Can my device read text aloud while I follow along on screen?

Often, yes. Look for two separate capabilities: text-to-speech, which reads content aloud, and visual tracking, such as highlighting the current word or passage. Their availability can depend on the device, app, content, and software version. For example, Apple documents Speak Selection for selected text and Speak Screen for onscreen text on iPhone, and describes highlighting options for spoken in-app text. [S1]

A useful first test is a short paragraph in the app where you normally read. Start speech, then check whether a word or passage is highlighted in step with the voice. If speech works but nothing is highlighted, the app may not provide that visual feature, or its settings may differ.

Open Settings > Accessibility > Read & Speak and look for Speak Selection and Speak Screen. For selected text, select a short passage and tap Speak. To try the screen-reading gesture described by Apple, swipe down with two fingers from the top of the screen. Apple also describes customizing highlighting for spoken in-app text. Exact behavior can depend on the app’s content and iOS version. [S1]

Try one paragraph, then pause and notice whether the highlight follows the spoken words. If you do not see a highlight, check the available Read & Speak options and try a different text passage in the same app. This test can tell you what happens in that setting; it does not establish that every app or page supports synchronized highlighting.

Treat it as a separate app feature rather than assuming the iPhone settings control Word. Microsoft documents Read Aloud in Word, including word highlighting during reading and controls for voice and reading speed. Word’s Immersive Reader also has other reading-display options. The documented details apply to Word; they do not establish that the same controls are available in every app, on every platform, or in every product version. [S2]

A practical test is to open the document in Word, find Read Aloud, and start it on a short section. Check whether the highlighted word moves with the voice. If you need a different voice or pace, look for Word’s available voice and speed controls. If a menu or option is absent, avoid assuming you have missed a universal setting: availability and steps may vary by platform or version. [S2]

Use this small test and keep the result specific to that app:

1. Open a short, ordinary passage that you can see on screen.
2. Look in the app’s menus or your device’s accessibility settings for read-aloud or spoken-content options.
3. Start reading and watch for a highlight that tracks a word or passage.
4. Pause, resume, or change the reading position if those controls are available, and see whether the visual marker remains useful.
5. Note the app, device, and version, along with what happened.

For example, your note might say: “In [app] on [device/version], selected-text speech worked; I did/did not see word highlighting.” That observation helps you choose a next step without treating one successful test as proof that the feature works everywhere. The options described here cover iPhone and Word; they do not establish support or exact steps for other devices and apps. If tracking is unavailable, check that app’s help or try its supported accessibility options.