Does Read in background use more battery?

Keeping the accessibility service active while you switch apps uses slightly more battery than the default behavior, since the reading engine keeps running in the background.

What should I do if speech skips lines or freezes after enabling this feature?

Since it is an experimental feature, disable Read in background again and restart Select to Speak for the app you want to read, which usually clears the glitch.

Can I use Read in background with any app?

The option works system-wide, but reading quality still depends on how each app structures its on-screen text for Select to Speak.

OnePlus

OnePlus: Turn Read in Background On or Off for Select to Speak

When Select to Speak is reading text aloud on your OnePlus phone, switching to another app usually stops the narration mid-sentence. The Read in background option keeps the voice going while you jump between apps, but it stays an experimental feature that can behave inconsistently. If speech cuts out unexpectedly or keeps running when you do not want it to, this setting is the reason.

Updated: 07.08.20265 min6 steps

VersionAndroid 10 · Oxygenos 10

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OnePlus

Read in Background for Select to Speak auf OnePlus

Select to Speak reads on-screen text aloud, but by default it stops as soon as you leave the app you started it in. That interruption happens because OxygenOS pauses the accessibility service in the background to save resources. The Read in background toggle changes this behavior and keeps the voice active while you switch to another app.

You find the toggle inside the Select to Speak settings. Go to Open the Settings ➔ Tap on System ➔ Tap on Accessibility ➔ Tap on Select to Speak ➔ Open the Settings ➔ Enable or disable Read in background.

Turning it on lets you read an article, then check a message or open another app, without losing your place in the narration. Turning it off stops speech the moment you switch apps, which helps if background audio distracts you or drains battery faster than expected.

OnePlus marks this option as experimental. Speech can stutter, skip lines, or keep running longer than intended in some apps. If you notice unreliable behavior, disable the toggle and restart Select to Speak for the current app instead.

Frequently asked questions

By default OxygenOS pauses the Select to Speak service once you leave the app, unless you enable Read in background under Open the Settings ➔ Tap on System ➔ Tap on Accessibility ➔ Tap on Select to Speak ➔ Open the Settings ➔ Enable or disable Read in background.

Compatible devices

Tap your device — opens its hub with matching guides.

Android 10 · Oxygenos 10

OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren OnePlus 8 OnePlus 8 Pro OnePlus N10 OnePlus Nord OnePlus Nord N100

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OnePlus: Turn Read in Background On or Off for Select to Speak

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