What "changing your voice" means on your device
When you want to change your voice on a device, you are usually doing one of three things: changing the voice that reads text aloud to you, changing how your own voice sounds when you record audio or video, or changing the voice assistant that responds to your commands. Each one works differently depending on whether you use Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android, or a web browser.
The most common reason people search for this is to pick a different voice for text-to-speech — the feature that reads emails, documents, or web pages aloud. The second reason is to apply effects to your own voice when recording. The third is to switch from one voice assistant to another, or to change the accent and speed of the one you have.
This guide covers all three, starting with the easiest: changing the voice that reads text to you.
Key Takeaways
- Text-to-speech voices are built into Windows, Mac, iPhone, and Android, and you change them in Settings without installing anything new.
- Windows and Mac let you pick from multiple voices and adjust speed and pitch in the Accessibility settings, while iPhone and Android do the same in their Voice settings.
- To change your own voice when recording, you need audio editing software like Audacity (free) or your device's built-in voice effects, which work differently on each platform.
- Voice assistants like Siri, Google Assistant, and Alexa each have their own voice settings, and switching between them requires uninstalling one app and installing another.
Changing the text-to-speech voice on Windows
On Windows 10 and 11, the text-to-speech voice is controlled in Settings under Accessibility. Open Settings, go to Accessibility, then select Speech. Under Text-to-speech, you will see a dropdown menu labeled Voice. Click it to see all available voices — Windows usually includes at least two or three, and you can download more from Microsoft if you want additional options.
In the same Speech section, you can also adjust the speed of the voice by moving the Speaking rate slider left to slow it down or right to speed it up. The pitch slider works the same way. Once you change these settings, any program that uses text-to-speech — like Microsoft Edge reading a web page, or Narrator reading your screen — will use the voice and speed you selected.
If you want to hear what a voice sounds like before you commit to it, click the Play button next to the voice name. This plays a short sample sentence in that voice so you can decide if you like it.
Changing the text-to-speech voice on Mac
On Mac, open System Settings and go to Accessibility. Click Speech in the left sidebar. You will see a dropdown menu labeled System voice. Click it to see all available voices — Mac includes several by default, and you can download more voices from the same menu.
Below the voice dropdown, you can adjust the Speaking rate slider to make the voice faster or slower. There is also a checkbox for Speak selected text when you highlight text in any document and want the voice to read it aloud automatically. Once you set this up, any Mac feature that reads text — including Safari reading web pages and Mail reading emails — will use the voice you chose.
To hear a sample of any voice before selecting it, click the Play button next to the voice name. This is especially useful if you are choosing between accents or languages.
Changing the voice on iPhone and iPad
On iPhone or iPad, open Settings and go to Accessibility. Tap Spoken Content. You will see an option called Voices. Tap it to see all available voices for your language. Select the one you want, and it will be used whenever you use features like Speak Screen (which reads web pages and documents aloud) or Speak Selection (which reads highlighted text).
In the same Spoken Content menu, you can adjust the Speaking Rate slider to make the voice faster or slower. You can also turn on Highlight Content so the device highlights each word as it is being read, which helps you follow along.
If you want to download additional voices with different accents or languages, go back to the Voices menu and tap Download Voices. This shows you all available options beyond the default voice that came with your device.
Changing the voice on Android
On Android, the steps depend slightly on your device manufacturer, but the general path is: open Settings, go to Accessibility, then select Text-to-speech output. You will see a dropdown menu labeled Preferred engine. This shows which text-to-speech system your device is using — usually Google Text-to-speech. Tap it to see other options if you have installed additional text-to-speech apps.
Once you have selected your preferred engine, tap the settings icon (usually a gear) next to it. This opens a menu where you can select a voice, adjust the speech rate, and adjust the pitch. Tap Voice to see all available voices for your language and select the one you want.
If you want to download additional voices, go back to the main Text-to-speech output menu and look for a Download voices option. This varies by device, but most Android phones let you add more voices this way.
Changing your own voice when recording audio or video
If you want to change how your own voice sounds when you record — making it deeper, higher, adding echo, or applying other effects — you need either audio editing software or your device's built-in voice effects.
On iPhone, open the Voice Memos app and record a message. After recording, tap Edit, then tap the effects icon (it looks like a waveform). You can apply effects like Echo, Reverb, or Telephone. These change how your voice sounds in the recording. Tap Done to save the changes.
On Android, the Voice Recorder app (made by Google) does not have built-in effects, but many third-party recording apps do. Search your app store for "voice recorder with effects" to find options. Audacity, a free audio editor available on Windows and Mac, also lets you record and apply effects to your own voice — download it from audacityteam.org, record your audio, select it, go to the Effect menu, and choose from options like Reverb, Echo, or Change Pitch.
Changing your voice assistant
If you want to switch from one voice assistant to another — for example, from Google Assistant to Alexa — you need to uninstall one app and install the other. On iPhone, voice assistants are apps you download from the App Store. On Android, they are also apps. On Windows and Mac, some voice assistants are built in (like Cortana on Windows or Siri on Mac), while others are apps you install.
To change the voice of an assistant you already have, open its settings. In Google Assistant, say "Hey Google, open Assistant settings" or open the Google Assistant app and tap your profile picture, then Settings. Go to Assistant voice and select a different voice. Siri on iPhone works the same way: go to Settings, Accessibility, Siri, and tap Siri Voice to pick a different voice or accent. Alexa: open the Alexa app, tap More, then Settings, then Alexa Voice, and select a new voice.
Each voice assistant has its own set of available voices, and they vary by device. Some assistants offer male and female voices, different accents, and even celebrity voices on some platforms. Check your assistant's settings to see what is available to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use different voices for different programs?
On Windows and Mac, text-to-speech voices are system-wide, so changing the voice in Settings changes it for all programs. However, some programs like Microsoft Word or Adobe Reader have their own voice settings that override the system default. Check the program's preferences or settings menu to see if it has its own voice option.
Why do I not see the voice I want in my language?
Your device comes with one or two default voices per language, but you can download more. On Windows, go to Settings > Accessibility > Speech and look for a Download voices option. On Mac, open System Settings > Accessibility > Speech and click the dropdown next to System voice. On iPhone, go to Settings > Accessibility > Spoken Content > Voices and tap Download Voices. On Android, go to Settings > Accessibility > Text-to-speech output and look for a Download voices option.
Does changing the text-to-speech voice affect how Siri or Google Assistant sounds?
No. Siri, Google Assistant, and Alexa have their own separate voice settings. Changing your system text-to-speech voice does not change how these assistants sound. You need to change each assistant's voice in its own settings menu.
Can I make my voice sound like someone else when I record?
Voice effects can change how your voice sounds — adding echo, reverb, or changing pitch — but they cannot make you sound like a specific person. iPhone's Voice Memos app has built-in effects. For more control, use Audacity on Windows or Mac, which lets you adjust pitch, speed, and apply multiple effects to a recording.
What if my device does not have the voice I want?
Check if your device allows you to download additional voices. Most modern devices do. If your device is older or uses a less common language, the number of available voices may be limited. In that case, you can try installing a third-party text-to-speech app from your device's app store, which may offer more voice options.