How to Use Text to Speech in Microsoft Word Online

Learn how to use Helperbird's Text to Speech feature in Microsoft Word Online. Have your documents read aloud while you follow along with word highlighting.

·

What is Text to Speech in Word Online?

Text to Speech reads your Microsoft Word Online documents out loud using a computer voice. Instead of reading with your eyes, you can listen to your document being spoken while following along with word highlighting.

Helperbird works directly in Microsoft Word Online. You can have the entire document read aloud, listen to just the text you highlight, or copy and paste text into the Text to Speech panel.


Who is This For?

This feature is helpful for:

  • People with dyslexia who find listening easier than reading
  • Students who want to proofread their writing by hearing it
  • People with visual impairments who use Word Online
  • Anyone who learns better by listening
  • Educators who want to review student work by listening

Step 1: Open Your Document

Go to Microsoft Word Online and open the document you want to listen to.

You can access Word Online at office.com or through your school's Microsoft 365 account.


Step 2: Open Helperbird

Click the Helperbird icon in your browser toolbar. It looks like a small owl and is usually in the top-right corner of your browser.

This will open the Helperbird menu.


Step 3: Find Text to Speech

Scroll down to the bottom of the Helperbird menu. You will see a section called All Features.

Click the arrow next to All Features to expand it and show all available features.

Look through the list until you see Text to Speech. Click on it to open it.

A panel will appear with a text area and playback controls.


Step 4: Play the Text

There are several ways to use Text to Speech in Word Online:

  • Read selected text – Highlight the text you want to hear in your Word document by clicking and dragging your mouse over it. Then click the play button. Helperbird will read the highlighted text.

  • Read custom text – Copy text from your Word document and paste it into the text box in the panel. Click the play button to hear it read aloud.

To stop the audio, click the pause or stop button.


Step 5: Customize Settings

Click the Settings tab to adjust how the text is read:

  • Voice – Choose from different voices. You can select male or female voices in various accents.

  • Speed – Adjust how fast or slow the voice speaks. A slower speed is good for learning, while a faster speed helps you get through content quickly.

  • Pitch – Change how high or low the voice sounds.

  • Highlight Color – As text is read, it can be highlighted. Choose the color for this highlight so you can follow along.


Video Tutorial

Coming soon


Need Additional Help?

If you have any questions or run into any issues, please contact the Helperbird support team. You can reach us at Helperbird support. We are happy to help you get the most out of Helperbird.

What People Are Saying

Join over 1,000,000 people who use Helperbird every day.

The best in its class - SUPERB - It does everything I need for my aging eyes.

Jen Ridge

Jen Ridge

Helperbird user

Best website reading enhancer

Sandeep K.

Sandeep K.

Domain Trainer

My son has dyslexia and has been struggling with parts of distant learning over the last year. We recently discovered this software and he is loving everything about it, especially with the ease of following directions and completing his assignments! We have used several other tools but this has everything a dyslexia person needs all in one bundle! The upgrade is definitely worth it to make our daily struggles, on the computer, run much smoother. I also greatly appreciate customer support (helpdesk). They went above and beyond to make sure we were all set up on the computer for my son to most successful.

Melissa Motz

Melissa Motz

Teacher

Helperbird is a very useful and smartly designed tool that will most definitely make the browsing life of any user suffering from from dyslexia or is even remotely visually impaired a lot easier. It’s very easy to use, has the ability to synchronize settings on multiple devices, and is very efficient thanks to a useful set of straightforward customization options.

Vladimir Ciobica

Vladimir Ciobica

Helperbird user

So far ive got nothing but amazing things to say about this extension. It helps everyday life so much!

Michael Thompson

Michael Thompson

Helperbird user

Immersive Reader from Microsoft is amazing, but my friends in Google districts were missing out until I found Helperbird. Great for proofreading! Simply highlight the text and have it read back to you, change the spacing in your view, highlight parts of speech, even translate by word or by document to have it read to you and adjust the speed! So amazing that I posted a YouTube tutorial within days of installing it. Plus, unlike many extensions, it didn't ask for obnoxious permissions like asking to delete everything in my Google Drive. #Winner #a11y

GK Techies

GK Techies

Helperbird user

Helperbird logo: Stylized owl with large yellow eyes and a beige face, against a green background.

Download Helperbird

Make browsing easier and more accessible with tools like Text to Speech, Immersive Reader, and more.