New Outlook Immersive Reader: How It Works for Classic Outlook Users

If you use Classic Outlook and have tried the New Outlook, you might notice a feature called Immersive Reader. This feature is designed to reduce visual clutter and help you focus on email content. It can read messages aloud, adjust text spacing, and change background colors. This article explains what Immersive Reader does in New Outlook and how you can use similar tools in Classic Outlook.

What Is the Immersive Reader in New Outlook

The Immersive Reader is a learning and accessibility tool built into New Outlook. It strips away toolbars, navigation panes, and formatting to show only the email body. You can then use several reading aids:

• Text-to-speech: Read the message aloud with adjustable speed.
• Line focus: Highlight one, three, or five lines at a time.
• Picture dictionary: Click a word to see an image definition.
• Translate: Convert text to another language in place.
• Preferences: Change font size, text spacing, and background color (sepia, dark, or white).

Immersive Reader is available when you open an email in New Outlook. Click the Immersive Reader icon in the toolbar or press Ctrl+Shift+I. The email opens in a separate window with the reading tools on the top bar.

Classic Outlook does not have a built-in Immersive Reader. However, you can achieve similar results using Read Aloud, Reading View, and Windows accessibility settings. The next sections show how.

How to Use Read Aloud in Classic Outlook

Read Aloud is the closest feature to Immersive Reader’s text-to-speech. It reads the email body from your cursor position. You can pause, skip forward, or skip backward.

1. Open an email in the reading pane or a separate window
   Double-click the email to open it in its own window, or select it in the reading pane.
2. Go to Review > Read Aloud
   In the ribbon, click the Review tab. Click Read Aloud in the Speech group. The control bar appears at the top right.
3. Adjust playback speed
   Click the gear icon on the Read Aloud bar. Drag the Speed slider. Default is 1.0. Slower speeds help with comprehension.
4. Change the voice
   In the Read Aloud settings, select a different voice from the Voice Selection dropdown. Options depend on your installed Windows voices.
5. Pause or stop reading
   Click the Pause button or the Close (X) button on the Read Aloud bar.

Read Aloud works with most email formats. It does not read embedded images or tables. It reads the text in the order it appears in the HTML body.

How to Use Reading View in Classic Outlook

Reading View removes formatting like bold, italic, and colored fonts. It shows the email in a simple, single-column layout. This reduces visual noise.

1. Open an email
   Double-click the email to open it in its own window.
2. Go to View > Reading View
   In the ribbon, click the View tab. Click Reading View in the Format group. The email changes to a plain layout.
3. Exit Reading View
   Click Reading View again to return to the original format.

Reading View does not include text-to-speech or picture dictionary. It only changes the visual appearance of the email. Use it in combination with Read Aloud for an experience closer to Immersive Reader.

How to Use Windows Accessibility Tools in Classic Outlook

Windows includes several tools that work with Classic Outlook to provide Immersive Reader-like features.

Narrator

Narrator is a built-in screen reader in Windows 10 and Windows 11. It reads everything on the screen, including email text. Press Windows key + Ctrl + Enter to start Narrator. Navigate through the email with Tab and arrow keys. Narrator reads the selected text.

Magnifier

Magnifier enlarges the email text. Press Windows key + Plus to open Magnifier. Adjust zoom level with Windows key + Plus or Minus. Use the Magnifier settings to invert colors or follow the mouse cursor.

Focus Assist

Focus Assist blocks notifications so you can read without interruptions. Press Windows key + A to open Action Center. Click Focus Assist and select Priority only or Alarms only. Set automatic rules in Settings > System > Focus Assist.

Common Issues and Limitations

Read Aloud stops before the end of the email

Read Aloud may stop if the email contains embedded objects like charts or SmartArt. Select the text manually, copy it to a new email message, and run Read Aloud on the copied text. This bypasses the objects.

Reading View does not change the background color

Immersive Reader lets you switch to sepia or dark mode. Classic Outlook does not have this option in Reading View. Use Windows High Contrast mode as a workaround: go to Settings > Ease of Access > High Contrast and turn on a theme. This changes the background of all windows, including Outlook.

Picture dictionary is not available in Classic Outlook

Classic Outlook has no built-in picture dictionary. Use the Windows Dictionary app or a browser extension like Google Dictionary. Highlight a word, copy it, and paste it into the dictionary app.

Classic Outlook vs New Outlook Immersive Reader

Feature	New Outlook Immersive Reader	Classic Outlook Workaround
Text-to-speech	Built-in with speed control	Read Aloud (Review > Read Aloud)
Line focus	Highlight 1, 3, or 5 lines	Not available; use Narrator line-by-line
Picture dictionary	Click a word for image definition	Not available; use Windows Dictionary
Background color	White, sepia, or dark	Windows High Contrast theme
Font size and spacing	Adjustable in the reader	Zoom (View > Zoom) or Magnifier
Translate	Inline translation	Review > Translate or right-click > Translate
Distraction-free view	Full-screen with no toolbars	Reading View + F11 to maximize

You can now use Read Aloud, Reading View, and Windows tools to replicate the New Outlook Immersive Reader experience in Classic Outlook. Try combining Read Aloud with Reading View for a cleaner reading session. For advanced accessibility, set up Narrator to read emails automatically when you open them.