How to hear messages aloud in phone link on Windows

Here are step by step instructions to read text messages aloud on the desktop in phone link (steps for our desktop). The starting point is TV off, desktop off. Narrator configured in settings. 

Power on

  • Power on TV with our spectrum accessibility remote (top left button). TV volume controls in this remote do work. This is different than the Xumo big button accessibility remote. 

  • Power on desktop with button on lower right back of our TV.
IPhone may not have connection:

  • Check Bluetooth setting on iPhone if it is connected to desktop. If not:
  • Turn Bluetooth off for both iPhone and desktop.
  • Turn Bluetooth on for both with desktop first.
To cast desktop screen to TV (if interested):

  • Start Google chrome. Select desired profile. 
  • Click the 3 dots at the top right
  • Click on cast (chrome)
  • Select cast screen for source (the other alternative available is cast tab but not what we want here)
  • Select family TV
  • Minimize chrome
To read messages aloud:

  • Click on phone link icon in task bar or display
  • Maximize window. 
  • Click on messages in top
  • Hit Windows + ctrl + enter (enter narrator)
  • Double Click Message Thread of interest
  • Double Click slightly to the left in the empty area of the specific message in the thread of interest (to step word by word and read message aloud)
  • NOTE: In other places like word documents, you double click the first word, and it steps through the rest of the single line.
  • NOTE: In general Caps Lock + M when narrator is active starts reading from current focus point in most apps.  
  • Repeat for next message
  • Repeat for next thread
  • When done, hit Windows + ctrl + enter (exit narrator)
  • Close phone link.
  • If you shut down desktop/TV now, everything else ends. This is the simplest way. Else shutdown step by step.
To stop casting to TV (if casting already)

  • Click on minimized Chrome.
  • Click the 3 dots at the top right
  • Click on cast
  • Click stop
Close Chrome. Shutdown desktop. Shutdown TV.


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