How to Read PDF Aloud? (4 Proven Ways)

Are you tired of keeping your eye on screens all day for your tasks but still having PDFs needed to read? In this digital era, we spend almost all day in front of screens, which causes vision fatigue. As a solution, one can use software to read their PDFs aloud. In this article, we will discuss 4 proven ways to read PDF aloud using tools and easily get productive. If you want a powerful and accurate PDF voice reader with advanced features like OCR and full-text read aloud, click the button below to try UPDF today and turn your PDFs into an effortless listening experience.

Part 1. How to Get a PDF to Read Aloud With UPDF?

UPDF is a life-saving tool because it can read PDF aloud and assist you in pronunciation of difficult words on desktop and mobile. Full-text read aloud is also supported for easier listening on iOS. You can also use UPDF to read the PDF files by playing in a slideshow and highlighting important text with underline, strikethrough, and highlighter options.

Moreover, UPDF can convert scanned documents into editable PDF with its OCR technology to read it aloud.

This tool can also convert MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, CAJ, Visio, and image format files into PDF which allow you to read most your document aloud with it. If you need cross-platform, in-depth PDF processing, UPDF is the top choice.

Now let's head to the following steps to learn how to read aloud PDF on desktop and mobile:

Read PDF Aloud on Desktop (Mac/Win)

Step 1: Launch UPDF on PC and Access File

First, click the "Free Download" button to install UPDF on your computer, launch it on your Mac or Win and hit the "Open File" option to import the required PDF file you want to read aloud.

Step 2: Select the Text in Read Mode to Read Aloud

Next, select the specific content you wish to have read aloud. Perform a right-click on the chosen text, and from the ensuing dropdown menu, opt for "Start Speaking."

Read PDF Aloud on iOS

Step 1: Launch UPDF on iOS and Access File

First, go to App store to install UPDF on your iPhone or iPad, launch it and hit the "+" option to import the required PDF file you want to read aloud.

Step 2: Select the Text to Read Aloud

Next, select the specific content you wish to have read aloud. Select Listen Here from the floating toolbar, and UPDF will start reading aloud.

In the pop-up toolbar, you can click X to stop reading, click |< to start reading from the beginning of the previous page, click || to pause the reading and ▶ to resume, and click >| to start reading from the beginning of the next page. By clicking the ≡ icon, users can enable the Read Aloud Tracking feature, adjust the reading speed, and choose a preferred voice from a wide range of languages, including various regional accents (such as Arabic, Bulgarian, Chinese, English, French, German, and more).

During reading, the corresponding text will be highlighted, making it easier for you to locate the current content being read aloud.

Read Scanned PDF Aloud on Desktop and iOS

UPDF's OCR feature can help you convert scanned documents into searchable and selectable text. UPDF OCR supports recognition of over 38 languages in scanned documents, covering most of your document needs. However, to activate this feature, you will need to upgrade to UPDF‘s Pro plan. You can consider purchasing UPDF’s exclusive plan and get an official 10% discount with the coupon code “ENARTICLE” upon purchasing.

Step 1: Launch UPDF on PC or iOS and Access File

Based on the steps mentioned above, launch UPDF on your computer or iOS device and open your scanned document.

Step 2: Perform OCR on PC or iOS

For computer users, click OCR in Tools.

For iOS users, select OCR from the bottom toolbar. 

Step 3. Customize OCR settings (Mode, Language, Page Range)

As it opens up, it will provide you with 3 different options of Document Type, which include Editable PDF, Text and Picture Only, and Searchable PDF Only.

Define a proper Document Language with the option of 38 different languages across the extended menu and choose the page range. Once done, press the Convert/Continue button to execute OCR across.

Step 4. Open the OCRed File and Select Text to Read Aloud

Once the OCR is completed, open the newly-generated OCRed PDF and use the methods mentioned above to read PDF aloud.

Why Recommend Using UPDF?

There are several reasons for using UPDF to read PDF aloud. Read further and learn the motives that make UPDF recommended and widely usable:

Having these many features, UPDF is surely the best tool to use to read PDFs aloud. You can also read PDF aloud on your desktop and iOS devices by using UPDF. For that, download this tool on your devices right away via the button below and purchase the best plan that suits your requirements.

Video about UPDF

Part 2. How to Have PDF Read Aloud with Adobe Acrobat

Adobe Acrobat sets itself in the market as a platform for editing, creating, signing, and converting PDFs to other formats. In this software, you can read aloud the current page or the entire document. Now, let's head to the instructions to use Adobe read PDF aloud feature comprehensively:

Steps: On your system, access Adobe and import the PDF document you wish to read aloud. Select the "View" button from the left top. From the dropdown menu, hover over "View" and then select "Read Out Loud." To enable the Read Aloud feature, click on "Activate Read Out Aloud." You can also customize your preferred reading options by revisiting the same menu. Now, it will start reading your PDF aloud.

Part 3. How to Read Aloud PDF With Chrome Extension?

If you are keen on trying the reading aloud PDF function through online options, Read Aloud: A Text to Speech Voice Reader can be a good option to go with. It supports over 40 languages.

You can find different options, such as changing the voice, setting the reading speed, and managing the pitch of the audio. You can also highlight the text while using the read aloud from PDF feature. Look through the steps to use this extension properly:

Step 1: Access the Chrome Web Store from a browser and look for the "Read Aloud: A Text to Speech Voice Reader" extension. As you access it, click the "Add to Chrome" button and select "Add Extension" across the pop-up that appears.

Step 2: Once added, you need to open PDF with your chrome. Now, click to enable the extension in the extension list, you can see a pop up window to let you upload the PDF file and upload the file you want to read aloud by clicking "Choose File". Now, click to open the Read Aloud Extension again, it will automatically recognize the contents,  click the "Play" button to read them out.

Also Read: Your Comprehensive Manual on How to Read a PDF File

Part 4. How to Read PDF Aloud Online Free

TTSReader, an online software, works as a text player and proves highly beneficial for children with dyslexia and learning disabilities. Simply type, paste, and upload a file or eBook and get professional-sounding MP3 audio files. Users can turn their audio into podcasts and upload it to any popular podcast player app to listen conveniently. We will now look into the detailed steps on how to use it:

Step 1. At first, access the TTSReader site on your browser and open it. Then, hit the "Start Text Player & Synthesizer" button to explore this tool.

Step 2. Open PDF in one PDF reader like UPDF, then, copy the test from PDF, and paste the content you wish to read aloud to the online platform. Once you add it, click the "Play" button to read the text aloud.

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Let’s summarize the differences among the four tools mentioned above.

Tools	Platform Support (Text-to-speech)	Ease of operation	Voice customization	Multilingual support	Read scanned documents aloud
UPDF	Mac, Win, iOS	Select specific text content to read aloud.			(OCR required first)
Adobe Acrobat	Windows, Mac, Android, iOS	Click to read aloud.			(OCR required first)
Read Aloud	Chrome Extension	PDF file needs to be uploaded before it can be read aloud.
TTSReader	Online, iOS, Android	Text needs to be copied and pasted before it can be read aloud.

FAQs About Reading PDF Aloud

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Final Words

Understanding about how to read PDF aloud is important as it is not always comfortable to read PDF with your eyes. We introduced different ways here. But UPDF is a highly recommended tool because of its read-aloud feature on PC and mobile, with many powerful features like editing, annotating, OCR, compressing, etc.. In addition, its pricing plans is much cheaper than Adobe Acrobat.

To use all the high-end features of this tool, download it right away from your system and start reading PDFs while also managing them altogether.