PDF read aloud not working on your iPhone? Start by checking whether you can select words in the PDF. A scanned page needs text recognition before it can be read aloud. If the PDF has selectable text, check Speak Screen, voice downloads, and the volume, then try another PDF.
PDF read out loud not working in Adobe Acrobat? Start with the file check below. The playback steps here use the iPhone's built-in Speak Screen.
1. Why is my PDF read aloud not working?
First, check whether the PDF contains text your iPhone can read. A scanned PDF can look like an ordinary document, but its pages are pictures of words. If the words aren't selectable, try the Live Text screenshot steps below.
- Open the PDF and find a paragraph.
- Touch and hold a word until selection handles appear, then drag the handles to select a few words.
- If you can highlight individual words, continue to the Speak Screen settings below. If you can't, try the scanned-page steps next.
2. How can I read a scanned page with Live Text?
Live Text, available from iOS 15, can recognize the words in a screenshot. Apple's Live Text instructions explain how to hear recognized text with Speak Selection. If your iPhone has Live Text, try this with one page of the PDF:
- Turn on Speak Selection in Settings › Accessibility › Read & Speak.
- Open the scanned PDF to the page you want and take a screenshot.
- Open the screenshot in Photos.
- Tap the Live Text icon, touch and hold a recognized word, then tap Select All.
- Tap Speak to hear the selected text.
Repeat for each page you want to hear. This works for a page or two, but taking screenshots of a long document gets tedious.
If you have the printed pages, you can scan pages with your iPhone camera in Readwalk. Its scanner recognizes text from several pages in one session and reads them in order.
3. Is Speak Screen turned on?
Speak Screen is free and built into the iPhone. For a PDF with selectable text:
- Open Settings › Accessibility › Read & Speak › Speak Screen.
- Turn on Speak Screen.
- Return to the PDF.
- Swipe down from the top of the screen with two fingers.
A small playback controller appears with play, pause, skip, and speed controls. You can also say "Hey Siri, speak screen" to start reading.
If the controller appears but you hear nothing, check the voice download and volume next.
4. Does the voice need downloading?
Your chosen voice may need a manual download, especially after an iOS update or when you're setting up a new phone.
- Open Settings › Accessibility › Read & Speak › Voices.
- Choose your language.
- Look for the download icon, a cloud with a downward arrow, beside the voice you want.
- Tap the icon and let the download finish before trying Speak Screen again.
Enhanced and Premium voices sound better than the default voices. Download one if you want to try a different voice for your PDF.
5. Is the volume up, and does another PDF work?
Turn up the volume while Speak Screen is playing. Then open a different PDF, check that you can select its words, and try the two-finger swipe again.
If the second PDF reads aloud, return to the first file and test the text on the page that failed. This gives you a specific page to check instead of changing more settings. If neither PDF plays, revisit Speak Screen and the voice download.
When should I use Readwalk for a PDF?
For a report you want to hear on a walk or commute, Readwalk reads PDFs with word-by-word highlighting and keeps playing with your phone locked. It remembers your place in each document, so you can stop partway through and come back later. Playback speed runs from 0.75x to 3x.
- Open your PDF in Files, Mail, or Safari.
- Tap the Share button and choose Readwalk.
- Start playback, then set the speed you want.
Readwalk reads the text the PDF contains. Running headers and page numbers may still be read aloud.
Readwalk costs $6.99/month or $39.99/year. The yearly plan has a 7-day free trial.
Frequently asked questions
Why won't my iPhone read my PDF aloud?
Check whether you can select individual words in the PDF. An image-only scan needs text recognition first. For a PDF with selectable text, check that Speak Screen is enabled and your chosen voice is downloaded. Start with the five checks above.
How do I get my iPhone to read a PDF out loud?
Enable Speak Screen in Settings › Accessibility › Read & Speak, open the PDF, and swipe down from the top with two fingers. For the full setup, see how to get a PDF read aloud.
Can Speak Screen read scanned PDFs?
An image-only PDF needs text recognition before Speak Screen can read it. Use the Live Text screenshot steps above for individual pages. If you have the paper document, camera scanning is another way to recognize its text.
Why does Speak Screen only read part of my PDF?
Check whether you can select text on the page it skipped. Some pages may need text recognition. Try another PDF with selectable text to compare the results before changing your phone's settings again.
Do I need an app to read PDFs aloud on iPhone?
No. Speak Screen is a free way to hear text-based PDFs, and Live Text can help with individual scanned pages. For longer listening, look for the features you need, such as saved progress and lock-screen controls.
