Where to find voice settings on your iPhone

Your iPhone has voice settings in two places depending on what you want to change. If you want to alter how Siri sounds, that lives in Settings under Siri & Search. If you want to change how your phone reads text aloud to you, that's in Accessibility under Spoken Content. The steps are different for each one, so knowing which setting you need saves time.

Both settings let you pick from several voices that Apple includes on every iPhone. You don't need to read anything or use a third-party app—the voices are already there. The voices vary by language and region, so what's available depends on which language your phone is set to.

Key Takeaways

  • Siri's voice is changed in Settings > Siri & Search > Siri Voice, where you can pick from multiple accents and genders.
  • Text-to-speech voices used by accessibility features are changed in Settings > Accessibility > Spoken Content > Voices.
  • iPhone comes with several built-in voices for each language; you do not need to read additional voices.
  • The voice you choose for Siri does not affect the voice used for reading text aloud, and vice versa.

Changing Siri's voice

Open Settings and tap Siri & Search. Then tap Siri Voice. You'll see a list of voices available for your language—typically several options with different accents and genders. Tap the one you want to hear. Siri will say a sample phrase in that voice so you can hear what it sounds like before you confirm.

The voices available depend on your phone's language setting. If you use English, you might see options like American, British, Australian, Indian, Irish, and South African accents. If you switch your phone to a different language, the Siri voices change to match that language. You can change Siri's voice anytime—there's no limit to how many times you switch.

Changing the voice for text-to-speech and accessibility features

If you use features like Speak Screen (which reads web pages and documents aloud) or Live Listen (which helps with hearing), those use a different voice setting. Go to Settings, tap Accessibility, then tap Spoken Content. Tap Voices to see the list available for your language.

You'll see multiple voice options here too. Select the one you want. Unlike Siri, these voices are used by several accessibility features at once, so changing it here affects all of them. If you use VoiceOver (which describes what's on screen for people with vision loss), it uses these same voices unless you've set a different voice specifically for VoiceOver.

What to do if you don't see the voice you want

If the voice list looks short or you see only one option, your phone may not have downloaded all available voices yet. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Spoken Content > Voices, and look for a read icon next to voices that aren't installed. Tap the read icon to add more voices to your phone. This requires an internet connection and takes a few minutes depending on your connection speed.

If you still don't see a voice you want, check that your phone's language is set correctly. Go to Settings > General > Language & Region and confirm the language matches what you're looking for. Changing the language setting will change which voices appear in both Siri & Search and Spoken Content.

Changing voice speed and pitch

Once you've picked a voice, you can adjust how fast it speaks. In Settings > Accessibility > Spoken Content, you'll see a Speaking Rate slider. Move it left to slow the voice down or right to speed it up. This affects all text-to-speech features on your phone.

For Siri specifically, you cannot change the pitch or speed—only the voice itself. The speed and tone are set by Apple and don't have user controls. If you want Siri to speak differently, changing the voice is your only option.

Using voices in specific apps

Some apps like Books, Apple News, and Podcasts have their own voice controls built in. When you're reading or listening in these apps, look for a speaker icon or "Listen Now" button. Tapping it will read the content aloud using the voice you set in Accessibility > Spoken Content. You don't need to change settings separately for each app—they all use the same voice setting.

If an app has its own voice menu, it usually appears only in that app and doesn't change your system-wide voice settings. Check the app's settings or help section if you want to know whether it lets you pick a different voice just for that app.

Troubleshooting voice changes that don't stick

If you change a voice and it reverts back to the old one, restart your iPhone. Hold down the side button and either volume button until the power-off slider appears, then slide to power off. Wait a few seconds and turn it back on. After restart, check your voice settings again—the change should stick.

If the voice still doesn't change, make sure you're in the right settings menu. Siri's voice and text-to-speech voices are separate, so changing one won't affect the other. Double-check that you're in Settings > Siri & Search > Siri Voice (for Siri) or Settings > Accessibility > Spoken Content > Voices (for text-to-speech). If you're still having trouble, try restarting your phone again or checking Apple's support site for your specific iPhone model and iOS version.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a custom voice or voice from another language?

You can only use voices that Apple includes for your phone's language setting. You cannot upload a custom voice or use a voice from a different language unless you change your phone's language to that language first. Some third-party apps offer different voices, but the built-in Siri and accessibility voices are limited to what Apple provides.

Does changing Siri's voice affect how my phone reads text aloud?

No. Siri's voice and the text-to-speech voice are separate settings. You can have Siri speak in one voice and have your phone read documents in a completely different voice. Changing one does not change the other.

Why does Siri sound different on my iPhone than on my friend's?

Your friend may have chosen a different voice in Settings > Siri & Search > Siri Voice, or their phone may be set to a different language. Each person can pick their own Siri voice independently. If you want your Siri to sound the same as theirs, go to that same menu and select the voice they're using.

Can I change the voice for just one app?

Most apps use your system-wide voice setting from Accessibility > Spoken Content. Some apps like Apple Books have their own voice controls, but they still pull from your accessibility voices—you're not picking a completely different voice. Check the app's settings to see if it offers voice options.