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Immersive Reader is available in both Microsoft Word and Microsoft Edge, but it is opened differently in each application. In Word, it is a document-reading view with controls for spacing, line focus, syllables, page color, and Read Aloud. In Edge, Microsoft is gradually using the name Reading mode for the same reading experience; some menus and pages still say Immersive Reader.
This guide covers Word for Windows and Word for the web, followed by the current steps for Edge on Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Use Immersive Reader in Microsoft Word
Word’s Immersive Reader is intended for reading and reviewing a document rather than editing it. The document remains available, but Word presents the text in a less distracting layout.
Open Immersive Reader in Word
- Open the document in Word.
- Select the View tab on the ribbon.
- Select Immersive Reader.
In Word for the web, open the document at Microsoft365.com or Word for the web and use View > Immersive Reader. The available controls can vary slightly between Word desktop, Word for the web, and your Microsoft 365 update channel.
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If you do not see the command, maximize the Word window, check the View tab for a collapsed or overflowed command, and make sure you are using an editable Word document rather than a preview supplied by another application.
Change the Word reading layout
After Immersive Reader opens, use the controls at the top of the window. The names may differ slightly by Word version, but the main options work as follows:
| Control | What it changes | Useful for |
|---|---|---|
| Column Width | Changes how wide the text column is. | Reducing long line lengths and making paragraphs easier to track. |
| Page Color | Changes the background color behind the text. | Reducing glare or improving contrast. |
| Text Spacing | Increases the spacing between characters and lines. | Readers who find tightly packed text difficult to follow. |
| Line Focus | Highlights a narrow reading area instead of showing the whole page. | Keeping your place in dense passages. |
| Syllables | Splits supported words into syllables. | Pronunciation and early reading practice. |
To use these options, select the relevant button on the Immersive Reader toolbar and choose the setting you want. For example, select Line Focus and choose one, three, or five lines. Use the up and down controls, or the keyboard arrow keys where supported, to move the focus through the document.
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Use Read Aloud in Word
- Open the document in Immersive Reader, or remain in the normal Word view.
- Select Read Aloud.
- Use the playback controls to pause, resume, or move between sections.
- Select the voice or settings button to change the reading speed and available voice options.
In the standard Word interface, you can also start it from Review > Read Aloud in many current Word versions. The exact ribbon location can vary, so use Word’s search box and type Read Aloud if the command is not visible.
Read Aloud is separate from Immersive Reader. You can use the audio feature without entering the full reading view.
Exit Immersive Reader in Word
Select the back arrow, close button, or Immersive Reader exit control shown at the top of the Word window. If Word appears to have opened a separate reading window, close that window to return to the document.
Use Immersive Reader, or Reading mode, in Microsoft Edge
Edge does not offer the reading view on every page. It normally appears for article-like pages that Edge can identify and extract. A web application, search results page, shopping page, login screen, or a page whose layout depends heavily on scripts may not qualify. A missing button does not always mean the feature is unavailable, however.
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Turn on the Reading mode button
- Select Settings and more (…) in the upper-right corner of Edge.
- Select Settings.
- Open Appearance.
- Scroll to Toolbar.
- Turn on Reading mode.
On a supported page, Edge then shows the Reading mode control in the address bar. Microsoft documentation and some Edge builds may still label the command Immersive Reader.
Open a webpage in Edge Immersive Reader
- Open an article or other text-heavy webpage.
- Select the Reading mode button in the address bar. Depending on the build, it may say Enter Immersive Reader.
- Alternatively, press F9 to enter or exit the reading view.
To leave the view, select Exit Immersive Reader or press F9 again.
Force Edge to try Reading mode
If the address-bar button is missing, copy the page address and add read: before it:
read:https://example.com/articleFor an HTTP address, include the protocol explicitly:
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read:http://example.com/articlePress Enter. Edge will try to open the page in reading view, but it may still refuse or omit content if the page cannot be converted reliably.
Open only selected text
- Select the passage you want to read.
- Right-click the selection.
- Select Open selection in Reading mode.
Older Edge or Microsoft support pages may call this Open in Immersive Reader. This method is useful when the complete page is not recognized but a particular article section is readable.
Adjust Edge’s reading appearance
In current Edge builds, select Settings on the Reading mode toolbar and open Appearance settings. You may see controls named Font, Font size, Column width, and Theme.
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Older versions and some Microsoft documentation use the labels Text preferences, Text size, Text spacing, Text column style, and Page themes. These refer to the same general formatting controls, although the layout of the toolbar may differ.
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- Reduce Column width to shorten long lines.
- Choose a different Theme or page color to reduce glare.
- Use text spacing controls, where shown, to separate crowded lines and letters.
