Where to find the voice settings in Waze

Open Waze and tap the Settings icon (the gear symbol in the bottom right corner on most phones). Scroll down until you see Voice & Sound, then tap it. You will see a list of available voices — the exact number and names depend on your phone's language setting and which voices Waze has downloaded to your device.

The voice you hear giving turn-by-turn directions comes from this menu. Changing it takes about 30 seconds and does not affect any other app on your phone.

Key Takeaways

  • Voice settings are in the Waze app under Settings > Voice & Sound, not in your phone's system settings.
  • Waze offers multiple voices in different languages and accents, but which ones appear depends on your phone's language and what your device has downloaded.
  • You can test a voice before you commit to it by tapping the speaker icon next to each option.
  • Turning off voice guidance entirely is also an option in this same menu if you prefer silent navigation.

How to preview a voice before selecting it

Each voice option has a small speaker icon next to it. Tap that icon to hear a sample of how that voice will sound when giving you directions. This is useful if you are deciding between voices that have similar names or if you want to check the accent or speed before committing.

The sample will play a short phrase like "Turn right ahead" so you can hear the tone and clarity. If you do not like it, tap another speaker icon to hear the next voice.

Why some voices might not appear on your device

Waze offers dozens of voices, but your phone may only show a subset. This happens because voices are tied to your phone's language setting — if your phone is set to English (United States), you will see different voices than someone whose phone is set to English (United Kingdom).

Some voices also need to be downloaded to your device before they appear in the list. If you see a voice name but it is grayed out or shows a read icon, your phone does not have that voice file yet. Tap it to read, which usually takes less than a minute on a stable internet connection.

Turning off voice guidance completely

If you want navigation without hearing directions aloud, you can mute the voice entirely. In the Voice & Sound menu, look for an option labeled Voice Volume or Mute (the exact wording varies by phone and Waze version). Slide it all the way down or toggle it off.

When voice is off, Waze will still show turn-by-turn directions on your screen and alert you with visual cues and vibrations. You will just not hear the spoken directions.

What to do if your chosen voice stops working

Occasionally a voice will fail to play during navigation even though it was working before. This usually means the voice file became corrupted or was accidentally deleted. The fastest fix is to go back to Voice & Sound, select a different voice, and test it with a short drive.

If you want to keep using the original voice, try downloading it again by tapping the read icon next to its name. If that does not work, restart the Waze app and try once more. If the problem persists across multiple voices, restart your phone — this clears temporary files that may be interfering with audio playback.

How voice choice affects battery and data use

Switching between voices does not meaningfully change how much battery or data Waze uses. The voice files are small and stored on your phone, not streamed from the internet during navigation. Whether you use a male voice, a female voice, or no voice at all, your battery drain and data consumption will be nearly identical.

The only exception is if you choose a voice that has not been downloaded yet — the initial read uses a small amount of data, but after that the voice is stored locally on your device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a celebrity voice or a custom voice in Waze?

Waze occasionally offers celebrity voices or themed voices (like a voice that sounds like a specific character), but these are not always available and vary by region and time. Check the Voice & Sound menu to see what is currently offered on your device. You cannot upload or create a completely custom voice using your own recording.

Why does my voice sound different than my friend's voice in Waze?

This usually means your phones have different language settings, or one of you has downloaded additional voice packs that the other has not. It can also happen if you are using different versions of the Waze app. The voice you hear is determined by your phone's language setting first, then by which voices you have downloaded.

Will changing the voice affect my saved places or routes?

No. Changing the voice only changes how directions are spoken to you. Your home address, work address, saved routes, and all other Waze data remain exactly the same. You can switch voices as many times as you want without losing anything.

What if I want the voice to speak slower or faster?

Waze does not have a built-in speed control for voice playback. The speed is set by the voice itself and cannot be adjusted. If a voice sounds too fast or too slow, try a different voice — different voices often have different natural speaking speeds.