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How to Have Your iPhone Read Text for You

Apple iPhone Read Text guide
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As an avid Audible and Curio fan, I searched for an app to read my phone's content aloud. I found Speechify, a fantastic option, but Apple's iOS Accessibility offers a great alternative for enjoying written content as audio. Here's how to use it.

I like to believe that technology is constantly evolving to make our lives easier, and one of the most recent advancements in iOS is the ability to have your iPhone read text for you. This feature can be a game changer for users with visual impairments or those who prefer to listen to content rather than read it. In this article, I will guide you through the steps to enable and use the accessibility speech features on your iPhone, so you can enjoy a hands-free, user-friendly experience.

And before showing you how to set up the Spoken Content feature on an iPhone, I'd like to suggest a Google Assistant feature that turns websites into audio content for Android users. This feature is also available on iOS.

How to set up your iPhone to read text for you

As mentioned earlier, this is a native feature of iOS 16 and can be found in the Accessibility options under the name Spoken Content. To access the accessibility speech features, you'll need to start by opening the Settings app on your iPhone:

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Navigate to the Accessibility settings.
  3. Enable the Spoken Content feature.

This will take you to the settings for text-to-speech features, including Speak Selection, Speak Screen, and Typing Feedback. Toggle on the Speak Selection and/or Speak Screen options, depending on your preferences.

Screenshots showing the steps to set up the Spoken Content feature on the iPhone by accessing the Accessibility options.
To set up the Spoken Content feature, you must access the Accessibility options. / © NextPit

How to customize your speech settings

Now that you have enabled the Spoken Content features, you can customize the settings to suit your preferences. You can adjust the speaking rate, voice, and other options to make the experience as enjoyable as possible.

Screenshot showing some of the customization options for the reading screen feature on iOS 16.
Apple provides a variety of customization options for the reading screen feature, including speaking pace, voice selection, and controller layout. / © NextPit

How to have your iPhone read text for you

Once you've set up and customized the Spoken Content feature, it's time to put it to use. There are two simple methods: Speak Selection and Speak Screen. Here's a breakdown of their differences:

  1. Use Speak Selection to read a specific text: With Speak Selection enabled, you can now have your iPhone read a specific text for you. Simply highlight the text you want to be read aloud by long-pressing on it and dragging the selection handles. Once the text is highlighted, tap on the "Speak" option that appears in the context menu.
  2. Use Speak Screen to read entire pages: If you'd like your iPhone to read an entire page or screen of text, you can use the Speak Screen feature. To activate it, swipe down from the top of the screen with two fingers, and your iPhone will begin reading the content aloud.
Screenshots showing how to quick make your iPhone read the content on the screen.
There are two quick methods to make your iPhone read the content on the screen: either by swiping down with two fingers from the top of the screen or by selecting the content. / © NextPit

Personally, I use both methods. When making a selection is easy, I opt for that approach to prevent the system from reading all the elements on the webpage. However, if I'm not rushing, I have my iPhone 14 Pro Max read the entire page and use the skip button to position the cursor at a specific point in the article or PDF.

Finally, iOS 16's accessibility speech features are incredibly helpful and user-friendly, allowing you to have your iPhone read text for you with ease. By following these simple steps, you can enjoy a more accessible and convenient experience with your iPhone. So, whether you're looking to listen to an article on the go or need assistance due to a visual impairment, the iOS 16 accessibility speech features have got you covered.

Are you aware of any other helpful features in iOS that you'd like to share with us? We'd love to learn more about your favorite iPhone hacks in the comment section.

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Camila Rinaldi

Camila Rinaldi
Head of Editorial

With over 10 years of reviewing smartphones and wearables, I recently became addicted to smart home gadgets. Even though I dove into the Apple ecosystem two years back, Android remains as one of my passions. Previously editor-in-chief of AndroidPIT and Canaltech in Brazil, I now write for the US market. I love my records and I believe that the best way to get to know a place is through its food.

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