Office for Mac Issues

Fix Immersive Reader and Read Aloud Not Working in Word for Mac

WPS Content Manager Oct 1, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve an issue where the Immersive Reader and Read Aloud accessibility features are unresponsive.

How to Fix Immersive Reader and Read Aloud Not Working in Word for Mac

Product: Word for Mac
Device & OS: macOS
Scenario: Attempting to use text-to-speech tools to read document contents aloud.
Observed behavior: Immersive Reader and Read Aloud fail to respond or produce audio in Word for Mac version 16.84, even after restarting the application.

Before you start

Ensure your Mac's system volume is turned up and not muted, and verify that you have an active internet connection, as some natural-sounding text-to-speech voices require it.

Solution 1Recommended

Check System Audio and Test Document Behavior

Rule out basic macOS audio issues and determine if the problem is specific to a corrupted or restricted document.

Often, Read Aloud issues are isolated to specific document formatting or system-level audio output settings rather than the Word application itself.

Verify Mac volume

Click the Control Center or Sound icon in your Mac menu bar and ensure the output volume is raised and not muted.

Create a new document

Open Word for Mac, click 'File' > 'New from Template', and select a Blank Document.

Test Read Aloud

Type a few sample sentences, navigate to the 'Review' tab, and click 'Read Aloud'. If it works here, the original document may have unsupported formatting.

Check System Audio and Test Document Behavior

Identify the Failure Type: Notice if the Read Aloud button is completely greyed out, or if it activates (showing the playback toolbar) but produces no sound. This observation helps narrow down the root cause.

Solution 2

Verify Supported Languages and Update Software

Immersive Reader features require specific language settings and an up-to-date macOS and Word version to function correctly.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office for a Seamless Mac Experience

If Word for Mac continues to experience missing features or bugs, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible, and free alternative for all your document needs.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the installer specifically optimized for macOS.
2. Install the application: Open the downloaded file and drag the WPS Office icon into your Applications folder.
3. Open existing documents: Launch WPS Office and immediately open your existing .docx files to continue working without interruption.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx), Excel, and PowerPoint formats with zero formatting loss.Lightweight architecture ensures fast launch times and smooth operation on any macOS device.Includes built-in eye-protection and reading modes for comfortable document review.Familiar user interface requires no learning curve for easy migration.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the Read Aloud button grayed out in Word for Mac?

The Read Aloud button may be disabled if your document is in a protected view, if the selected text is configured to an unsupported language, or if your version of Word is currently syncing.

Do I need an internet connection to use Immersive Reader?

While basic text-to-speech relies on your Mac's local system voices, many of the newer, natural-sounding neural voices in Microsoft Word require an active internet connection to process the audio.

How do I change the Read Aloud voice or speed on Mac?

When you activate Read Aloud, a small playback control toolbar appears on the screen. Click the gear icon on this toolbar to adjust the reading speed and select different voice options available on your system.

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