Office Settings & Configuration

How to Restore Microsoft David Voice for Read Aloud in Word and Outlook

Huda Qurayshi Oct 12, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user wants to use the Microsoft David voice for the Read Aloud feature, but it has disappeared from the available voice options.

How to Fix Microsoft David Voice Missing in Word and Outlook Read Aloud

Product: Microsoft Word, Microsoft Outlook
Device & OS: Windows, macOS
Scenario: Using the Read Aloud feature to listen to documents or emails.
Observed behavior: The Microsoft David voice disappears from the Read Aloud voice selection menu, typically after a Windows system update or Microsoft Office update.

Before you start

Verify that your computer's internet connection is active, as you may need to download or update your operating system's built-in speech recognition and language packages.

Solution 1Recommended

Reinstall System Voices on Windows

Microsoft Office relies on Windows system voices. Re-adding the English language voice pack will restore Microsoft David.

Since Microsoft David is a default Windows text-to-speech voice, Office updates or Windows updates can sometimes reset or temporarily hide these packages. Re-enabling them from Windows settings resolves the issue.

Open Windows Settings

Click the Start button, select the gear icon to open Settings, and navigate to Time & Language.

Access Speech Settings

Click on Speech in the left sidebar. Scroll down to the 'Manage voices' section.

Add the Voice Package

Click on 'Add voices', search for 'English (United States)', and check the box. Click Add to install the package containing Microsoft David.

Restart Microsoft Office

Close all instances of Microsoft Word and Outlook. Reopen your document and launch the Read Aloud feature to select Microsoft David from the voice settings.

System Voice Sync: Any voice installed directly through Windows Settings will automatically sync and become available in the Read Aloud options within Word and Outlook.

Solution 2

Manage Accessibility Voices on macOS

Mac users experiencing missing voice profiles can download and manage system voices through Apple's Accessibility settings.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the Microsoft David voice disappear from Read Aloud?

Windows or Office updates can sometimes reset default speech packages, clear language cache, or temporarily disable specific system voices. Reinstalling the language pack from your operating system settings usually restores the missing voices.

Can I add new voices to Word's Read Aloud feature?

Yes. Microsoft Word relies on your computer's system-level text-to-speech voices. By downloading new voice packages in your Windows or macOS system settings, those voices will automatically become available in Word's Read Aloud options.

How do I change the Read Aloud voice in Microsoft Word?

While Read Aloud is actively playing your document, a small control toolbar appears on your screen. Click the gear icon (Settings) on this toolbar to adjust the reading speed and select a different voice from the dropdown menu.

Will users be notified when Read Aloud bugs are fixed by Microsoft?

Microsoft typically addresses widespread bugs in subsequent Office updates, but they do not send individual notifications. You can monitor the Microsoft 365 release notes or manually check for updates via File > Account > Update Options in Word.

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