Listen to PDFs read aloud on Mac with these popular tools

Macs are great devices for a wide range of tasks, but if you’re someone who needs a lot of help with reading and comprehending text, one of the most useful...

Macs are great devices for a wide range of tasks, but if you’re someone who needs a lot of help with reading and comprehending text, one of the most useful features you’ll find is the ability to read PDFs aloud. This useful tool can make understanding complex documents easier or just allow you to get through a lot of text in a short amount of time.

If you’re still trying to navigate a Mac software, maybe you’ve switched from Windows or you're getting your first laptop, then don’t fret! Here’s how to get your Mac to read your documents aloud and start speaking.

Reading PDFs on Macs

Macs come with various built-in text-to-speech options, including a PDF read-aloud feature. All you have to do is turn it on, open the PDF you’d like to read, and the device will read it aloud for you with an automated voice. This makes organizing and understanding your documents easier than ever.

In addition to the built-in text-to-speech features and spoken content options, there are also a variety of third-party applications available like Speechify that can help you read PDFs on your Mac, iPhone or any IOS device. These applications often offer more customization options, such as the ability to adjust the speed and pitch of the automated voice, as well as the ability to add annotations and highlights to the PDF. With these tools, you can make the most of your PDF reader and get the most out of your reading experience.

How to access Mac’s read-aloud features

Mac has built-in features that can read various texts including PDFs aloud. It uses an automated voice to do this, which makes it easier to understand the material without having to read it yourself. If you activate the feature, all you have to do is open a PDF or document and listen along.

The read-aloud feature is available on all Mac computers and can be activated by going to System Preferences > Accessibility > Speech. Once activated, you can adjust the speed of the voice and the volume of the audio. You can also choose from a variety of voices, including male and female voices in different languages.

Follow these steps to hear your Mac read PDF files

Reading a PDF file on your Mac is easy; simply open the document in the preview function, select the “View” option then “Read Aloud”. Once this is done, the automated voice will begin to read out loud. You can also adjust the speed of the system voice and the volume level to your preference.

As mentioned before, if you need to read a PDF file in a different language, you can use the built-in translation feature. This will allow you to translate the text into the language of your choice. Additionally, you can also use the “Highlight” feature to highlight important words or phrases in the document. This can be especially helpful when studying or researching a topic.

What to do if you need to get your MacBook to read any text aloud

To get your Mac to read any text aloud, you need to install a text-to-speech application on your device, like Speechify. This can be done by searching for “text-to-speech” in your Application folder. Once installed, you can select text, images, or entire documents and have them read aloud.

Once you have the text-to-speech application installed, you can customize the voice and speed of the reading. You can also choose to have the text read in different languages. Additionally, with Speechify, you can save the text as an audio file for later use within Speechify’s cloud.

Other tools you can use to read PDFs aloud on Mac

Below is a list of tools that you can use for reading PDFS aloud on a Mac or other Apple devices. These devices can convert text into audio files with some of the most natural and sophisticated automated voices in the market. All you essentially have to do is open the PDF, select the “read aloud” option and the device will do the rest.

The text-to-speech applications mentioned below are available on Apple devices which include Mac desktops, iPads, iPhones, and MacBooks. The apps below can be very easy to use and require very little effort in downloading and installing them. Additionally, these tools can be used to read aloud any type of text document, not just PDFs.

Speechify

Speechify is a versatile text-to-speech app that converts text into audio with artificial intelligence. It can read aloud text from any source, including websites, PDFs, ebooks and audiobooks. It also has a range of features, such as the ability to customize the voice, change the speaking rate, and pitch of the audio, as well as the ability to add background music and sound effects. Speechify is compatible with various browsers like Chrome and supports different operating systems like Android OS and MacOS. You can download the Speechify app here, or from the app store and start listening to your pdfs from your Mac device.

Adobe Acrobat Reader

Adobe Acrobat Reader is an app that allows users to view, annotate, listen to, and sign PDF documents on their mobile devices. It supports a wide range of PDF files, including PDFs with images, text, and annotations. It also allows users to add, delete, and rotate pages, as well as highlight text and add notes.

Microsoft Edge Read Aloud

Microsoft Edge Read Aloud is a feature in the Microsoft Edge browser that allows users to have web pages read aloud to them. It uses text-to-speech technology to read the text on the page and can be customized with different voices, speeds, and pitches. It also allows users to save the audio file for later listening.

VoiceOver

If you're using VoiceOver, simply open the PDF and navigate to "Options," then "Read Aloud." Once this is done, your Mac will begin reading the text in the document aloud. Additionally, you can customize your settings to read just certain sections of the document or have it pause after certain time intervals.

Use Speechify to read more documents on your Mac

Speechify has the capacity to do more than most text-to-speech and PDF readers in the market. With its use of artificial intelligence and text-to-speech technology, it offers an audio-reading experience that is second to none. So whether you are a Mac user looking to have celebrity voices read your documents to you or you are ready to listen to documents in your native language - Speechify has got you covered. Try Speechify here and get started reading your PDFs with us!