How to Get a Speak Button for Selected Text on an iPhone

Open your iPhone’s Settings. It’s the app on your home screen that looks like a gray gear. Look in the Utilities menu if you don’t see it.

Tap General. It’s in the third section.

Tap Accessibility. It’s in the third section.

Tap Speech. It’s at the bottom of the first section, under “Vision.”

Slide the “Speak Selection” switch to the on position. This screen is also where you can change the rate at which text is read aloud. Move the slider under “Speaking Rate” to the left to decrease speed, or right to increase.

Highlight text you want to hear aloud. A bar containing several options (including a Speak button) will appear. To highlight text: Tap and hold a word in the text. Blue cursors will appear on either side of the word. Drag the left cursor to the beginning of the text you want to hear aloud. Drag the right cursor to the end of the text.

Tap Speak. It’s next to “Copy” in the bar above the selected text. Your iPhone will now read your selection aloud. Tap Pause at any time to pause the audio. Move the blue cursors to include more (or fewer) words in your selection.