ReadAloud

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Install ReadAloud

TL;DR: Drag ReadAloud to Applications, click "Open Anyway" once, then turn on Accessibility. About 5 minutes.

Not sure which macOS you have? Apple menu (top left) → About This Mac.

  1. Open the download

    Double-click ReadAloud-beta.dmg in your Downloads folder. It's small: about 1 MB.

  2. Drag ReadAloud into Applications

    A window opens. Drag the ReadAloud icon onto the Applications folder.

    Don't open it from the download window. If you do, your Mac runs a temporary copy, and the permission in step 6 won't stick.

    Then close the window, and click the eject button (⏏) next to "ReadAloud Beta" in the Finder sidebar.

  3. Open ReadAloud from Applications

    Open your Applications folder. Double-click ReadAloud.

  4. Apple shows a warning. Click Done.

    A message says "ReadAloud" Not Opened. This is expected. Click Done.

    Never click "Move to Bin" (or "Move to Trash"). That deletes the app.

    On a US-English Mac, the second button says "Move to Trash".

    On macOS 14 (Sonoma)? Do this instead of steps 4 and 5.
    1. In Applications, hold Control and click ReadAloud. Or right-click it.
    2. Click Open in the menu.
    3. A message appears. Click Open again.

    Then go to step 6.

    Why does Apple show this?

    • The reason: Apple shows this for apps whose maker hasn't paid Apple's $99 a year developer fee yet. It doesn't mean the app is harmful.
    • Our plan: we're small: one person makes ReadAloud. We'll pay Apple's fee as soon as the beta covers it, and then this warning goes away.

    Why ReadAloud is safe

    • No internet: ReadAloud contains no internet code. It never connects to the internet. No update checks, no tracking.
    • No account: no sign-in, and no email needed.
    • Your Mac does the speaking: it uses the voices built into macOS. Nothing you read leaves your Mac.
    • Reads only when you ask: it reads only the text you select, when you click the bubble or press the shortcut.
    • Proof you can try: turn off Wi-Fi. It still works.

  5. Click "Open Anyway"

    Apple menu → System Settings → Privacy & Security. Scroll down to "ReadAloud was blocked". Click Open Anyway.

    Confirm: a new message asks if you're sure. Click Open Anyway again. Then type your Mac password, or use Touch ID.

    No "Open Anyway" button? Do step 3 again, then come back. The button only shows for about an hour after you try to open the app.

    Done: ReadAloud opens. You only do this once.

  6. Turn on Accessibility

    System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility. Switch ReadAloud on.

    Why: so it can see the text you select and where each word is on screen, to highlight it.

    Often a message asks for this right away. Click Open System Settings in it. Type your password if asked.

  7. Optional: get a better voice

    System Settings → Accessibility → Read & Speak. Next to System voice, click (i), then English. Download Ava (Premium).

    On macOS 14, "Read & Speak" is called "Spoken Content". The voice is free, works offline, and takes a few minutes to download.

    Then click the menu bar speaker → Voice → pick Ava.

  8. Try it

    Select some text. Click the bubble. Listen.

    • Menu bar: ReadAloud lives there, as a small speaker icon at the top right.
    • Keyboard: select text, then press Option + Shift + R. Press it again to pause.
    • Speed: click the speed pill. 0.5x, 1x, 2x or 4x.

When a new beta comes out

You get an email with a new download. The beta can't update itself yet.

  1. Quit: menu bar speaker → Quit ReadAloud.
  2. Install again: do steps 1 to 5. Click Replace when asked.
  3. Fix the permission: in Accessibility, select ReadAloud, click minus (−), then switch it on again when asked.

Why: macOS sees each beta version as a new app. The old switch can look "on" but not work.

Something not working?

  • Check 1: is ReadAloud in Applications, and did you open it from there?
  • Check 2: is the ReadAloud switch on in Privacy & Security → Accessibility?
  • Still stuck? Email me. A voice memo or a screenshot helps a lot.

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