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.

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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.

It's a great tool! Really simple to use and works as described.

shivashree vysali

shivashree vysali

Helperbird user

You can bookmark the websites or pages for future reading. Font Sizes can be increased or decreased to our own satisfaction. You can translate the page or website using Google Translator.

Noopur A.

Noopur A.

Director Product

Just added it and it feels like my eyes are flowing through text!

bondziotek

bondziotek

Helperbird user

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

Jen Ridge

Jen Ridge

Helperbird user

I have ADHD and yesterday Helperbird and the text-to-speech function (available in free version) turned a 28-page reading assignment from a two-day task to roughly two hours, maybe three at the absolute most. It helped tremendously! And I loved that the text-to-speech has such a fluid voice compared to a lot of others I've used! Honestly, the fact that this was created by someone who knows the struggles is something I love, because then it has neurodivergency in mind. I've tried too many things in the past that were created by neurotypical folk trying to be helpful to us and I do appreciate it, but it doesn't work as well because our brains work different. Highly recommend!

Addison Brown

Addison Brown

Helperbird user

Amazing Extensions in chrome. I Installed in my parents computer, because my dad have a poor vision, due to bad eye surgery. this extension really helps to have able to manipulate the font and font size for more comfortable use instead of chrome zoom feature. Because the chrome zoom feature is its overly zoom will cause the page looking super weird.

Kai Tam

Kai Tam

Helperbird user

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

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