Office Performance Issues

How to Fix Microsoft Word Read Aloud Stopping After Several Pages

Guest Writer Oct 1, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs a solution for the Microsoft Word Read Aloud feature, which stops functioning after reading a specific number of pages in a document.

How to Fix Microsoft Word Read Aloud Stopping After Several Pages

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Using the Read Aloud feature to listen to a long document.
Observed behavior: Read Aloud works initially but stops working midway through the document (e.g., at page 38). Restarting the application and copying content to a new document do not resolve the issue.

Before you start

Ensure your Microsoft Word is fully updated to the latest version by checking File > Account > About Word. Also, back up any customized templates, macros, or shortcuts before performing a settings reset.

Solution 1Recommended

Run Word in Safe Mode and Disable Conflicting Add-ins

Starting Word in Safe Mode helps identify if third-party add-ins are interfering with the Read Aloud feature during long documents.

Safe mode launches Word without loading any startup add-ins or custom templates. If Read Aloud works perfectly in Safe Mode, a third-party add-in is likely causing the malfunction.

Launch Safe Mode

Close all active Microsoft Office applications. Press the 'Windows + R' keys simultaneously to open the Run dialog box. Type 'winword /safe' and press Enter to launch Word in Safe Mode.

Test Read Aloud

Open your problematic document and navigate to the page where Read Aloud previously stopped. Start the Read Aloud feature to see if it continues reading past the failure point.

Manage Add-ins

If Read Aloud works in Safe Mode, go to 'File' > 'Options' > 'Add-ins'. Select 'COM Add-ins' from the Manage drop-down menu at the bottom and click 'Go'.

Isolate the Issue

Uncheck all add-ins to disable them and click 'OK'. Restart Word normally and re-enable the add-ins one by one, testing Read Aloud each time to identify the specific add-in causing the crash.

Run Word in Safe Mode and Disable Conflicting Add-ins

Version Check: Before troubleshooting add-ins, verify your Word version under File > Account > About Word. Keeping Office up-to-date often patches known text-to-speech bugs.

Solution 2

Reset Microsoft Word Settings

If Safe Mode doesn't help, resetting Word's settings to their defaults can clear corrupted configurations that disrupt Read Aloud.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Experience Uninterrupted Text-to-Speech with WPS Office

If Microsoft Word's Read Aloud feature continues to fail mid-document, consider switching to WPS Office. It is a free, lightweight Microsoft Office alternative that offers seamless migration, a familiar UI, and flawless compatibility with all your Office files.

1. Download and Install: Download WPS Office for free from the official website and complete the quick installation process.
2. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing .docx document directly. All your formatting will be perfectly preserved.
3. Use Text-to-Speech: Navigate to the 'Review' tab on the top ribbon, select the text you want to hear, and click the 'Read' or 'Text to Speech' button to listen without interruptions.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx), Excel, and PowerPoint formats.Highly stable and lightweight performance for handling large documents without crashing.Built-in robust text-to-speech features for uninterrupted listening of extensive texts.Familiar user interface requiring zero learning curve for seamless migration from MS Office.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Word's Read Aloud feature suddenly stop working on specific pages?

This issue is often caused by conflicting COM add-ins, corrupted document formatting (like hidden objects or complex tables) on specific pages, or an outdated Word application that struggles with memory management on long documents.

Does copying my text to a new Word document fix Read Aloud issues?

While copying text to a new document can resolve minor formatting glitches, it often fails if the underlying issue is related to corrupted global Word settings, an interfering third-party add-in, or carrying over corrupted background formatting with the copied text.

How do I update Microsoft Word to fix text-to-speech bugs?

Open Microsoft Word, go to 'File' > 'Account' (or 'Office Account'), click on 'Update Options' under the Product Information section, and select 'Update Now' to ensure you have the latest patches and bug fixes.

Are there keyboard shortcuts to control Read Aloud in Word?

Yes, once the Read Aloud feature is active, you can use 'Ctrl + Space' to play or pause the audio, 'Alt + Right Arrow' to skip to the next paragraph, and 'Alt + Left Arrow' to return to the previous paragraph.

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