The Microsoft Immersive Reader is a free tool built into Word, OneNote, Outlook, Office Lens, Microsoft Teams, Forms, Flipgrid, Minecraft Education Edition, and the Edge browser. It offers an alternative way to engage with content, having been designed as a tool to enhance and focus reading and writing skills. Note that it does not replicate and cannot replace the full features and functionality of a screen reader.
Immersive Reader has a Read Aloud function, a picture viewer for individual words, and user controls for such items as:
- Column width
- Page color
- Line focus
- Text Spacing
- Syllables
Immersive Reader supports multiple languages and also offers a translation feature, which can be used to translate individual words, or the entire document (it also works with the Read Aloud function).
Learn more:
How do I access Immersive Reader?
You access the Immersive Reader via different routes depending on the software you’re using. See below for instructions for where to find the Immersive Reader in common Middlebury platforms. These instructions are for the most current version of the different software listed. If you are not finding the Immersive Reader when following these instructions, we recommend you first make sure you are updated to the current version of the software.
Note: If you are offline (not connected to the internet), you may not be able to access Immersive Reader. Microsoft has an Offline Extension you can download to allow access in that case.
The Immersive Reader icon looks like this
On a Mac: Navigate to your “View” menu and select “Immersive Reader”
In Windows, for Office 365 subscribers (which we have at Middlebury): If you do not see an option for “Immersive Reader” in your view menu, look for “Learning Tools”
Learn more about Word and Immersive Reader
From a message: Select More Options (the three dots), and then Immersive Reader.
From an assignment: If you’re a student, open an assignment and select Immersive Reader. If you’re an instructor, open an assignment and select Student view, then Immersive Reader.
Learn more about Teams and Immersive Reader
On the Web
Select More Options (the three dots), and then “Show in immersive reader”
From the Desktop App
First, enable Read Aloud:
- Open your Outlook desktop application.
- Select File > Options > Ease of Access.
- Select the checkbox next to Show Read Aloud
Then launch Read Aloud:
- From an email you’re reading, select Read Aloud in the Message tab
- From a reply message window, select the Review tab, then Read Aloud
Learn more about Outlook and Immersive Reader
Click the Immersive Reader button next to the form name at the top of the form. Note: If you are the form creator, you will need to select “Preview” to see this option. It is not available from edit view.
Learn more about Forms and Immersive Reader
- Open Microsoft Edge
- Navigate to a website
- Select the Immersive Reader icon on the right side of the address bar. Alternately, use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+R.
Note: Not all websites and webpages support Immersive Reader. If you do not see the icon, it is not supported on that page.
Learn more about Edge and Immersive Reader
Immersive Reader is available as a trial feature in Canvas right now. If you are interested in exploring Immersive Reader in Canvas, please contact DLINQ at dlinq@middlebury.edu.
Note that Immersive Reader in Canvas only currently works with Canvas “Pages” (it is not available for assignments, quizzes, discussion boards, announcements, external tools, or any other areas of Canvas), so it’s use in Canvas is extremely limited at this time.
How do I use the Microsoft Immersive Reader when viewing a page as an instructor?
