Read Aloud is a built-in function of the Microsoft Workplace suite to learn some textual content or a doc like an audiobook. Although the function works high quality, generally it’s possible you’ll face an error whereas utilizing it or activating it. Some customers have reported that the Read Aloud function is not working appropriately in Word. One such error reported by some customers is that Read Aloud isn’t available because something is preventing it from starting in Word. In case you additionally face this error on Home windows 11/10, then the choices included in this publish will come in helpful to do away with this downside.
How do I get Read Aloud to work in Word?
Read Aloud function is current in Microsoft Workplace 365, Workplace 2019, and Workplace 2021 solely, and it stays enabled by default. To get Read Aloud to work in Microsoft Word to learn the whole doc or elements of your doc or a specific textual content, entry the Evaluation tab, and choose the Read Aloud choice. Now you need to use the Play, Pause, Subsequent, and Earlier choices to learn aloud the textual content. You too can change Read Aloud settings to regulate the studying pace, change voice, and so forth. Alternatively, you too can attempt opening the Read Aloud operate utilizing the Ctrl + Alt + House shortcut key and see if it works.
Why is Read Aloud not working in Word?
The rationale why Read Aloud is not engaged on Microsoft Word is the required language pack is not put in or lacking in your PC. Even when the language pack is put in and language options like speech recognition, handwriting pack, and so forth., aren’t put in, then additionally Read Aloud gained’t work. Another excuse for this downside could possibly be conflicting add-ins, an outdated model of Microsoft Word, and so forth.
Earlier than you attempt utilizing some superior troubleshooting strategies, be sure it is not some generic subject inflicting the issue. Listed below are some ideas you’ll want to maintain:
- You first have to verify whether or not your PC is on mute or not. Be sure you have a excessive quantity after which attempt utilizing the Read Aloud function in Word.
- If you’re utilizing a headset, be sure it is in correct working situation. You’ll be able to unplug the headset after which verify in the event you can hearken to the doc textual content or not. If sure, it is most certainly that your headset is at fault.
Read Aloud isn’t available because something is preventing it from starting in Word
To repair the Read Aloud isn’t available because something is preventing it from starting error in Microsoft Word, the next choices will certainly be useful. Earlier than that, shut after which re-open Word, replace Microsoft Workplace and see if it helps. If not, use these options:
- Set up the required language together with the language options
- Shut Word and restart it
- Open Microsoft Word in Protected Mode
- Establish the Offender Add-in and take away it
- Use the Converse function
- Set the proper Quantity Mixer settings
- Reset Word to default settings
- Examine if the doc is corrupted
- Restore Workplace.
Let’s verify all these choices one after the other.
1] Set up the required language together with the language options
This is the most effective options to unravel this Read Aloud isn’t available error for Microsoft Word as it helped some customers. To make use of or get Read Aloud to work efficiently in Microsoft Word, you have to set up a supported language pack together with the required language options. In any other case, it’s possible you’ll face points. Listed below are the steps to put in the language pack and language options on a Home windows PC:
- Proper-click on the Begin button
- Choose the Settings choice
- Within the Settings app, choose the Time & language class
- Entry the Language & area part
- Press Add a language button
- Search for a supported language (like English (Australia), English (Canada), and so forth.) and choose it
- Press the Subsequent button
- Now, in the Non-obligatory language options part, choose Textual content-to-speech, Handwriting, Enhanced speech recognition, Language pack, and different choices
- Press the Set up button.
As soon as the set up course of for the language pack is accomplished, open MS Word and verify if the Read Aloud function is working now. This could repair the problem.
In case the required language is already put in in your Home windows PC, then first, repeat steps 1 to 4. After that, click on on the three horizontal dots icon available for the put in language that you simply need to use for the Read Aloud function, and click on on the Language choices.
Now, in the Language options part, verify if the Language pack, Speech recognition, and Handwriting packs are downloaded and put in. If not, obtain them and set up them. After doing that, your downside ought to be gone.
Associated: Methods to allow the Read Aloud function in Outlook and repair it if not working
2] Shut Word and restart it
A easy restart works in many instances. So, you may merely restart the Word app after which verify if the issue is resolved. To try this, be sure to fully shut all of the working cases of Word in your PC. Right here’s how:
- First, open Process Supervisor utilizing Ctrl+Shift+Esc.
- Now, shut all Microsoft Word processes utilizing the Finish job button.
- As soon as performed, restart Word and verify if you’ll be able to use the Read Aloud operate.
See: Microsoft Word gained’t open on Home windows PC.
3] Open Microsoft Word in Protected Mode
Use Win+R hotkey to open the Run Command field, sort winword /secure
, and press the Enter key to open Microsoft Word in Protected Mode. While you launch Word in Protected Mode, it opens with all of the third-party add-ins disabled. Now open a doc and verify if Read Aloud is working high quality.
