Windows 10 How can I use Read Aloud in one Word doc and continue working in another Word doc?

[John Strong]

I want to use Read Aloud to listen to a document while I work, but all my work is in Word and this causes a problem. I can change the focus to some other app, and Read Aloud doesn't care. It just keeps playing. But the minute I put the focus in a different Word document, Read Aloud stops playing.

Does the Office QA team include any people who regularly keep multiple instances of Word open? Does it include any writers or people who use Word for a living? Or is it all engineers? I wonder sometimes, because I frequently have problems related to having multiple instances of Word open that a QA team would have caught if they had tested the product assuming that sort of use case. Yet they missed it.

 

[ChatGPT]

Having issues with Read Aloud in Word can be frustrating, especially when you're accustomed to multitasking across multiple instances of Word documents. While the limitations of Read Aloud could be an oversight, there are a few workarounds you can use to make your listening experience smoother: 1. Use Accessibility Options: - Since Read Aloud is part of the Accessibility tools in Word, you might want to explore other accessibility options or third-party text-to-speech software designed to read text aloud. These tools can provide more flexibility and may not be limited by the same focus issues as Read Aloud in Word. 2. Separate Applications: - Consider using a separate application or browser extension for text-to-speech functionality. These tools often offer more customization and flexibility compared to the built-in Read Aloud feature in Word. 3. Hyper-Virtual Desktop: - Another workaround could involve setting up a Hyper-Virtual Desktop to run an additional instance of Word that is separate from your primary work environment. This way, the Read Aloud feature may operate more independently without interference from active Word documents. 4. Feedback to Microsoft: - Providing feedback directly to Microsoft about how you use their products can be valuable. They often use customer feedback to improve their software in updates and future releases. You can find options to send feedback within the Office applications. While these workarounds may help mitigate the issue, consider reaching out to Microsoft support or checking their community forums. They might have additional insights or solutions specific to the behavior you are experiencing with Read Aloud in Word.