How to make an iPhone speak words as you type

2 min read · 7 steps · Updated 4 October 2026

Device

iPhone

Shown on

iOS 26.5 (iPhone 17)

App

Settings

Path

Settings › Accessibility › Keyboards & Typing › Typing Feedback

Real screenshots

7 of 7 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

1 official, linked below

Autocorrect changes words while your eyes are on the keys, and the mistake is noticed after the message is sent. With Typing Feedback the iPhone says aloud what it has just written, so you hear a wrong word at once. All five switches are off at first.

The screenshots show iOS 26.5 on an iPhone 17. On older versions the rows have the same names, with a slightly different look.

Step by step

1. 

   Open Settings and tap Accessibility

   Accessibility is in the first group of the main Settings list, below General.

   Done

2. 

   Scroll down and tap Keyboards & Typing

   It is under the heading Accessories, near the bottom of the page.

   Done

3. 

   Tap Typing Feedback

   It is the second row of the page.

   Done

4. 

   Switch on Speak Words

   The note below says: speak whole words while typing.

   Done

5. 

   Switch on Speak Auto-text if you like

   The iPhone then speaks auto-corrections and auto-capitalisations automatically, so you hear when it changes a word.

   Done

6. 

   Decide about single letters

   Characters makes the iPhone speak each letter as you type it. Character Hints adds the phonetic name of the letter.

   Done

7. 

   Hear the suggested words

   With Hold to Speak Predictions on, and typing predictions enabled, you touch and hold a suggested word to hear it spoken.

   Done

Good to know

To see what you type in larger text instead of hearing it: how to see what you type in larger text on an iPhone.

In short: Settings, Accessibility, Keyboards & Typing, Typing Feedback, Speak Words on.