Edge provides a range of page themes; Microsoft accessibility documentation describes 23 theme options, but the list can vary with the Edge version and language.
Use Reading preferences in Edge
Depending on the Edge interface, open Reading preferences from the Reading mode toolbar, or open the equivalent settings panel. Common tools include:
Line focus
Line focus restricts the visible reading area to one, three, or five lines. Select the number of lines, then use the up and down arrows to move through the page. This is useful when surrounding paragraphs make it easy to lose your place.
Picture dictionary
When available, select a word to see a picture-based definition. This option is language-dependent; it is not enabled for every language supported by Immersive Reader.
Translate
- Open Reading preferences.
- Select Translate.
- Choose a target language.
- Turn on Translate entire page.
Edge supports more than 70 translation language options in the current Reading mode documentation, but availability depends on the page language, target language, and Edge build.
Read a webpage aloud in Edge
Inside Immersive Reader or Reading mode, select Read aloud. A control ribbon appears with play, pause, previous-paragraph, and next-paragraph controls. Open Voice options to choose a voice and adjust reading speed.
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You can also start the feature from the normal browser view with Settings and more (…) > More tools > Read aloud. In Windows, Ctrl+Shift+U starts or stops Read Aloud. This shortcut is different from F9, which enters or exits Reading mode.
Current Edge versions may also connect Read Aloud with Copilot for interactive voice questions. That feature requires the microphone to be permitted and the device volume to be turned on.
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Some current Edge versions show additional buttons in the Reading mode toolbar:
- Summarize opens Copilot in the side pane and requests a summary of the webpage or supported document.
- Explain asks Copilot to give a simpler explanation of a complex term or idea.
- Chat with Copilot starts a conversation about the content being viewed.
These controls depend on Edge version, account, region, organization policy, and Copilot availability. They may not appear on every installation.
Word versus Edge: which should you use?
| Task | Better choice | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Read a Word document without editing distractions | Word Immersive Reader | It works directly with the document and includes document-focused reading tools. |
| Listen to an article | Edge Read Aloud | It can extract the main page text and read it in a simplified view. |
| Improve spacing and line tracking | Either | Both provide appearance and focus controls, although the names differ. |
| Translate an online article | Edge Reading mode | Its reading preferences include page translation. |
| Practice syllable recognition | Word, where supported | Word Immersive Reader includes a Syllables option; Edge language features vary. |
Troubleshooting
The Edge Immersive Reader button is not visible
First enable Settings and more > Settings > Appearance > Toolbar > Reading mode. Then try an article page, press F9, use the read: prefix, or select text and choose Open selection in Reading mode.
If none works, Edge may not be able to identify the page as an article, or important content may be lost in the simplified view. Pages with tables, interactive controls, videos, comments, paywalls, and client-side applications are common failure cases.
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Compare the original page with the reading view before relying on it. Captions, diagrams, embedded tools, navigation, advertisements, comments, and sidebars may be removed. Return to the original page when the omitted material is part of the meaning.
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Read Aloud does not play
Check the device volume, confirm that the tab is not muted, and open Voice options to select another voice. For Copilot voice interaction, check Edge’s microphone permission in Settings > Cookies and site permissions > Microphone.
A Word option is missing
Update Word, check both the View and Review tabs, and search for the command by selecting the Word search box. Word for the web, Word desktop, and managed work or school installations do not always expose identical controls.
FAQ
Is Immersive Reader the same as Reading mode in Microsoft Edge?
For Edge’s simplified reading experience, yes. Microsoft now commonly calls it Reading mode, while some support pages and menus still use Immersive Reader.
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No. Edge normally shows the control only when it can identify a supported article or extract the page content. You can still try F9, a read: URL, or Open selection in Reading mode.
What is the shortcut for Immersive Reader in Edge?
Press F9 to enter or exit Immersive Reader or Reading mode. Ctrl+Shift+U is the separate Windows shortcut for starting or stopping Read Aloud.
Does Immersive Reader change my Word document?
No. It changes how the document is displayed while you read it. The formatting controls are reading-view settings rather than permanent edits to the document.
Why do Word and Edge show different Immersive Reader options?
They are separate implementations. Word focuses on document reading and includes tools such as Syllables, while Edge focuses on webpages and may include translation, webpage extraction, and Copilot features. Language and version also affect availability.
The Bottom Line
In Word, open View > Immersive Reader to read a document with adjustable spacing, column width, line focus, page color, syllables, and Read Aloud. In Edge, enable Settings > Appearance > Toolbar > Reading mode, then use the address-bar button or press F9. If the button is missing, try read:https://... or open a selected passage in Reading mode.
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