[Solved] Microsoft Word Read Aloud Stopped Working (2024)

The Read Aloud feature can be worthwhile when your hands are busy with other tasks or if you have trouble seeing the screen.

However, many users reported that it suddenly stops working.

Don’t be upset. If you face the same issue, you’re in the right place.

This post will show you some proven methods to resolve the problem.

Let’s begin.

Why is Read Aloud Not Working on Microsoft Word?

Read Aloud is a text-to-speech feature of MS Office that reads both web pages and documents aloud.

The Read Aloud function not working on Microsoft Word or other Office programs is a common issue for users of MS Office. The icon is grayed out on MS Word, which prevents users from using the feature.

There are some reasons for this issue that I mentioned earlier.

Here are the reasons for Read Aloud is not working on Microsoft Word:

Corrupted add-ins

Corrupted add-ins are a significant reason for the issue. If your MS Word extensions are corrupted, it creates various issues with the program, and you face the problem with Read Aloud.

Outdated MS Office 

Another leading cause of the Read Aloud function not working on Microsoft Word is the outdated MS Office program.

When the Office program is obsolete, the program has various bugs/glitches. For this instance, these bugs/glitches create several issues like the one we’re dealing with now.

Corrupted Office Files

If your Microsoft Office program files become corrupted, you may face the Read Aloud feature not working on your MS Word or other Office program.

How to Fix Microsoft Word Read Aloud Suddenly Stopped Working

Microsoft Office has a built-in feature called Read Aloud. This feature reads an entire document aloud, which can be helpful when you want to read a long document but don’t have the time or energy to do it yourself.

However, some users reported that the Read Aloud feature is not working while they try to use it. They notice the Read Aloud icon is grayed out on the MS Word document.

In this section, I will walk you through some effective solutions that will help you fix your problem within a few minutes.

Sounds great, right? Follow the methods below until you find the right one for you.

Here are the methods to fix Microsoft Word Read Aloud not working:

1. Repair Microsoft Office

Repairing MS Office can also resolve your Read Aloud feature not correctly functioning issue.

Microsoft tech advisors recommend performing an online repair for the Office application to fix the issue. An online repair is similar to a reinstall of the whole MS Office apps.

Here are the steps to repair the MS Office:

• Open the Windows Settings app.
• Select the Apps tab and click on the Apps & features option.
• Find the MS Office program using the search box.
• Click on the three-dot menu next to the Office program and choose Modify.
• Allow the system to grant access by selecting Yes when the User Account Control (UAC) window is prompted.
• Choose the Online Repair options to repair your Office programs and click Repair.
• Click Repair again to start the repairing process.
• Wait for some time to complete the repairing process.

After completing the repair process, check to see whether your problem is solved or not.

2. Run Word in Safe Mode

Running MS Word in safe mode helps you to check whether the problem will occur on your Word application or not. It enables you to identify the corrupted add-ins or extensions that can cause the issue.

There are two effective ways to run the MS Word app in safe mode. The first method to run Word in safe mode is using the MS Word desktop icon.

To run the MS Word in safe mode shortcut, press and hold the Ctrl button and click on the MS Word desktop icon. This method is the best shortcut to running the Word application in safe mode.

Another way to run MS Word in safe mode is using the Windows Run program. You can effortlessly start MS Word in safe mode using the Run program.

Here are the steps to run MS Word in safe mode:

• Press Windows+R keys on your keyboard to open the Run dialogue box.
  
• Enter the following command: winword.exe /safe

• Hit the Enter key.

Note: Make sure to put space between winword.exe and ‘/.’

Now the MS Word program will open in safe mode. Check if the Read Aloud feature works or not.

If it works, then one of the Word add-ins are causing the problem. Close Word in safe mode and open Word normally. Go to File > Options > Add-ins. Then select COM Add-ins and click on Go. Here disable all the add-ins.

Then enable the add-ins one by one and check if the issue comes back. When the issue re-appears, the last enabled add-in is causing the problem.

You need to either get rid of it or look for an alternative to the culprit add-in.

3. Update Microsoft Office

Another effective method to resolve the MS Word Read Aloud issue is to update MS Office.

If your MS Office program is outdated, update your application to prevent critical issues. The new update automatically resolves various issues as it contains bug fixes.

Here are the steps to update your MS Office application:

• Open the MS Word on your PC.
• Go to the File > Office Account tab to open the Account window.
• Click on the Update Options next to the Office Updates.
• Select the Update Now option.
• The update process is starting soon. Wait until the update process is complete.

After completing the update process, check to see whether the problem is solved.

Check out our separate post on Microsoft Word Ctrl+Z not Working.

4. Reinstall Microsoft Office

The last but not the least method is reinstalling the MS Office program.

If any method doesn’t solve your problem, try uninstalling the Office program and then reinstalling it. Reinstalling the program helps you remove all the corrupted files and install the new files.

Here are the steps to reinstall the MS Office:

• Open the WindowsSettings app.
• Select the Apps tab and click on the Apps & features option.
• Find the MS Office program using the search box.
• Click on the three dot menu next to the Office program and choose Uninstall.
• Click the Uninstall button.
• Allow the system to grant access by selecting Yes when the User Account Control (UAC) window is prompted.
• Click on the Uninstall button to start the process.
• Wait for some time to complete the uninstall process. After completing the uninstall process, reinstall the MS Office.

Now Open your document and check to see whether your problem is solved or not.

Final Thoughts

The Read Aloud feature can help you get more done in less time by reading your entire documents aloud.

Fixing the Read Aloud feature not working on MS Word isn’t a big deal. Repairing MS Office, reinstalling the software or running Wors in safe mode will help you solve your problem effortlessly.

That’s all for now. I hope the post is helpful and insightful as well. So, which methods work for you to solve the issue? Let me know in the comment below.