If sure, then there should be some add-in(s) that is interfering with Word, because of which the Read Aloud function is giving this error. It’s important to establish that add-in(s) and disable or take away them. For this, use the following resolution.
4] Establish the Offender Add-in and take away it
If some third-party add-in put in in MS Word is inflicting the Read Aloud isn’t available because something is preventing it from starting error, then establish the wrongdoer add-in utilizing the next steps:
- Launch Microsoft Word in regular mode
- Entry the File menu
- Choose Choices
- Within the Word Choices field, choose the Add-Ins class from the left part
- Choose the COM Add-ins choice from the drop-down menu available for Handle (on the underside half)
- Press the Go button and a COM Add-Ins field will open
- Now uncheck all of the add-ins
- Press the OK button
- Relaunch MS Word, allow add-ins one after the other and see if the Read Aloud function works.
If the Read Aloud function provides the identical error after enabling an add-in, then that is the wrongdoer add-in inflicting this downside. As soon as the wrongdoer add-in is discovered, maintain it disabled or just uninstall or take away it from Microsoft Word.
Read: Microsoft Word gained’t open on Home windows PC
5] Use the Converse function
Like Read Aloud, Microsoft Word additionally comes with a Converse function that can be utilized in case the Read Aloud function is not working (in the intervening time or as a substitute for it). Although the Converse function is not as superior because the Read Aloud function, it is useful sufficient to learn aloud the chosen textual content. You too can choose the whole doc and use the Converse function to hearken to your doc.
Converse function could be accessed from the Fast Entry Toolbar of Microsoft Word. In case you don’t see that function there, you’ll want to add Converse function to Fast Entry Toolbar first. As soon as performed, choose some textual content or the doc in MS Word, and click on on the Converse chosen textual content icon available in the Fast Entry Toolbar. It can begin studying the chosen textual content for you.
Use the identical Converse chosen textual content icon whenever you need to cease the studying.
Read: Word or Excel hyperlinks are sluggish to open.
6] Set the proper Quantity Mixer settings
Your Quantity Mixer settings may be preventing you from listening to the textual content utilizing the Read Aloud function in Word. Home windows enables you to arrange quantity ranges for the system and apps. In case your quantity mixer settings are incorrect, this downside is prone to happen. So, in that case, you may configure the fitting quantity mixer settings and see if it helps. Right here’s how you are able to do that:
First, right-click on the amount icon in your taskbar and select the Open quantity mixer choice. Subsequent, be sure the amount is set excessive and the proper output system is set for apps. See if the issue is resolved now.
7] Reset Word to default settings
Incorrect settings may also trigger issues when utilizing Microsoft Word or some other software. So, this may be the rationale that Read Aloud isn’t engaged on Microsoft Word, and this error seems as an alternative. If this is the case and you don’t have any thought which setting is inflicting the issue, you need to reset Microsoft Word to default settings.
8] Examine if the doc is corrupted
In case the above options didn’t work, there are possibilities that the problem is precipitated because your doc is corrupted. If that’s the case, you may restore the corrupted doc after which verify if the problem is fastened. Listed below are the steps to repair a corrupted Word doc:
- Firstly, click on on the File menu and choose the Open choice.
- Subsequent, faucet on the Browse button and select the doc with which the issue is occurring.
- After that, click on on the small downward arrow icon which is current contained in the Open button.
- Now, click on on the Open and Restore choice after which let Word restore and open the goal doc.
- As soon as performed, attempt utilizing the Read Aloud function and see if the issue is resolved.
9] Restore Workplace
In case your Microsoft Workplace suite is corrupted, then it can result in numerous points. Chances are you’ll not be capable to use Workplace purposes or options/choices (together with Read Aloud, Converse, and so forth.) current in these purposes. In that case, it’s possible you’ll have to restore Microsoft Workplace.
You’ll be able to both carry out a Fast Restore or On-line Restore (if the Fast Restore choice doesn’t assist to unravel the problem) in your Microsoft Workplace suite. On-line Restore downloads information to restore the Microsoft Workplace set up, which can take time, however it could be price attempting. After that, restart your Home windows PC, and see in case your downside is gone.
If nothing works, then it’s possible you’ll have to fully uninstall Microsoft Workplace from your laptop after which reinstall it.
I hope these choices will assist clear up this downside.
Why is Read Aloud greyed out in Word?
If the Read Aloud operate is greyed out in Word, it may be precipitated because of utilizing an outdated model of Word. Apart from that, some add-ins may be interfering with the functioning of the app and inflicting the issue. You may additionally face this subject if the Word app is corrupted.
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