the read aloud voice changed overnight. how do I get the old voice back?

Anonymous
2025-03-08T00:53:31+00:00

The read-aloud voice used to be a very smooth speaking female voice and overnight it changed to a robotic voice. When I go into the settings it says I have to be signed in to change the voice. I am signed in. I tried signing out and resigning in deleting the app and reinstalling but it still says the same thing. I am using an Android with the mobile app. I was originally using just the word doc connected to my OneDrive I've even tried the Microsoft 365 app still same results. How do I get the old voice back?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | Other | Android

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-03-10T21:26:07+00:00

    I have the same issue. I worked with MS Office support and have been told it is an issue with the Read Out Loud service on the Microsoft server end. They are working the issue now and hope it resolved soon.

    Hope that they can resolve this issue with the Read Aloud! Thank you for your input. I appreciate this information. It’s positive!

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-03-10T18:16:46+00:00

    I'm also frustrated by the need to pick either, david, zira, or Mark. These are not voices you can easily listen to for any period of time, I'd like the old, smooth female voice before this last change. Why is it not available? The 3 noted above are stiff and robotic and grates on the nerves. Please change it back!!!

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  3. Anonymous
    2025-03-10T17:48:09+00:00

    I am also having this problem (March 10, 2025), and no solution has been found yet.

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  4. Anonymous
    2025-03-10T17:23:00+00:00

    I too have the same problem. Nightmare!! Hope Microsoft deal with the issue quickly!

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  5. Anonymous
    2025-03-10T04:14:10+00:00

    I am also experiencing this very same error. I have tried several suggested fixes from across the internet (including this board). None have been successful. Some of the steps I have tried are logging out and back in, rebooting the system, checking for possible recent Windows or Office updates (none found) and completely removing the Office 365 suite from my system and reinstalling. This error started for me today when I resumed editing a large document I have been working on for a while. The pleasant, natural and understandable default voice that I am so used to using began reading and then suddenly stopped with the error for me to log in. Of course I am logged in and have been the entire time.

    Read Aloud is practically unusable. The robotic, harsh voices make it almost unbearable to use. They have horrible diction and the staccato makes it difficult to follow, much less catch the mistakes I am using Read Aloud to catch.

    I have submitted a report through the feedback system in word and even referenced this thread in the report. That is something that I would recommend anyone posting this error on here do as well. If they get enough support tickets on it, maybe we can get our pleasant, default female voice back. This is almost unusable this way and even the 'natural' voices you can download suck compared to the default.

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