Hi Kelly,
Thanks for posting in the community.
According to your description, you want to change the voice of Read Aloud in Word. Based on my test and the following references, please make sure:
- You have downloaded the Speech of the language.
Go to the Windows Setting> Time & Language > Language> select the language> Options> Speech. After that, Restart your computer
- Note: Read Aloud reads text in the default speech language of your operating system.
After that, restart Word and check again.
For your references:
Learning Tools in Word
How to download Text-to-Speech languages for Windows 10
Also, free Text-to-Speech languages are available for download from Open source provider eSpeak. Please check the above references.
Regards,
George
Hi Kelly,
Thanks for posting in the community.
According to your description, you want to change the voice of Read Aloud in Word. Based on my test and the following references, please make sure:
- You have downloaded the Speech of the language.
Go to the Windows Setting> Time & Language > Language> select the language> Options> Speech. After that, Restart your computer
- Note: Read Aloud reads text in the default speech language of your operating system.
After that, restart Word and check again.
For your references:
Learning Tools in Word
How to download Text-to-Speech languages for Windows 10
Also, free Text-to-Speech languages are available for download from Open source provider eSpeak. Please check the above references.
Regards,
George
As far as I'm aware there are only the default 3 options offered in Word
Videos
How to use Microsoft Word Text-to-Speech to read out loud?
Are there any other TTS tools that can get Word to read aloud?
The following steps worked for me:
- Type Control Panel in the Search bar and then click to open it
- Click Speech Recognition
- Click Text to Speech on the left pane
- The Speech Properties dialog box opens with the Text to Speech tab selected:
- Click the drop down arrow next to Voice selection
- Choose Microsoft David Desktop for a male voice or Microsoft Zira Desktop for a female voice.
- Use the slider under Voice speed to adjust the pace (slow, normal, or fast) of the reader
- Click the Preview Voice button to listen to each voice, then make your selection.
- Click OK
This will update MS Word 2016. Restart is not necessary.
Hi,
For Word 2016 I suggest you follow these steps of kbonds_114 from this link:
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/all/how-to-change-office-2016-text-to-speech-settings/4dcb06c6-5e39-4b42-af1b-4664d196a9cd
STEPS:
1.) Press the windows button on your PC to navigate back to the start screen.
2.) Type in the search bar "tts"
3.) You will most likely have options of apps to install pop up underneath, but ignore it and just hit enter/search.
4.) It will show results for "tts." IGNORE all the websites, app suggestions, and pictures that may pop up.
5.) Look at the left of your screen, and you should have 2 things listed (or I did). One is "use audio description for video" and the other is "change text to speech settings"
6.) CLICK ON "change text to speech settings" (it might have a little microphone emoji beside it)
7.) After clicking on it, a "Speech properties" window should pop up.
8.) There is a drop down list with the 3 voice options to choose from:
Microsoft David (what my default was)
Microsoft Hazel
Microsoft Zira (my personal favorite)
9.) Once you have selected a voice option, there is a slider bar to change the speed of the voice.
10.) Press the Apply button after you are finished selecting the voice and speed you want.
11.) Press OK, and exit the "speech properties" window.
12.) The voice you chose should work for Microsoft Word 2016 now.
Hope the information will help you.
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My Microsoft Word is in English, I write in English, and it says "English (UK)" on every setting I have, and still when I want the document to be read out loud, it's a Spanish voice called Micrsoft Helena.
It's very distracting and I want an English voice, but I can't figure out how to change it... so please, if someone can help me change that, I would really appreciate it.