You can easily adjust the speaking rate for text-to-speech features like Speak Selection and Speak Screen on your iPhone. This allows you to customize how quickly your device reads aloud text from various apps and content, making it ideal for accessibility, reading long articles, or simply tailoring the experience to your personal preference.
Adjusting Speaking Speed for Text-to-Speech
Your iPhone provides dedicated settings to control the speed of Speak Selection and Speak Screen, two powerful built-in text-to-speech functionalities.
Step-by-Step Guide:
Follow these simple steps to change the speaking speed on your iPhone:
- Open Settings: Locate and tap the Settings app icon on your iPhone's Home screen.
- Navigate to Accessibility: Scroll down the Settings menu and tap on Accessibility. This section is dedicated to features that enhance usability for all users, including those with specific needs.
- Access Spoken Content: Within the 'Vision' section, tap Spoken Content. This is the central hub for managing all settings related to your iPhone speaking text aloud.
- Enable Speak Features (if necessary):
- Ensure that the toggles for Speak Selection and Speak Screen are turned On. These features are essential for your iPhone to read selected text or the entire screen aloud, respectively. If they are disabled, no spoken content will be produced.
- Speak Selection: This feature reads aloud specific text that you have highlighted.
- Speak Screen: This feature reads all the visible content on your current screen, typically from top to bottom.
- Ensure that the toggles for Speak Selection and Speak Screen are turned On. These features are essential for your iPhone to read selected text or the entire screen aloud, respectively. If they are disabled, no spoken content will be produced.
- Adjust Speaking Rate: You will find a Speaking Rate slider.
- Drag the slider to the right to increase the speaking speed.
- Drag the slider to the left to decrease the speaking speed.
- As you adjust the slider, your iPhone will often provide a brief sample of the new speaking rate, enabling you to fine-tune it until it perfectly suits your listening pace.
What are Speak Selection and Speak Screen?
- Speak Selection: This powerful accessibility feature allows you to select any text within an app (e.g., a news article, an email, a note) and have your iPhone read it aloud. To use it, simply select the text by tapping and holding, and then choose "Speak" from the pop-up options.
- Speak Screen: Ideal for consuming longer content hands-free, Speak Screen reads all the visible text on your current display. You can activate this feature by swiping down with two fingers from the very top of your screen. A controller will then appear, allowing you to pause, skip sections, or adjust the reading speed on the fly without entering settings.
For more detailed information on these and other accessibility features, you can refer to Apple's official support documentation: Hear iPhone speak screen, selected text, and typed feedback.
