--- title: "How to make Word read aloud on a Mac: Read Aloud, Immersive Reader and Speak selection" description: "Use Word's Read Aloud on a Mac (Review, Read Aloud) to hear your document, change voice and speed, use Immersive Reader, or use macOS Speak selection with Option-Esc. What each needs and how to proofread by ear." url: "https://speechbee.app/guides/read-aloud-word-mac" --- # Read aloud in Word on a Mac Word for Mac can read your document out loud. Choose Review, then Read Aloud. If you don't have Microsoft 365, macOS can read selected text in Word for free. Here's how both work, and how to use them to proofread. By the SpeechBee team, who make SpeechBee. Checked against Microsoft Support on 12 October 2026. > ### The short version > > - **Word's Read Aloud:** **Review**, then **Read Aloud**. Needs Office 2019, Office 2021 or Microsoft 365. > - **macOS Speak selection:** turn it on in **System Settings**, **Accessibility**, **Read & Speak**, select text in Word and press **Option-Esc**. ## Use Read Aloud in Word 1. Open your document. 2. Choose the **Review** tab, then **Read Aloud**. 3. Use the controls to play, pause, and move to the previous or next paragraph. Select the **X** to stop. 4. To read only part of the document, select that text first, then start Read Aloud. Microsoft says Read Aloud is available in Office 2019, Office 2021 and Microsoft 365. If you don't see it, sign in to your Microsoft 365 account and restart Word. ## Change the voice and speed Select the gear icon in the Read Aloud controls. Use the **Reading speed** slider, and choose a voice under **Voice Selection**. ## Immersive Reader Word's Immersive Reader, under the **View** tab, changes spacing, colors and line focus to make text easier to follow, and can read aloud while highlighting each word. ## Without Microsoft 365: Speak selection macOS can read selected text in any app, Word included. 1. Open **System Settings**, **Accessibility**, **Read & Speak**, and turn on **Speak selection**. 2. Select text in Word and press **Option-Esc**. Press it again to stop. See [how to make your Mac read text aloud](https://speechbee.app/guides/text-to-speech-on-mac) for voices, highlighting and speed. ## Proofread a Word document by ear Hearing your document catches missing words and run-on sentences your eyes skip. Listen a paragraph at a time at a slightly slower speed. More in [proofread by listening](https://speechbee.app/guides/proofread-by-listening-mac). ## A natural voice in every app Word's Read Aloud only works in Word. SpeechBee, which we make, reads selected text in Word, Mail, Pages, a browser or any other Mac app with a natural voice that runs on your Mac. It also types what you say into Word with one key. $79 a year or $99 once, after 7 days free. ## Questions ### How do I get Word to read to me on a Mac? Choose Review, then Read Aloud. You need Office 2019, Office 2021 or Microsoft 365. Or select text and press Option-Esc with macOS Speak selection turned on. ### Why can't I find Read Aloud in Word for Mac? Make sure you're signed in to Microsoft 365, then restart Word. Read Aloud isn't in older versions of Office. ### Can I change the Read Aloud voice in Word? Yes. Select the gear icon in the Read Aloud controls and choose a voice and speed. ### Can Word read aloud and dictate? Yes. Read Aloud is under Review and Dictate under Home, both with Microsoft 365. See [dictation in Word on a Mac](https://speechbee.app/guides/dictation-in-word-mac). ## Keep reading - [Dictation in Microsoft Word on a Mac](https://speechbee.app/guides/dictation-in-word-mac) - [Proofread by listening on a Mac](https://speechbee.app/guides/proofread-by-listening-mac) - [Free text to speech on a Mac](https://speechbee.app/guides/free-text-to-speech-mac) ## Sources All checked on 12 October 2026. - [Microsoft: Listen to your Word documents](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/word/listen-to-your-word-documents) - [Microsoft: Use Immersive Reader in Word](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/accessibility/word/use-immersive-reader-in-word) - [Apple: Have your Mac speak text that's on the screen](https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/have-your-mac-speak-text-thats-on-the-screen-mh27448/mac) - SpeechBee facts from our [homepage](https://speechbee.app/) and [privacy policy](https://speechbee.app/privacy)