what happened to microsoft word and onenote read aloud?

lucy 25 Reputation points
2025-03-08T23:18:17.29+00:00

I was using Read Aloud on Microsoft Word and I think it was Microsoft Sonia Online's voice but when I came to use Read Aloud today the voices were the defaults of George, Susan and Hazel has something happened to Read Aloud? I had looked in options on Word and settings on my own device but nothing gave me answers. the only way I could recognise the voice that had disappeared was in Microsoft Edge and its Read Aloud system had multiple voices in English United Kingdom to choose from.

This message shows up when I try to use Read Aloud before it uses the default voiceshelp chatgpt

Word Management
Word Management
Word: A family of Microsoft word processing software products for creating web, email, and print documents.Management: The act or process of organizing, handling, directing or controlling something.
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  1. S.Sengupta 22,456 Reputation points MVP
    2025-03-10T00:40:37.8366667+00:00

    Microsoft periodically updates its Office suite, which can sometimes lead to changes in available features, including voice options in the Read Aloud function.

    Alternatively, open your document in Microsoft Edge. Activate the Read Aloud feature and select your preferred voice.

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  2. Charles Kenyon 3,011 Reputation points
    2025-03-10T02:06:17.74+00:00

    Note: all of the links given in this response are valid. They do not seem to be working by clicking on them. Try copying and pasting into your browser if you are getting an error message.

    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."

    https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback/search/fb6d67e3-301c-ec11-b6e7-0022481f8472?q=%22read+aloud%22

    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.)

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  3. Jiajing Hua-MFST 16,110 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff
    2025-03-10T08:42:31.9133333+00:00

    Hi @lucy

    Sorry for giving you a bad experience.

    Could you please tell us which version of Office are you using?

    Please go to File > Account, check the version number under Product Information.

    Other users have also reported the same situation in the Q&A forum: Why is Microsoft Word back to using those horrible robotic voices in read-aloud?

    This is probably caused by Office updates. We recommend that you vote for following post in the feedback forum. The more people vote, the voice louder, and the Microsoft development team will know the needs of users.

    Read Aloud voices changed

    Thank you for your understanding and support.


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