Cortana Is Getting the Ability to Read Messages Aloud

Microsoft is expanding Cortana’s functionality on Android with a new feature for Messages. The company already lets users reply to messages from their PC using Cortana on Android, and the latest addition takes the SMS integration a step further.

With the latest update, Microsoft is adding a new feature that will enable Cortana to read messages aloud. The feature, currently in beta, will be enabled by default when your device is connected over Bluetooth to your car or another device. So when you are on the road driving and can’t look at your phone, as soon as someone texts you, Cortana will read the message aloud without you needing to do anything else.

Windows Intelligence In Your Inbox

Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday — and get free copies of Paul Thurrott's Windows 11 and Windows 10 Field Guides (normally $9.99) as a special welcome gift!

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Of course, some users may have privacy concerns, but Microsoft is letting users configure or completely turn off the feature. Keep in mind that this is only in beta for now, so there’s a very tiny chance of it not making it to a public release.

Thanks for the tip, Andrew!

Tagged with

Share post

Please check our Community Guidelines before commenting

Conversation 28 comments

  • cybrtitan

    Premium Member
    11 April, 2018 - 4:16 pm

    <p>Their post on this isn't that clear.. and I haven't driven around to test this yet but it seems you have to enable the feature then by default it reads all incoming text messages over Bluetooth … which is the exact behavior of windows mobile so i'm not sure what privacy they are talking about unless they are thinking about adding a don't read messages from these numbers feature</p>

    • cybrtitan

      Premium Member
      11 April, 2018 - 5:17 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#262014"><em>In reply to cybrtitan:</em></a> Actually now that I think about it, it said incoming message from %user% would you like to read it or ignore it.. so I guess what it is saying is that it wont give you the per message option</blockquote><p><br></p>

  • devSpeed

    11 April, 2018 - 4:22 pm

    <p>It is about time. That is one of the big things I missed from Windows phone when I switched to Android.</p>

    • jbinaz

      11 April, 2018 - 4:42 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#262015"><em>In reply to devSpeed:</em></a></blockquote><p>The way Windows phone handled text messages over Bluetooth in my car was excellent. It seemed cumbersome at times but having used Google's implementation for a while (which I found cumbersome), I grew to appreciate it.</p>

      • skane2600

        11 April, 2018 - 4:55 pm

        <blockquote><a href="#262023"><em>In reply to jbinaz:</em></a></blockquote><p>Yes, we liked that feature too on our WP8's. </p>

    • nbplopes

      12 April, 2018 - 3:12 am

      <blockquote><a href="#262015"><em>In reply to devSpeed:</em></a></blockquote><p><br></p><p>You should have switched to iOS than because this feature has been there for years.</p><p><br></p><p>"Hey Siri, read last message" </p><p><br></p><p>It reads and allows you to perform actions (reply, forward, delete=</p><p><br></p><p>"Hey Siri, read my messages"</p><p><br></p><p>Same thing.</p><p><br></p><p>The thing I wanted is an a multilingual agent. I have messages sent to me in English, Portuguese, French and German. Because these agentes cannot read a message in one language and the next in another this feature in my context is mostly not used.</p><p><br></p><p>But I understand it works very well if that is not the case.</p><p><br></p><p>Cheers.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

      • reverseswing

        12 April, 2018 - 9:22 am

        <blockquote><a href="#262114"><em>In reply to nbplopes:</em></a></blockquote><p>On Windows, you didn't have to ask for a message to be read. It would automatically ask tell you that a message came in from so and so and ask you for permission to read it, followed by options to reply or call back, etc. I used to have entire text based conversations from my car. On Android, I can't do that – even Android Auto doesn't do that. Having said that, i'm on this Cortana beta and I have it set to default voice assistant and I don't see this feature anywhere. Maybe it's still rolling out.</p>

        • nbplopes

          21 April, 2018 - 8:40 am

          <blockquote><a href="#262197"><em>In reply to reverseswing:</em></a></blockquote><p><br></p><p>In iOS it’s called spoken notifications I think. One can turn it in on and of. But I don’t think it can automatically switch on and off as Bluetooth connections come and go. There are some challenges with the later, one is in the context of Privacy.</p>

  • Clarkb

    Premium Member
    11 April, 2018 - 4:56 pm

    <p>Was shocked that Google Assistant lacked this as a native feature when i moved over to the Pixel. By far one of the most convenient features of a smart assistant on a phone and have sorely missed this.</p>

