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Readwave

Keyboard Shortcuts

Readwave is built around one global hotkey, with playback controls in the now-playing player.

The read / stop shortcut

Action Shortcut
Start reading the selected text Ctrl+Alt+R (default)
Stop reading Ctrl+Alt+R (the same key)

Key points:

  • It's the same key for start and stop — press once to read, press again to stop.
  • It's a global shortcut: it works system-wide, in any app, whether or not Readwave is focused or visible.
  • It's rebindable. Change it in Settings → Shortcut — useful if another app already uses Ctrl+Alt+R.

By default the hotkey reads your selected text. You can change it to read the clipboard or both in Settings → What to read.

Playback controls (player bar)

While Readwave is reading, the now-playing player bar appears in the app window with the playback controls:

  • Play / pause the current read.
  • Stop the current read.
  • A progress / waveform indicator showing how far along you are.

You can drive playback from this bar, or just use the global hotkey to stop from anywhere. See Getting Started → The now-playing player.

Quick reference

  • Read selected text: Ctrl+Alt+R
  • Stop: Ctrl+Alt+R again — or stop in the player bar.
  • Change the key: Settings → Shortcut.