloud is not enough?

Yes. Windows Narrator and Magnifier reading are system-level options for Windows 10 and Windows 11. Narrator starts with Windows logo key+Ctrl+Enter, and Magnifier reading starts from Magnifier with Ctrl+Alt+Enter.