Why am I not getting voice directions?

Voice directions in navigation apps provide spoken turn-by-turn directions to guide users along a route to a destination. The apps use GPS technology to track the user’s location and provide instructions at the proper time to help navigate turns and stay on the best route. Voice directions are useful because they allow drivers to keep their eyes on the road instead of looking down at a phone screen. They are also helpful for walkers and public transit users who need their hands free to hold bags or rails. Voice guided navigation makes getting around easier and safer.

Common Causes

There are several common reasons why voice directions may not be working properly in Google Maps:

No microphone access – Make sure Google Maps has permission to access your device’s microphone. This can be enabled in your phone’s app settings or privacy settings.

Poor internet connection – Voice directions require an internet connection, so check that your WiFi or mobile data is enabled and connected. Try switching between the two to see if it helps.
Outdated app – An outdated version of the Google Maps app may cause issues with voice navigation. Try updating to the latest version of Google Maps from the app store.
Glitchy device – Sometimes restarting your phone or tablet can help resolve temporary glitches affecting things like the microphone.

Voice settings need adjusting – In the Google Maps app, check your voice navigation settings and make sure the voice is enabled and volume turned up.

Issues with your device’s hardware like a broken microphone could also be preventing voice directions from working properly.

Check Microphone Access

One of the most common reasons for not getting voice directions is that the navigation app does not have access to your device’s microphone. To enable microphone access on an iPhone, go to Settings > Privacy > Microphone and make sure the navigation app is toggled on ¹. On Android, go to Settings > Apps & notifications > App permissions > Microphone and enable microphone access for the navigation app ². You can also check in the app’s settings to see if microphone access is enabled.

If the app does not have microphone access, you will need to grant it in order to get voice directions. Simply toggle the microphone access on for the app in your device’s settings. This allows the app to hear your voice commands and provide audible directions.

Ensure Internet Connectivity

An internet connection is crucial for voice directions to function properly in Google Maps. Without an internet connection, Google Maps cannot access the information needed to provide turn-by-turn voice guidance. This is because the voice directions require real-time data usage to stream the audio over the internet.

If you are not getting voice directions, the first thing to check is that your device has a stable internet connection. To diagnose connectivity issues, try loading a basic web page or running a speed test. If web pages won’t load or the speed test fails, you likely have an internet connectivity problem preventing voice directions.

Here are some tips for fixing internet connectivity and restoring voice directions:

Toggle airplane mode on and off to reset the network connection
Restart your device completely to clear any software glitches

Move to an area with better signal coverage if possible
Connect to a different WiFi network or cellular data provider
Check for any VPN or firewall software blocking connectivity

Contact your internet service provider if the issue persists

Once you have restored a stable internet connection, Google Maps voice navigation should start functioning again automatically. Just be sure to have enough mobile data or WiFi signal strength when beginning directions for the voice guidance to work properly throughout your route.

Update the App

One of the most common reasons for voice directions to stop working is that the navigation app needs to be updated. App developers regularly release updates that contain bug fixes and improvements, including fixes for issues with voice guidance. It’s important to keep your apps fully updated to ensure you have the latest fixes.

To update an app on an iPhone, go to the App Store app and tap on your profile icon in the top right. This will show a list of any available app updates. Tap “Update” next to the navigation app like Google Maps or Apple Maps to download the latest version.

On an Android phone, open the Play Store app and tap on the menu icon in the top left corner. Go to “My apps & games” to see apps with available updates. Tap “Update” to download the latest version of your navigation app.

After updating, try using voice directions again to see if the issue is resolved. Apps like Google Maps and Apple Maps regularly release fixes that improve voice guidance functionality. Keeping your apps updated is an easy step that can often get voice directions working again.

See: How to Change the Google Maps Navigation Voice

Restart the Device

Sometimes temporary software glitches can interfere with voice navigation in Google Maps. Restarting the device or infotainment system is an easy first troubleshooting step that often resolves the issue.

On a mobile device, power it off completely and then restart it. For infotainment systems, turn off the car ignition and restart the vehicle. This clears any memory issues and resets the software, which should restore functionality.

As noted in the Google support article “Fix voice navigation problems – Android – Google Maps Help,” restarting the device is one of the first things to try when Google Maps voice navigation stops working.

After restarting, open Google Maps again and test if voice navigation works properly. In most cases, this simple reboot is enough to fix temporary voice issues.

Adjust Voice Settings

One of the most common reasons for not getting voice directions in Google Maps is that the voice settings need to be adjusted. Here’s how to customize the voice guidance in the Google Maps app:

On Android, open the Google Maps app and tap on your profile picture in the top right. Then go to Settings > Navigation settings. On iPhone, open the app and tap on your profile icon, then choose Settings > Navigation.

From here, you can change the following voice guidance settings:

Language – Choose between dozens of languages for voice directions.

Voice – Select between a male or female voice.
Speech rate – Speed up or slow down the voice.
Volume – Increase or decrease the volume of verbal directions.

You can also toggle voice guidance on or off completely. Adjusting these voice settings according to your preferences may help resolve issues with missing voice directions in Google Maps.

For more details, visit Google’s support page on changing voice settings: Change Google Maps languages or domains

Contact Customer Support

If you are still unable to get voice directions after trying the troubleshooting steps above, you can reach out to customer support for additional help. The navigation app likely has 24/7 customer support options to choose from:

Live chat – Chat instantly with a customer support agent in the app or on the company website. This allows you to get real-time troubleshooting assistance. https://www.helpscout.com/blog/customer-service-mobile-apps/
Phone support – Call the customer support phone number to speak with an agent and explain your issue in detail.
In-app messaging – Send a message directly to customer support within the app and typically receive a response within a business day.

Email support – Email customer support for documentation of your issue and a reply within 24-48 hours.

Provide details on when you stopped getting voice directions, what troubleshooting you have tried already, and the make/model of your device. Customer support can review your account, perform troubleshooting steps on their end, and determine if there is an ongoing issue needing escalation or resolution.

As a last resort, you may need to uninstall and reinstall the app, or switch to an alternative navigation app with reliable voice directions like Waze or Google Maps. But customer support should be able to resolve the voice direction issues without needing to take that step in most cases.

Switch Navigation Apps

Many users rely on apps like Google Maps for turn-by-turn voice directions. However, there are several alternative apps worth trying if you are having issues with voice directions in your current navigation app.

Some popular alternative navigation and GPS apps to consider include:

GPS, Maps, Voice Navigation,
Voice GPS & Driving Directions,
and GPS Voice Navigation Maps.

Trying a fresh installation of an alternative navigation app may resolve any issues you’ve had receiving voice directions. Each app has its own settings and features, so switching apps provides an opportunity to find one that works reliably for your needs.

Before uninstalling your current navigation app, you may want to double check that you’ve tried all troubleshooting steps like adjusting voice and audio settings. But if voice directions remain unreliable, installing a highly-rated alternative from the app store is worth a shot.

Summary

Briefly recapping the main troubleshooting tips covered: check your microphone access and ensure internet connectivity is enabled, then try updating your navigation app and restarting your device. You can also adjust voice control settings in the app’s settings menu. As a last resort, try switching to a different navigation app that may have fewer voice direction issues.

Remember, voice directions are very useful for navigating safely while driving. Being able to keep your eyes on the road instead of looking down at your phone can help prevent accidents. Troubleshooting voice direction problems is worth the effort for smoother, safer journeys.