Our websites:

Our social media sites - YouTube, Twitter and Facebook

YouTube X Facebook Instagram
2064

The brilliant Safari Reader in iOS 18 for iPad

Posted by Craig Mill on the 16th October, 2024

Category Dyslexia Text-to-Speech

The Reader tool in Safari browser is a great tool to simplify and declutter web pages making them easier to read. But with the release of iPad OS 18, Safari Reader has new and improved features to make reading web pages more accessible and inclusive than ever before. 

The first change to notice is that the Reader icon has changed and looks different from before, although it is still located on the top left of the URL bar. 

Safari Reader

To show the Reader drop down window tap or click on the Reader icon and it appears, similar to the illustration below. For this example I'm using a World War 2 example from the Primary Homework for Kids website

You will still find previous tools such as 'Font Sizes and Font Styles', 'Listen to Page', 'Background colours' but everything is now located in an easy-to-use panel. 

The tools in Safari Reader

What are the tools in Safari Reader?

Below is a list of all the tools available to improve readability using Safari Reader. 

Word and phrase search 

Tap or click the Search button/icon and search for words or phrases. Choose 'Done' to exit the search. 

Word and phrase search

Hide Distracting items 

You can choose which items or images on a web page to remove by tapping or clicking and selecting 'Hide'. 

HIde distracting items

To show hidden items simply tap or click 'Show Hidden Items'. 

Show Hidden Items

Listen to Page 

With Listen to Page you can hear web pages spoken aloud. You can pause, fast forward or move the voice backwards.

There's also an option to increase or decrease the rate of the speech - great for learners who need to adjust the speed of the voice!

Listen to Page

Show Reader 

In Show Reader there are options to change the background colour, font size and font styles with 9 font styles to choose from. 

Show Reader

To close the Reader panel, tap or click the blue 'Hide Reader' button.


For more on using the iPad to support learners with additional support needs (ASN) see our online learning modules and YouTube video playlist, iPad Short Guides to Support Reading and Writing.

Technology to Support Communication

5-week short study online course

Newsletter: join thousands of other people

Once a month we'll send you an email with news, research and thoughts, as well as training courses and free webinars you may wish to attend.