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Read aloud audio not responding

kummaravel gandhi 0 Reputation points
2026-05-20T10:08:33.9633333+00:00

Read aloud Audio voice suddenly stopped working while hearing the file content through microsoft voice option

Neeraja- English (India)

Microsoft Edge | Audio and video playback | Windows 11
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  1. Clary-N 11,855 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-05-21T08:52:15.1533333+00:00

    Hi kummaravel gandhi,

    In addition to those guidance above, you may also want to check a few browser-specific factors that can sometimes affect Read Aloud playback. You can start by temporarily disabling any extensions in Microsoft Edge, as certain add-ons such as ad blockers or privacy tools may interfere with the text-to-speech function. After disabling them, restart the browser and test again. It would also be helpful to review the Media Autoplay setting in Edge under Settings >Privacy, search, and services > Site permissions > All permissions > Media autoplay and ensure it is not set to Block, as this could prevent audio from starting.

    To rule out content-related limitations, try using Read Aloud on a different page, such as a simple news article. Some formats, including scanned PDFs or pages with complex layouts, may not fully support playback and can cause the audio to stop unexpectedly. You may also want to check that Microsoft Edge is fully up to date by going to Settings > About Microsoft Edge, installing any available updates and restarting the browser afterward.

    If the issue still persists, resetting Edge settings to default via Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their default values can help resolve problems caused by corrupted browser configurations, while keeping your favorites and saved data intact.

    If possible, please let me know whether the issue occurs across all websites or only with specific files and whether other voices work normally. This will help us further narrow down the cause and assist you more effectively.

    Look forward to your update.

    If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".  

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  2. AI answer

    2026-05-20T10:08:47.32+00:00

    Follow these steps to troubleshoot when Read aloud audio suddenly stops working in Microsoft Edge on Windows 11, especially with online voices like “Neeraja – English (India)”:

    1. Verify an audio device is installed and working
      • Open Device Manager.
      • Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
      • Confirm an audio device (for example, Realtek, Surface Audio, or similar) is listed without a warning icon.
      • If drivers are missing or faulty:
        • Download and install the correct audio driver from the PC manufacturer’s website, or
        • Right-click the audio device, choose Uninstall device, check Delete the driver software, restart the device, then run Windows Update and install all updates (including Optional Updates).
    2. Run the Windows audio troubleshooter
      • Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
      • Run Playing Audio and apply any fixes it suggests.
    3. Restart core audio services
      • Press Win + R, type services.msc, press Enter.
      • Find Windows Audio and Windows Audio Endpoint Builder.
      • For each service:
        • Ensure Startup type is set to Automatic.
        • Choose Restart.
    4. Check Edge Read aloud voice type
      • Start Read aloud on a page in Edge.
      • Open the voice selection list.
      • If using an Online voice (for example, Azure Cognitive Services–based), ensure there is a stable internet connection; online voices require sending text to Microsoft’s service and streaming audio back.
      • If the online voice fails, temporarily switch to a built-in (local) voice to confirm audio output works at all.
    5. Clear cached voice data in Edge
      • In Edge, open Settings and more (…) > Settings > Privacy, search, and services.
      • Under Clear browsing data, select Choose what to clear.
      • In Time range, pick an appropriate range (for example, All time if the issue persists).
      • Select Cached images and files.
      • Click Clear now.
      • Close and reopen Edge, then test Read aloud again.
    6. Confirm Windows speech/voice settings
      • Open Start > Settings > Time & Language > Speech.
      • Under Voices, verify a default voice is set and can be previewed.
      • If needed, adjust voice and speed, or install additional language/voice support as available.

    If Read aloud still does not respond after these steps, test audio in another app (for example, Word Read Aloud or system sounds). If other apps also fail, focus on repairing or reinstalling audio drivers and repeating the audio troubleshooter.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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