Listening to web pages running iOS 17 is a convenient feature for users who prefer or need auditory feedback, such as those with visual impairments or people who like to consume content on the go. This functionality is made possible through the "Speak Screen" and "Speak Selection" features in iOS. Here’s how you can set up and use these features to have your device read web pages aloud:
Quick Guide
- Enable Speak Screen: Go to Settings > Accessibility > Spoken Content > toggle on Speak Screen.
- Use Speak Screen: Swipe down with two fingers from the top of the screen on any web page to start listening.
- Enable Speak Selection: Go to Settings > Accessibility > Spoken Content > toggle on Speak Selection.
- Use Speak Selection: Highlight text on a web page, then tap "Speak" in the popup menu to hear the selected text.
Detailed Step-by-Step Walkthrough
Step 1: Enable Speak Screen
- Open the Settings app .
- Tap Accessibility, which is dedicated to modifying how your device behaves to suit various user needs.
- Under Accessibility, find and select Spoken Content.
- Toggle on Speak Screen. This setting allows you to have content on the screen read aloud by swiping down with two fingers from the top edge of the screen.
Step 2: Use Speak Screen
- Open any web page in Safari or another browser app.
- To activate Speak Screen, swipe down with two fingers from the very top of your screen. A speech controller will appear, and the voice will start reading the content on the screen. You can pause, skip forward, and adjust the reading speed from the controller.
Step 3: Enable Speak Selection
- Still in the Spoken Content settings, look for Speak Selection and toggle it on.
- This enables an option to read aloud specific text you select.
Step 4: Use Speak Selection
- Navigate to a web page where you want to listen to specific text.
- Tap and hold on the text to bring up the selection tool. Adjust the handles to select the text you want to hear.
- A popup menu will appear above the selection. Tap "Speak" to have your device read the text aloud.
Additional Customisation
- Adjust the Voice and Speed: In the Spoken Content settings, you can choose different voices and adjust the speaking rate to make listening more pleasant and understandable according to your preference.
- Highlight Content: You can also toggle on "Highlight Content" in the Spoken Content settings. This feature highlights words as they are spoken, which can be helpful for following along visually.
Using these features, you can effectively turn your iOS device into a helpful audio reader for web pages, enhancing accessibility or simply allowing you to consume information in a more flexible way. This is especially useful for long reading sessions or when you need to rest your eyes.