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How to Get Siri to Read a Webpage: The Definitive Guide

Want to kick back and listen to that lengthy article instead of straining your eyes? You absolutely can! Getting Siri to read a webpage is surprisingly simple and opens up a world of hands-free information consumption. Here’s the lowdown: the primary method is to use Safari’s Reader View combined with Siri’s Speak Screen feature. Enable Speak Screen in your accessibility settings, open the webpage in Safari, switch to Reader View, and then swipe down with two fingers from the top of the screen. Siri will then start reading the page aloud.

Unlocking Siri’s Reading Power: A Step-by-Step Guide

Let’s dive into the process in detail, ensuring you can seamlessly transform any webpage into an audiobook at your command.

Step 1: Enabling Speak Screen

The foundation of this trick lies within your iPhone’s or iPad’s accessibility settings. This is where you unlock Siri’s ability to vocalize on-screen content.

Navigate to Settings: Open the Settings app on your device.
Access Accessibility: Scroll down and tap on Accessibility.
Find Spoken Content: Look for and select Spoken Content.
Toggle Speak Screen On: Flip the switch next to Speak Screen to the “on” position (it should turn green).

While you’re in the Spoken Content settings, take a moment to explore the customization options. You can adjust the speaking rate to your preference – slower for detailed comprehension or faster for skimming information. You can also choose a different voice to personalize the listening experience.

Step 2: Utilizing Safari’s Reader View

Not all webpages are created equal. Many are cluttered with ads, sidebars, and other distracting elements. Reader View strips away the noise, presenting you with a clean, text-focused version of the article, making it ideal for Siri’s reading.

Open the Webpage in Safari: Launch the Safari browser and navigate to the webpage you want Siri to read.
Activate Reader View: Look for the Reader View icon in the left side of the address bar (it resembles a few horizontal lines). If it’s present, tap it to activate Reader View. Some websites might not offer Reader View, particularly if they’re not primarily text-based. In such cases, Siri will still read the webpage, but it will include all the surrounding elements.

If you don’t see the Reader View icon, it might be automatically enabled for all websites. To check this:

In Safari, tap the “aA” icon in the address bar.
Select Website Settings.
Make sure Use Reader Automatically is toggled on.

Step 3: Triggering Siri to Read Aloud

With Speak Screen enabled and the webpage in Reader View (or the regular view if Reader View isn’t available), you’re ready to unleash Siri’s vocal prowess.

Swipe Down with Two Fingers: Place two fingers at the top of your screen and swipe downwards. This gesture is the key to activating Speak Screen.
Siri Takes Over: Siri will begin reading the content aloud. A small control panel will appear at the bottom of the screen, allowing you to pause, play, adjust the speed, and skip forward or backward.

Bonus Tip: Selecting Specific Text

Don’t want Siri to read the entire page? No problem! You can select specific portions of text.

Highlight the Text: Tap and hold on the first word you want Siri to read. Drag the selection handles to highlight the desired text.
Tap “Speak”: A context menu will appear. Tap the “Speak” option. Siri will then read only the highlighted text.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are answers to some common questions to help you fully master the art of having Siri read webpages.

1. Why isn’t Speak Screen working?

First, double-check that Speak Screen is enabled in Settings > Accessibility > Spoken Content. Ensure that the two-finger swipe down gesture is being performed correctly, starting from the very top edge of the screen. Also, make sure your volume is turned up and your device isn’t muted.

2. Can I use Siri to read webpages in other browsers besides Safari?

While the Speak Screen feature works system-wide, accessing Reader View is specific to Safari. Other browsers may have built-in reading functionalities or extensions that offer similar text-to-speech capabilities. Chrome, for example, has accessibility extensions.

3. How do I change the voice Siri uses for Speak Screen?

You can change the voice in Settings > Accessibility > Spoken Content > Voices. You’ll find a list of languages. Select your language (e.g., English (United States)) and then choose from the available voices. Some voices require downloading.

4. Can I adjust the speaking rate?

Absolutely! Go to Settings > Accessibility > Spoken Content. There’s a slider labeled Speaking Rate that you can adjust to your preferred speed.

5. Siri is reading the wrong parts of the webpage. How do I fix this?

This usually happens when Reader View isn’t enabled. Activate Reader View in Safari to strip away unnecessary elements. If Reader View isn’t available, try selecting the specific text you want Siri to read, as described earlier.

6. Is there a way to control Siri reading with voice commands?

Unfortunately, direct voice commands for controlling Speak Screen are limited. You can use “Hey Siri, pause” or “Hey Siri, stop” to halt the reading. However, you’ll primarily rely on the on-screen control panel for functions like skipping forward or backward.

7. Speak Screen suddenly stopped working after an iOS update. What should I do?

After an iOS update, sometimes settings can revert or become corrupted. Try toggling Speak Screen off and then back on in the Accessibility settings. If that doesn’t work, restarting your device might resolve the issue.

8. Can Siri read PDFs or other document types?

Yes, but the process is slightly different. Open the PDF or document in an app that supports accessibility features (like iBooks or Adobe Acrobat Reader). Then, use the two-finger swipe down gesture to activate Speak Screen.

9. Is there a way to make Siri highlight the words as she reads?

Yes! In Settings > Accessibility > Spoken Content, enable Highlight Content. You can customize the color and style of the highlighting. This feature greatly enhances comprehension, especially for learning or focusing on complex information.

10. Can I use Speak Screen with headphones?

Absolutely! Speak Screen works seamlessly with both wired and wireless headphones. The audio will be routed through your connected headphones.

11. How do I stop Siri from reading when I’m done?

You can tap the “X” button on the Speak Screen control panel, swipe the control panel away, or simply swipe up from the bottom of the screen to close Safari.

12. My device isn’t showing the Reader View icon. What should I do?

Ensure that Reader View is enabled in Safari’s settings. As mentioned earlier, tap the “aA” icon in the address bar, select Website Settings, and make sure Use Reader Automatically is toggled on. Some websites might not be compatible with Reader View, in which case the icon will not appear.

By mastering these techniques and troubleshooting tips, you’ll transform your iPhone or iPad into a powerful reading assistant, allowing you to consume information in a new, convenient, and hands-free way. Happy listening!