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How to Make Your iPhone Read Text Aloud, Even Offline
Your iPhone can read any text out loud: articles, messages, PDFs, even text in other apps. The voices run on the device, so once they’re downloaded you don’t need a connection.
Turn it on
- Open Settings → Accessibility → Spoken Content.
- Turn on Speak Selection. A Speak button now appears when you select text.
- Turn on Speak Screen. Swipe down from the top of the screen with two fingers to hear everything on it.
- Set the Speaking Rate to a speed you like.
Download a better voice
The default voices are compact. Go to Spoken Content → Voices, choose your language and download an Enhanced or Premium voice. They sound far more natural and are what the iPhone uses offline.
Use it
- One paragraph: select it and tap Speak.
- A whole page: two-finger swipe down from the top, then use the controller to pause, skip or change speed.
- Safari: open the page menu (Aa) and choose Listen to Page where it’s available.
When an app is better
Speak Screen reads what’s on screen now. For long texts you want to paste in, save and come back to, a dedicated text-to-speech app is easier.
speeza reads your text aloud with the iPhone’s own voices and works fully offline. (speeza is made by the GroveTab team.)
Reading and accessibility apps also show up on our App Deals page when they go free.
FAQ
Does iPhone text-to-speech work without internet?
Yes. Once a voice is downloaded under Spoken Content → Voices, Speak Selection and Speak Screen work offline.
How do I get a more natural voice?
Go to Settings → Accessibility → Spoken Content → Voices, pick your language and download an Enhanced or Premium voice.
Can I change the reading speed?
Yes. Use the Speaking Rate slider in Spoken Content, or the speed control in the Speak Screen controller.