Fix Immersive Reader Not Reading Microsoft Forms Subtitles
Question details
The user needs to troubleshoot an accessibility issue where the Microsoft Forms Immersive Reader skips the subtitle text of a question.
- Product
- Microsoft Forms
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Using the Immersive Reader feature to listen to form questions for accessibility or reading comprehension purposes.
- Observed behavior
- The Immersive Reader successfully reads the main question text aloud but completely ignores and skips any text written in the subtitle field.
Verify that your browser's audio is working correctly and confirm that the unread text is actually located in the 'Subtitle' field rather than the main question field.
Move Subtitle Text to the Main Question Field
Since Immersive Reader currently only targets the primary question box, moving essential instructions into the main question field ensures all text is read aloud.
Microsoft Forms does not currently have a built-in setting to force the Immersive Reader to process subtitles. The most reliable workaround is to combine your subtitle instructions with your main question.
Log in to Microsoft Forms and open the specific form you want to modify.
Click on the question where the subtitle is being skipped by the Immersive Reader.
Highlight the text in the subtitle field, copy it, and paste it directly at the end of the main question text box.
Remove the text from the subtitle field to prevent visual duplication for users who are not using the Immersive Reader.
Submit Feedback to the Microsoft Forms Community
Reporting this limitation directly to Microsoft helps prioritize future updates to the Immersive Reader feature.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why doesn't the Immersive Reader process subtitles in Microsoft Forms?
Currently, the Immersive Reader integration in Microsoft Forms is programmed to only extract and read text from the primary question field. It lacks the built-in capability to detect and dictate secondary fields like subtitles.
Can I use a different screen reader to read Microsoft Forms subtitles?
Yes. Operating system screen readers, such as Windows Narrator or Mac VoiceOver, as well as third-party browser text-to-speech extensions, can generally read all visible text on the page, including subtitles.
Will Microsoft update Forms to fix this Immersive Reader issue?
Microsoft regularly updates its accessibility tools based on user feedback. While there is no official timeline, submitting a feature request through the Forms feedback portal increases the likelihood of a future fix.