  • shellback

    Premium Member
    11 April, 2018 - 5:15 pm

    <p>I had missed this interaction from windows phone for hands free use cases. It was INCONCEIVABLE, to me, that it isn't supported when I switched to android and it's assistant. </p><p><br></p><p>Goes to show while the grass might be greener on the other side, you might miss the tire swing in your old yard. </p>

  • GT Tecolotecreek

    11 April, 2018 - 5:26 pm

    <p>Kinda like what Siri has been able to do since the iPhone 4. </p><p>But remember, according to Paul T., Siri is terrible! </p>

    • kzrystof

      11 April, 2018 - 5:44 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#262036"><em>In reply to GT_Tecolotecreek:</em></a></blockquote><p><br></p><p>Well I do not remember Paul saying that Cortana was great…</p>

    • cybrtitan

      Premium Member
      11 April, 2018 - 5:56 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#262036"><em>In reply to GT_Tecolotecreek:</em></a> and cortana could do this before she was cortana and before siri was siri .. google assistant on the other hand still can't </blockquote><p><br></p>

    • GT Tecolotecreek

      11 April, 2018 - 6:03 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#262036"><em>In reply to GT_Tecolotecreek:</em></a></blockquote><p>Oh yeah, not just read them, also send them. Same with Apple Watch. </p>

    • mterrill68

      11 April, 2018 - 6:58 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#262036"><em>In reply to GT_Tecolotecreek:</em></a></blockquote><p>I think the part that's been missing from both Siri and Google Assistant has been the fact you have to take an action. If this works like Windows Phone, as soon as you get a message, YOU are prompted. You don't have to ask the device to do anything to listen to your message.</p><p><br></p><p>Much less disruptive, IMHO,</p><p>-mt</p>

    • tdemerse

      11 April, 2018 - 7:24 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#262036"><em>In reply to GT_Tecolotecreek:</em></a></blockquote><p>But Siri is terrible. I went from iOS to Android and the difference is astronomical.</p>

  • richfrantz

    Premium Member
    11 April, 2018 - 5:52 pm

    <p>I want it all the time. Not just driving.</p>

    • cybrtitan

      Premium Member
      11 April, 2018 - 5:55 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#262048"><em>In reply to richfrantz:</em></a> you get the same options that you did in windows mobile : always, Bluetooth and wired headset, Bluetooth only, wired only</blockquote><p><br></p>

  • tdemerse

    11 April, 2018 - 7:24 pm

    <p>As you all have said, this is absolutely my biggest missing feature from WP after switching. I hope they extend it to voice dictation too as with Windows Phone.</p>

  • Lewk

    Premium Member
    11 April, 2018 - 9:39 pm

    <p>As a Windows Phone user, I can say this is the number 1 feature I still primarily still use Windows Phone for. Driving in my car and receiving messages and replying to them via Cortana is just so important and easy. Now that it's coming to android, this might be what causes me to switch.</p>

  • Daekar

    11 April, 2018 - 10:03 pm

    <p>Do we know if this will be enabled if you only have the Microsoft Launcher installed, or do you need the stand alone Cortana app? </p>

  • awesmdiver

    11 April, 2018 - 10:04 pm

    <p>Well, this is good news but unfortunately not quite there yet. Just reads the text and announces the number, not the contact name and doesn't ask if you want to respond or anything else. I assume that is all coming, hopefully soon.</p><p><br></p><p>Definitely the most missed Cortana feature from WP.</p>

    • IanYates82

      Premium Member
      12 April, 2018 - 3:14 am

      <blockquote><a href="#262096"><em>In reply to awesmdiver:</em></a></blockquote><p>Absolutely.</p><p>I found it was very smart &amp; useful to be able to call Cortana via a special phone number whilst driving in the car.</p>

  • Edward Grego

    11 April, 2018 - 11:11 pm

    <p>Considering what's in the market now I find it funny that this is news, I find it funny, but it's actually sad…</p>

  • Shel Dyck

    12 April, 2018 - 11:20 am

    <p>Sad that it's tied to Bluetooth. I'd like to have it all the time.</p>

  • kevin rose

    12 April, 2018 - 1:19 pm

    <p>Does it work with all messaging services, like WhatsApp or Messenger? If not I don't really see much of a use case for this as I very rarely get anyone sending a traditional text message these days. </p>

  • mariusmuntensky

    13 April, 2018 - 6:53 am

    <p>Why on earth would I use Cortana on Android or IOS instead of Google Assistant or even Siri?? No thanks…MS junk</p>

Windows Intelligence In Your Inbox

Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Thurrott © 2024 Thurrott LLC