Office Settings & Configuration

Does the New Outlook Support Read Aloud? Guide to Immersive Reader

Adam Davis Sep 30, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to know if the Read Aloud feature is available in the new Outlook and how to activate it to listen to email messages.

How to Use Read Aloud and Immersive Reader in the New Outlook

Product: Microsoft Outlook
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Trying to listen to email messages audibly instead of reading them manually.
Observed behavior: The traditional Read Aloud button is difficult to find or missing entirely, especially when composing new emails.

Before you start

Ensure you are using the 'New Outlook' interface and have an active internet connection, as built-in accessibility tools often rely on cloud-based voice services.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Immersive Reader for Received Messages

Since the standalone Read Aloud button is not directly available in the standard reading pane, you can use the Immersive Reader tool to read received emails aloud.

In the new Outlook, Microsoft has integrated the reading functionality directly into the Immersive Reader feature. This provides a distraction-free reading environment alongside text-to-speech capabilities.

Select the email

Open your Outlook inbox and click on the received email message you want to listen to.

Navigate to the View tab

Look at the top ribbon of the Outlook interface and click on the 'View' tab to reveal display settings.

Open Immersive Reader

Click the 'Immersive Reader' button. The email will open in a new, simplified reading view.

Activate Read Aloud

Inside the Immersive Reader ribbon, click the 'Read Aloud' button (usually a play icon) to start the audio playback of your email.

Use Immersive Reader for Received Messages

Limitation on Composing: Read Aloud is currently not available for messages while they are being composed in the New Outlook. You can only use this feature for received messages.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Will the Read Aloud feature be added to the compose window in the New Outlook?

Microsoft is continuously updating the New Outlook. While Read Aloud is currently unsupported during message composition, it is highly requested and may be introduced in future feature updates.

Can I change the voice speed or narrator in the Immersive Reader?

Yes. When using the Read Aloud function within the Immersive Reader, you can click the voice settings icon (usually represented by a gear symbol) in the playback controls to adjust the reading speed and select a different voice.

Why is the Immersive Reader button grayed out?

The Immersive Reader button may be inactive if you haven't selected a specific email to read in the reading pane, or if your organization's IT policies restrict certain cloud-connected experiences required by Office.

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