How to make your iPhone read text aloud

2 min read · 5 steps · Updated 2 October 2026

Your iPhone can read out an article, an email or a message. It helps if your eyes are tired, if small print is hard for you, or if you want to listen while you do something else. The feature is built in and free.

These screens are from iOS 26 on an iPhone 17. On older versions the rows are in the same place, with a slightly different look.

Step by step

1. 

   Open Settings and tap Accessibility

   Accessibility is near the top of the Settings list, under General.

   Done

2. 

   Tap Spoken Content

   It is in the Vision group, below Display & Text Size and Motion. On some iOS versions this row is called Read & Speak.

   Done

3. 

   Switch on Speak Selection

   A Speak button will now appear in the menu whenever you select text.

   Done

4. Select text and tap Speak

   Open a web page, note or message. Press and hold a word, drag the handles to cover what you want to hear, and tap Speak in the menu. If you do not see it, tap the small arrow at the end of the menu.

   Done

5. Choose the voice and speed

   Go back to Spoken Content. Voices lets you download other voices and accents, and Speaking Rate makes the reading faster or slower.

   Done

Good to know

Speak Screen, on the Spoken Content page, reads everything on the screen. Switch it on, then swipe down with two fingers from the top of the screen to start.

If a word is always said wrongly, such as a name, add it under Pronunciations and type how it should sound.

In Safari you can also tap the page menu in the address bar and choose Listen to Page on articles that support it.

In short: Settings, Accessibility, Spoken Content, Speak Selection. Then select text and tap Speak.