Readable v3 introduces a new keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+Space. Position the mouse pointer anywhere in a document, press Ctrl+Space, and Readable reads continuously from that point to the end of the document — with automatic scrolling and word-by-word highlighting.
Think of it as the keyboard equivalent of clicking Play, but starting from the mouse pointer position rather than the text cursor.
How to use Ctrl+Space
- Move the mouse pointer to where you want speech to start
- Press Ctrl+Space
- Readable starts reading from the pointer position to the end of the document
- Press Ctrl to stop at any time
When Ctrl+Space is most useful
- Long-form reading. When you want to listen to an entire article, chapter or document — just point and press, no need to select.
- Resuming partway through. Move the pointer to where you'd previously stopped, press Ctrl+Space, and continue from that exact spot.
- Web articles and emails. No need to click into the content first to set the cursor — just hover and press.
- PDFs and locked documents. Even when text selection isn't available, Ctrl+Space still works because Readable reads from the mouse pointer rather than from the text cursor.
How it differs from other shortcuts
- F7 (or Play button)
- Reads from the text cursor position to the end of the document. Requires the cursor to be set first by clicking in the document.
- Ctrl+Space
- Reads from the mouse pointer position to the end of the document. No clicking required — just point and press.
- Ctrl+hover
- Reads only the text near the pointer in the current Hover Read Mode (Word, Line, Block, etc.) — not all the way to the end.
Ctrl+Space is the fastest way to start a long reading session. The other shortcuts are for shorter, more targeted reading.
Stopping
Press Ctrl at any time to stop. The Stop button on the toolbar and F7 also work. If Click Stops Speech is enabled (the default), clicking the mouse anywhere also stops speech.