How to Change Speech Rate on VoiceOver

Is your screen reader speaking too slowly or too quickly for your comfort? Don’t worry! Today, I’ll guide you through the simple steps to adjust the speech rate on VoiceOver. This tutorial will cover two methods to help you customize the speed to your liking.

Two Methods to Adjust Speech Rate

There are two primary ways to change the speech rate on VoiceOver:

1. Using the rotor settings.
2. Adjusting it directly through the device’s settings menu.

Method 1: Using Rotor Settings

The rotor is a VoiceOver gesture-based control that allows you to access and adjust various settings quickly. Here’s how you can use it to adjust the speech rate:

1. Place your device on a flat surface like a table for stability.
2. Perform the rotor gesture: use two fingers to rotate as if you were turning an invisible dial. Move your left hand to the left and your right hand to the right.
3. Keep rotating until you hear “Speech Rate.”
4. Once you’ve selected “Speech Rate,” use one finger to swipe up or down on the screen:
   • Swipe up: Increase the speech rate (faster).
   • Swipe down: Decrease the speech rate (slower).

Method 2: Adjusting from the Settings Menu

If you prefer a more direct method or find the rotor challenging to use, you can adjust the speech rate via the device’s settings. Follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app on your device.
2. Navigate to Accessibility and then select VoiceOver.
3. Scroll down until you find the Speech Rate slider.
4. Use one finger to swipe up or down on the slider:
   • Swipe up: Increase the speech rate (faster).
   • Swipe down: Decrease the speech rate (slower).

Additional Tips

If you’re unsure about using gestures or navigating settings, remember:

• The rotor gesture requires practice, so don’t be discouraged if it doesn’t work perfectly on your first try.
• Use a quiet environment to focus on the audio feedback provided by VoiceOver.
• Experiment with different speech rates to find the one that suits you best. A slower rate is often easier for beginners, while advanced users may prefer a faster rate.

Conclusion

That’s it! Now you know how to adjust the speech rate on VoiceOver using both the rotor and the settings menu. I hope this tutorial makes your screen reader experience more comfortable and efficient. If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out. Happy listening!