Tutorials
Natural voices in Speech Assistant: how to choose and use one
The Speech Assistant Team
October 2026 · 3 min read
Natural voices give the phrases on your boards a lifelike, human-sounding voice instead of the standard computer voice.
Where do I find them?
- Home: tap the voice picture at the top of the board.
- Or Settings ▸ Speech ▸ Natural Voices.
How do I choose a voice?
- Tap ▶ next to a voice to hear a sample.
- Tap the voice you like. The list shows its style, for example calm, warm or energetic, and its accent.
How do I apply it to my boards?
- Under Apply to Boards, tick the boards you want, or Select All.
- Tap Apply "Voice" to … phrases at the bottom.
- Wait a moment while the audio is prepared. You'll see All phrases speak in … when it's done.
Until you apply, your phrases keep the old voice.
What does the natural voice speak?
- Every phrase on the boards you applied it to, on iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch.
- Read Aloud can read documents in a natural voice too (Premium).
- Typed text on the Keyboard tab uses your system voice. Pick it in Settings ▸ Speech ▸ Voice.
Good to know
- Your own recordings always win. A phrase you recorded keeps your recording.
- Works offline once applied.
- New phrases get the voice when you apply again.
- Switch it off for a moment: turn off Prefer Saved Audio in Settings ▸ Speech to hear the system voice instead.
Questions people ask
Do natural voices work offline?
Yes, once applied. The audio is prepared once and saved, so your phrases speak without internet, on Apple Watch too.
Do natural voices speak what I type on the keyboard?
Not yet. Typed text uses your system voice, which you choose in Settings ▸ Speech ▸ Voice.
Will it replace phrases I recorded myself?
No. Phrases with your own recording always keep it.
Are natural voices part of Premium?
Everyone can apply one voice to their boards once. Changing voices, new phrases in the voice and natural voices in Read Aloud are part of Premium.
Speech Assistant - AAC Pad
Free AAC for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch.
