How to listen to iPhone messages out loud

Wondering how to listen to iPhone messages out loud? This guide provides the answers.

Are you wondering to yourself, “How can I get my iPhone to read me my messages out loud?” If so, the good news is there are many options for you to choose from. Many people enjoy listening to audiobooks or podcasts on their iPhones when jogging or driving, and quite a few also prefer listening to their text messages read aloud. This functionality is critical to people with visual impairments, but having messages read aloud can work for anyone who wants to multitask while listening to iPhone text messages. The good news is iPhone users have several solutions to consider, such as built-in solutions like the iOS text to speech feature or the voice assistant Siri. Users can also search for more functionalities by installing third-party text to speech apps like Speechify. Here’s everything you need to know on how to listen to iPhone messages out loud.

Option 1: Activate iPhone's built-in text to speech

Your iPhone can read most of the text on the screen, but only if you access the proper settings. Here’s what you should do:

1. Open the Settings app and select the "Accessibility" option.
2. Select Spoken Content followed by Speak Selection, which will display the Speak button.
3. If the Speak Screen function is turned off, move the toggle switch to hear the entire screen.

You don’t need to create any keyboard shortcuts. A two-finger swipe from the top towards the bottom of the screen will read the iPhone screen aloud.

Option 2: Have Siri read messages automatically

Apple’s virtual assistant Siri is available on most iOS devices and even Apple Mac computers. You can ask Siri questions, use it to set reminders, write emails, and more. But did you know that you can set Siri to read incoming iMessage texts automatically? However, this option is only available if your device runs on iOS 13 to iOS 16 and if you have 2nd generation AirPods, AirPods Pro, or Powerbeats Pro headphones. Of course, iPhone users must pair the headphones via Bluetooth before taking the following steps to enable this feature:

1. From your iPhone home screen, select Settings app.
2. Tap the Notifications option.
3. Select Announce Notifications.
4. Move the toggle switch next to the Announce Notifications.
5. Turn on the Headphones toggle switch.

This setup enables Siri to read every iMessage you receive in real-time. You don’t have to ask Siri to read the message, but you will need to ask it to re-read it if you want. Also, you can automatically respond with Reply and then dictate the message. Furthermore, this feature is also available on iPad and iPod touch. On the other hand, you can’t hear Siri announcing text messages on Apple Watch, but you can still hear incoming phone calls.

Option 3: Use Speechify

While using the integrated iOS text to speech feature and Siri to listen to your messages comes in handy, it's not always the most practical solution. What if you want to queue up specific messages to listen to or include emails and documents to the list? What if you want to listen a message for iPhone at a different speed or with different voice options? You can expect this kind of versatile functionality from Speechify. Here’s how you can listen to any text using the Speechify iOS app:

1. Download and install Speechify for iOS from the App Store.
2. Sign in and tap on the + icon on the right side of the screen.
3. From the pop-up menu, select the Paste Text option.
4. Go to your messages app, notes, or email inbox and copy any amount of text.
5. Open Speechify again and paste the selected text.
6. You can name the pasted text for better organization.
7. Tap Done to complete the process.

The pasted text will appear in your Speechify library, and all you need to do is press Play to hear the text read aloud. You’ll also notice at the top of the screen that Speechify tells you exactly how many words you’ve copied into the app. Furthermore, you can use the dedicated features for pasting URLs to listen to a new article from The New York Times or book reviews. The Speechify mobile app works just as well with Android devices. So if you have a Samsung phone, for example, the above-listed steps are the same to have Speechify read text messages out loud for you.

Try Speechify on iOS today

Whether you need to listen to a message on iPhone or Android, Speechify is one of the best text to speech platforms on the market. The dedicated iOS app has excellent features, including adjustable reading speed, many natural-sounding voices, and bookmarking. You can grab the iPhone or iPad app from the App Store, create an account, and listen to your iOS messages read aloud. You can also use Speechify to listen to your WhatsApp messages and documents from iCloud. Android users can also download the Speechify app from the Google Play Store to enjoy the same text to speech features. Message iPhone and Android users, then hear their messages read to you out loud in natural-sounding voices. Try Speechify for free today and start listening to your messages on the go.

FAQ

Why can't I hear Siri read my Messages?

There are a few reasons why you might not hear Siri read your messages. Perhaps it's a hardware problem and your AirPods or Beats headphones are not working correctly. Another reason could be that your headphones need re-pairing. Finally, you may not be using headphones at all, though they are required to hear incoming text messages.

Do I need earphones to listen to text messages?

No, you don’t. You can ask Siri to read your text messages with a simple “Hey Siri, read my messages.” However, if you want to receive a real-time notification followed by a message read aloud, you’ll need to use compatible headphones.

What are the benefits of text to speech?

There are many reasons to embrace text to speech technology. Due to their assistive functionality, TTS apps help people with vision impairments, learning disabilities, and those limited motor functions. Furthermore, text to speech apps can enhance your comprehension and reading skills, improve focus, and stimulate language learning. Finally, text to speech software can boost productivity and upgrade your online business.