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How to Use Read Out Loud in Adobe Acrobat Reader on iPhone

John Wilson Oct 18, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to use the Read Out Loud text-to-speech feature in the Adobe Acrobat Reader mobile app on an iPhone.

Product: Adobe Acrobat Reader Mobile
Device & OS: iOS / iPhone
Scenario: Listening to PDF documents using text-to-speech while using a mobile device.
Observed behavior: The user cannot find the Read Out Loud feature because the iOS mobile app does not have the standard 'View' menu present in the desktop version.

Before you start

Ensure your iPhone's iOS system is updated to the latest version, as the mobile reading capability relies primarily on Apple's built-in accessibility features rather than an in-app menu.

Solution 1Recommended

Use iOS Spoken Content to Read PDFs Aloud

Since the Adobe Acrobat Reader mobile app lacks the desktop 'View' menu, you must enable your iPhone's native Spoken Content feature to read the PDF text aloud.

Adobe integrates mobile document reading with the operating system's native text-to-speech accessibility features. By enabling iOS Spoken Content, you can select any text inside the Acrobat Reader app and have your device read it to you.

Enable Spoken Content on iPhone

Open the 'Settings' app on your iPhone, scroll down and tap 'Accessibility', then select 'Spoken Content'.

Turn on Speak Selection and Speak Screen

Toggle the switches for 'Speak Selection' and 'Speak Screen' to the ON position. You can also adjust the speaking rate slider below to your preferred speed.

Open Your PDF in Acrobat Reader

Launch the Adobe Acrobat Reader app on your iPhone and open the PDF document you wish to listen to.

Trigger the Read Out Loud Feature

Tap and hold to highlight the text you want to hear, then select 'Speak' from the pop-up context menu. Alternatively, swipe down with two fingers from the very top of your screen to have the iPhone read the entire page automatically.

Speech Controller: In the iOS Spoken Content settings, you can enable 'Speech Controller' to keep a floating play, pause, and skip menu on your screen while reading PDFs.

Read PDFs Aloud Instantly with WPS Office for Mobile

If you prefer not to rely on buried device settings, WPS Office provides a dedicated, built-in Audio Reading feature on mobile. It makes listening to long documents, books, or reports effortless and intuitive.

1. Open Your PDF Document: Launch the WPS Office app on your iPhone and select the PDF file you want to listen to.
2. Access the Tools Menu: Tap the 'Tools' icon located at the bottom left of your screen to open the feature panel.
3. Start Audio Reading: Navigate to the 'View' tab and tap on 'Audio Reading'. The app will immediately begin reading the document aloud with an intuitive on-screen playback controller.

Native built-in Audio Reading capability without relying on complex iOS accessibility menusSeamless format compatibility with Adobe PDF files and Microsoft Office documentsAdjustable in-app voice, playback speed, and continuous background readingCompletely free, lightweight, and easy-to-use mobile application

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is there no View menu in Adobe Acrobat Reader for iPhone?

Mobile apps feature streamlined user interfaces to accommodate smaller touch screens. Consequently, features like 'Read Out Loud' are not housed in a traditional 'View' menu but are instead integrated directly with the mobile operating system's native accessibility features.

Can I change the reading voice or speed on my iPhone?

Yes. You can customize the voice, pitch, language, and speaking rate by navigating to Settings > Accessibility > Spoken Content > Voices on your iPhone.

Does Adobe's Liquid Mode feature read text aloud?

Liquid Mode is designed to optimize the layout and formatting of the PDF to make it easier to read visually on a small screen. To hear the text read aloud while in Liquid Mode, you still need to utilize the iOS 'Spoken Content' tools.

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