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Read&Write - Text to Speech for Microsoft Edge

Posted by Craig Mill on the 9th January, 2017

Microsoft Edge, the default browser for Windows 10, has recently started to incorporate browser extensions, similar to Google Chrome. A browser extension is a plug-in or add-in that provides additional functionality to a browser. Some extensions can help to modify or simplify the layout and colour of a web page. Other extensions offer text-to-speech so web pages can be read aloud. 

Texthelp has recently launched a new extension Read&Write extension for Microsoft Edge (the extension for Google Chrome has been around for several years) which is currently available for free. 

What does the Read&Write extension do?

The extension has a range of useful features, including:

Read&Write can also be used for word processing via Microsoft Word (Online) and OneNote (Office 365 - available via Glow).

How do I add an extension to Microsoft Edge?

Extensions can be added from the ‘More’ option situated at the top right-hand side of the browser (3 dots).

Follow the steps below to add the Read&Write extension:

1. Select 'More' and on the drop down menu choose 'Extensions'.

​​Extensions in Microsoft Edge

2. When the Extensions panel appears, choose 'Get extensions from the Store'. This panel also stores previously installed extensions. 

Extensions from Microsoft Store

3. The Windows Store (or App Store) contains a range of apps and extensions for Edge browser. You can search by category (Apps, Games, Music etc) or do a manual search for 'Read&Write'. When the Read&Write icon appears select it and the extension will automatically install to the browser. 

 Microsoft Store

4. After Read&Write installs, the purple RW icon appears in the URL bar on the far right side of the browser. Select the icon and the Read&Write toolbar appears. To close the toolbar, click the icon and the toolbar will disappear.  

Read&Write icon

ReadWrite icon located on browser

5. Text-to-speech can be accessed by selecting a portion of text and clicking the 'Play' button or by selecting the Hover Speech button. With Hover Text, content is spoken aloud when the mouse icon is positioned over a line of text.

It is not possible to use the Scottish voices as a default voice. 

Text-to-speech and highlighting

6. Picture dictionary - select a word and choose the 'Picture dictionary' icon. 

Picture dictionary

7. Simplify Page - choose the Simply Page icon (far right side of toolbar) to simply cluttered web pages. There are also options for changing the colour contrast. 

Simplify Web page

To temporarily turn off or uninstall Read&Write go to Step 3 and choose the 'Cog' icon' - there are two options, e.g. turn off and/or uninstall the extension. 

Google Chrome Extension

If you use Google Chrome you can download the Read&Write extension. It is free for teachers. 

Online course - £30

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