READ ALOUD keeps stopping mid sentence

Hello big bob, thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A forum.

If Read Aloud in Microsoft Word keeps stopping mid-sentence, here is a solution that has worked for many users:

1. Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Word\Options
3. In the right pane, find the entry named ReadAloudSignInErrorCount.
4. Delete this entry or right-click to rename it to: ReadAloudSignInErrorCount-1
5. Close the editor, restart Word and test if the Read Aloud works properly

This registry reset forces Word to reinitialize the Read Aloud feature.

I hope this helps fix the issue!

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Here is a fix that has worked for me:

1. Assign the shortcut key F3 to Read Aloud.
   Word > Options > Customize Ribbon > Keyboard Shortcuts Customize > Categories > Review tab > Commands > ReadAloud > Press new shortctut key > F3 > Assign > Close.
2. Create this macro and assign a shortcut key F2 to it.
   Use the Developer tab in Word (ask AI if you have never done this).

      Sub ResumeReadAloud()
      
      
      ' Move Cursor To Start Of Next Line
      
          Selection.EndKey Unit:=wdLine
          Selection.MoveRight Unit:=wdCharacter, Count:=1
          
      ' Invoke Read Aloud via shortcut key - there is no VBA command for Read Aloud!
          SendKeys "{F3}"
      
      ' Wait 500 milliseconds
          Sleep 500
          
      ' Again invoke Read Aloud
          SendKeys "{F3}"
          
      End Sub
   

3. Add this code to the top of the VBA module window:

      Private Declare PtrSafe Sub Sleep Lib "kernel32" (ByVal dwMilliseconds As Long)
   

Press F2 whenever Read Aloud stops.

Hope it works for you as well.

Regards,
Jawad

PS: Remember to install the new Natural Voices from Microsoft (in Windows Settings, search for Narrator Voice). So much better than the old mechanical text-to-speech voices.

I’m experiencing an issue with the Read Aloud feature in Microsoft Word. It often stops after just a few words instead of continuing as expected. Occasionally, it works correctly, but most of the time it does not. My IT team has also encountered roadblocks while trying to resolve this.

Any help would be appreciated. I used to use this all the time.

Hello big bob, I totally get how frustrating it is when Read Aloud keeps stopping mid-sentence, especially if you're using it regularly for smooth and uninterrupted reading.

One thing that’s worked for some users is adjusting the voice settings. Sometimes Word reverts to older voices, which can cause the reading to halt unexpectedly. You can try going into your system’s Settings, then Time & Language, and from there, open the Speech section. Try changing the default voice, adjusting the speed, or switching the language settings to see if that helps.

Also, if you're open to exploring alternatives, you might want to check out some open-source text-to-speech languages. They can offer more flexibility and might work better depending on your setup.

Hope this helps

Kind Regards,

John Oli