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Why is the read aloud realistic voice feature so horrible? It works often, but then for NO REASON WHATSOEVER it reverts back to 2010 robotic voices. This is awful and why I hate Microsoft. This particular issue has been in Q&A for 3 years now but is still happens. SOMEONE FROM MICROSOFT PLEASE RESPOND!!!!
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Happened to me yesterday as well. I've made no changes to Word, and the read aloud suddenly reverted to the robot voices on both my PC and phone.
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If Read Aloud in Microsoft Word keeps switching from realistic voices to robotic ones, here are some possible reasons and fixes:
Possible Causes & Fixes:
Go to Review > Read Aloud > Settings (gear icon) and manually select a realistic voice again.
Go to Settings > Time & Language > Speech and ensure the preferred voices are installed.
Download the latest Microsoft Speech Packs from the Microsoft Store if needed.
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This keeps happening to me too, and the above 'solution' does not resolve the issue, the relevant Speech packs are installed, but the voices available still sound awful.
100% still not working after following the latest answer. This seems to be an issue for several years now. When I first go into Word and try read aloud it says to sign int with your Microsoft account, which of course I am already signed into.
Any chance of refunding my MS subscription until this is resolved? Feel like I am paying for something that I am not getting.
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I had the pleasant sounding voice which I used for my read aloud. then last week, it became robotic...sounds like Stephen Hawking. I've upgraded to M/S 365 with Copilot. I can't even find 365 on my computer after I purchased it. WTF?
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Same here. Got the robotic voices. (It does have its charms in a retro type of way if you were making a parody.)
I uninstalled the last Windows 11 update, and while it didn't fix the issue, it did give me the option of using Microsoft Catherine, which is more tolerable. I do not know if the two events are connected, though.
My understanding is that this issue is server-side. Hopefully, MS takes note and fixes it.
Edit: MS Catherine was about the language used rather then the update.
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Please post if you find a solution. Same issue and I’m going crazy!
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Same issue here. This worked just fine yesterday. I get a lovely error:
Oops!
To choose what voice you hear while using Read Aloud, sign in with your Microsoft account.
Of course I am signed in to microsoft word, and at office.com, and in Windows, and there are no billing/licensing issues.
See: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/all/ive-been-unable-to-switch-the-read-aloud-function/a2acd6e5-a88f-4903-a930-39abd2ef657e and my response there.
It is apparently a bug that is for all devices.
Writing here does not bring it to the attention of anyone who can do anything about it. You are addressing your fellow users here. Microsoft is aware of the problem, though.
I recommend using the Public Feedback Portal.
https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback/forum/fb6d67e3-301c-ec11-b6e7-0022481f8472
Then, once your feedback is posted, copy the URL and then come back here and post it so that others can comment and vote.
Be the squeaky wheel. Keep pressure on.
You can search for and vote on other feedback already posted. I would suggest a search for "read aloud."
Here is a list of some feedback links:
https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback/idea/5c539f58-29fc-ef11-a4de-6045bdb3947a
https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback/idea/3ca4e898-36fd-ef11-a4dd-7c1e52ead3c1
https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback/idea/cecdbcad-e1ee-ef11-a4dd-7c1e52c1c6b2
https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback/idea/a3c7a9bc-85ed-ef11-a4dd-7c1e52e3e882
Feel free to vote and vent a little.
For more on using feedback, see my article: This is a user-to-user support forum. -- You can give feedback TO MICROSOFT designers and decision makers on Microsoft Word or other Microsoft Products using their feedback mechanisms, (not here). (This is a link to directions.)
It is apparently a bug that is for all devices.
Writing here does not bring it to the attention of anyone who can do anything about it. You are addressing your fellow users here. Microsoft is aware of the problem, though.
I recommend using the Public Feedback Portal.
https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback/forum/fb6d67e3-301c-ec11-b6e7-0022481f8472
Then, once your feedback is posted, copy the URL and then come back here and post it so that others can comment and vote.
Be the squeaky wheel. Keep pressure on.
You can search for and vote on other feedback already posted. I would suggest a search for "read aloud."
Here is a list of some feedback links:
https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback/idea/5c539f58-29fc-ef11-a4de-6045bdb3947a
https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback/idea/3ca4e898-36fd-ef11-a4dd-7c1e52ead3c1
https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback/idea/cecdbcad-e1ee-ef11-a4dd-7c1e52c1c6b2
https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback/idea/a3c7a9bc-85ed-ef11-a4dd-7c1e52e3e882
Feel free to vote and vent a little.
For more on using feedback, see my article: This is a user-to-user support forum. -- You can give feedback TO MICROSOFT designers and decision makers on Microsoft Word or other Microsoft Products using their feedback mechanisms, (not here). (This is a link to directions.)
See: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/all/ive-been-unable-to-switch-the-read-aloud-function/a2acd6e5-a88f-4903-a930-39abd2ef657e and my response there.
It is apparently a bug that is for all devices.
Writing here does not bring it to the attention of anyone who can do anything about it. You are addressing your fellow users here. Microsoft is aware of the problem, though.
I recommend using the Public Feedback Portal.
https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback/forum/fb6d67e3-301c-ec11-b6e7-0022481f8472
Then, once your feedback is posted, copy the URL and then come back here and post it so that others can comment and vote.
Be the squeaky wheel. Keep pressure on.
You can search for and vote on other feedback already posted. I would suggest a search for "read aloud."
Here is a list of some feedback links:
https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback/idea/5c539f58-29fc-ef11-a4de-6045bdb3947a
https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback/idea/3ca4e898-36fd-ef11-a4dd-7c1e52ead3c1
https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback/idea/cecdbcad-e1ee-ef11-a4dd-7c1e52c1c6b2
https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback/idea/a3c7a9bc-85ed-ef11-a4dd-7c1e52e3e882
Feel free to vote and vent a little.
For more on using feedback, see my article: This is a user-to-user support forum. -- You can give feedback TO MICROSOFT designers and decision makers on Microsoft Word or other Microsoft Products using their feedback mechanisms, (not here). (This is a link to directions.)
It is apparently a bug that is for all devices.
Writing here does not bring it to the attention of anyone who can do anything about it. You are addressing your fellow users here. Microsoft is aware of the problem, though.
I recommend using the Public Feedback Portal.
https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback/forum/fb6d67e3-301c-ec11-b6e7-0022481f8472
Then, once your feedback is posted, copy the URL and then come back here and post it so that others can comment and vote.
Be the squeaky wheel. Keep pressure on.
You can search for and vote on other feedback already posted. I would suggest a search for "read aloud."
Here is a list of some feedback links:
https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback/idea/5c539f58-29fc-ef11-a4de-6045bdb3947a
https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback/idea/3ca4e898-36fd-ef11-a4dd-7c1e52ead3c1
https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback/idea/cecdbcad-e1ee-ef11-a4dd-7c1e52c1c6b2
https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback/idea/a3c7a9bc-85ed-ef11-a4dd-7c1e52e3e882
Feel free to vote and vent a little.
For more on using feedback, see my article: This is a user-to-user support forum. -- You can give feedback TO MICROSOFT designers and decision makers on Microsoft Word or other Microsoft Products using their feedback mechanisms, (not here). (This is a link to directions.)