Why is my text to speech not working?

Text to speech (TTS) is a handy tool that enables people to listen to written text. Whether you’re multitasking, driving, or have visual impairments, TTS can help you to stay informed and engaged with the content.

However, TTS can sometimes stop working, frustrating users and making them unsure of what to do next. This article will explore some of the most common reasons why TTS may not work on various platforms and devices and provide actionable steps to fix these issues.

Typical text-to-speech issues

TTS may stop working for several reasons. The most common causes include software issues, incorrect settings, a poor internet connection (if your software needs internet to access voices), or compatibility issues. Furthermore, file corruption or a software bug may cause TTS software to suddenly break.

How to fix text to speech issues

In the following sections, we will explore the steps you can take to fix these issues on various devices and platforms.

How to fix text to speech issues on iOS

If TTS is not working on your iOS device, there are several things that you can do to fix the issue. First, ensure your device is connected to Wi-Fi or has a stable internet connection. If this doesn’t resolve the problem, it’s important to check what type of device you’re using. It might be an issue of your device being too old or not being compatible with text-to-speech software. You may need to update your Apple device if this is the case.

If TTS is not working on your iPad, check that the “Speak Selection” option is enabled in the Accessibility settings. You can also allow dictation in the keyboard settings to use voice to type text messages or notifications.

If TTS is not working on your iPhone, ensure that Siri & Dictation are enabled in the iPhone settings. You can also try restarting your device, enabling Siri using the side button or using the voice command “Hey Siri,” or ensuring that your device is running the latest iOS version.

If none of these solutions work, you may need to troubleshoot your device or contact Apple support for assistance.

How to fix text to speech issues on Android

If TTS stopped working on your Android device, try clearing the cache of the TTS engine, ensuring that you have allowed all permissions for the TTS app and that your privacy restrictions aren’t blocking it. You should also check for new updates for your text to speech app.

Your Android device may also put your TTS app to sleep when your screen is off. You may want to increase your screen time or allow the TTS to run in the background.

If you are using Gboard, ensure the microphone icon is enabled in the keyboard settings. You can also check that the TTS engine is selected in the Language & Input settings.

If you still need help, contact your device manufacturer for further assistance.

How to fix text to speech issues on Discord

Discord is a social platform used for communication purposes. You can send instant messages, have audio and video calls, and send media files to one another.

If TTS is not working on Discord, you can try a few different solutions to fix the issue. First, make sure that TTS is enabled in the settings. Enable TTS for all channels by going to User Settings, Notifications, and Text to Speech Notifications and checking the “For all channels” option.

To reset the Text to Speech setting on Discord, navigate to User Settings, go to Accessibility, scroll to the “Allow playback and usage of /tts” command and toggle it off, then save the changes, exit, and restart Discord. Finally, follow the same steps but toggle the button on.

If this doesn’t resolve your issue, change your speaker setup to stereo, and update Discord to the latest version.

You can also ensure your internet connection is stable or restart your device. If you are having issues with the TTS bot, make sure that the bot has the necessary permissions to access the chat and use TTS.

If none of these solutions work, your device may need troubleshooting, or you may want to contact Discord support for assistance.

How to fix text to speech issues on Windows

Make sure text to speech is properly configured on your system. To configure the text to speech options on your Windows computer, you can determine the currently selected TTS voice or engine by going to the Text to Speech tab under the Speech settings in the Control Panel. From there, you can click “Preview Voice” to hear the active voice or change the voice by selecting a new one from the drop-down list. Once you’ve chosen a new voice, click “OK” or “Apply” to save the changes.

If you’re using a third-party text to speech voice, you may check whether your license has expired or reinstall the voice.

Additionally, check your audio settings and ensure that your speakers are correctly set up. If your settings seem fine, but your text to speech still doesn’t work, install a different TTS engine or third-party software. Some TTS software, such as Speechify and NaturalReader, have free plans with a limited number of voices.

Speechify – a text to speech tool that won’t let you down

Speechify is a text to speech tool that offers reliable performance across multiple devices, including iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac. With Speechify, users can easily convert any text into spoken words and listen to it using advanced text to speech technology that delivers a human-like speech. It also offers adjustable speed, voice, text highlighting, and note-taking features.

Speechify is helpful for various purposes, from helping students learn to allowing busy professionals to enjoy written content on the go. Try out Speechify for free and see how it can benefit you.

FAQ

Why can’t I use my voice to text on my iPhone?

If you’re having trouble using the talk to text feature on your iPhone, several factors may be the cause. One possible explanation is that the microphone may not be correctly enabled.

To check if this is the issue, go to Settings, General, and Keyboard and ensure the Enable Dictation option is turned on. If this doesn’t resolve the issue, try restarting your device or checking for any software updates that may be available.

Why is my speech to text not working on iPhone iOS 16?

If voice typing is not working on your iPhone with iOS 16, there could be a few reasons. One common issue is that the feature may need to be enabled in the keyboard settings.

How to fix iPhone dictation not working?

If you’re having trouble with iPhone dictation not working, try resetting your device, checking for software updates, or ensuring your device is connected to a stable Wi-Fi or cellular network. Ensure that the microphone is working and picking up your voice correctly. If the issue persists, don’t hesitate to contact Apple support for further assistance.