Yes, you can change the voice on Google Maps
Google Maps lets you pick a different voice for turn-by-turn directions. You can switch between male and female voices, and in some regions you can choose accented versions of the same language. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you use Android or iPhone, but both take less than a minute.
The voice change applies only to navigation — the spoken directions you hear while driving. It does not change voices elsewhere in the app, like search results or place information.
Key Takeaways
- Open Google Maps, tap your profile picture, go to Settings, then Navigation settings, and select Voice & language to pick a new voice.
- On iPhone, the same steps explore: Settings > Navigation settings > Voice & language.
- Available voices vary by language and region — some languages offer only one voice, while others offer male, female, and accented options.
- Your chosen voice stays selected until you change it again; Google Maps remembers your preference across trips.
How to change the voice on Android
Open the Google Maps app and tap your profile picture in the top right corner. Select Settings from the menu that appears.
Scroll down and tap Navigation settings. You will see an option for Voice & language — tap it. A list of available voices will appear. Tap the voice you want to hear during navigation. The app will play a short sample so you can confirm the choice before you leave the screen.
Once you select a voice and leave this screen, your choice is saved. The next time you start navigation, Google Maps will use that voice.
How to change the voice on iPhone
Open Google Maps and tap the profile picture icon in the top right. Tap Settings.
Scroll to Navigation settings and tap Voice & language. Select the voice you prefer from the list. Like Android, the app plays a sample before you confirm. Your selection saves automatically.
The process is identical to Android, though the menu layout may look slightly different depending on your iOS version.
What voices are available in your region
The voices you can choose depend on the language your phone is set to and your location. English speakers in the United States typically see at least two options: a male voice and a female voice. Some regions offer additional accented versions — for example, British English or Indian English may have their own voice options.
If you speak a less common language or live in a region with fewer voice options, you may see only one voice available. In that case, you cannot change it, but you can switch your phone's language setting to access voices from other languages if you prefer.
To see what voices are available to you without changing anything, open Settings > Navigation settings > Voice & language and scroll through the list. The app shows only the voices that work with your current language and region.
Why you might want to change the voice
Some people find one voice easier to understand than another, especially if they have hearing difficulties or are driving in noisy conditions. A deeper voice may cut through traffic noise better than a higher one. Others straightforward prefer the sound of a particular voice after hearing it for many trips.
Changing the voice costs nothing and takes seconds, so if the current voice feels hard to follow, switching is worth trying. You can change it back just as easily if the new voice does not work better for you.
What happens if you turn off voice directions entirely
If you do not want to hear any voice at all, you can mute navigation in Google Maps. During an active route, tap the speaker icon at the top of the screen to turn sound off. The app will still show visual directions on the map — you just will not hear them spoken aloud.
This setting applies only to the current trip. The next time you navigate, voice directions will be on again unless you mute them once more. Your chosen voice preference remains the same; muting just silences it temporarily.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a different voice for different trips?
No. Google Maps uses the same voice for every trip until you change it in Settings. You cannot set one voice for commutes and another for road trips. You would need to manually switch voices in Navigation settings each time you want a different one.
Will changing the voice affect other Google apps?
No. The voice setting in Google Maps applies only to navigation directions in that app. Google Assistant, Google Search, and other Google services have their own separate voice settings that you can adjust independently.
What if I do not see the voice I want?
Available voices depend on your phone's language setting and your region. If you want more voice options, try changing your phone's language in Settings, then check Navigation settings again. Keep in mind this will change the language of all directions, not just the voice.
Does the voice change work offline?
Offline maps in Google Maps do not include voice directions. You need an active internet connection to use spoken navigation. If you are using offline maps, you will see only visual directions on the screen.
Can I go back to the original voice?
Yes. Open Settings > Navigation settings > Voice & language and select whichever voice you want. There is no "default" you have to restore — just pick any voice from the list, and it becomes your new choice.