Text to Speech Not Working in Helperbird

Troubleshoot text to speech not working in helperbird. Get help with common Helperbird issues and find solutions quickly.

·

If Text to Speech isn't working in Helperbird, here are the most common fixes.


Step 1: Check Your Volume

Make sure your device volume is turned up and not muted. This sounds obvious, but it's the most common cause. Check both your system volume and any in-app volume controls.

On desktop, also check that your browser tab isn't muted. Look for a speaker icon in the tab - if it has a line through it, right-click the tab and select "Unmute."


Step 2: Check Browser Permissions

Your browser might be blocking audio from playing.

Chrome/Edge: Look for a speaker or blocked icon in the address bar. Click it and allow audio for the site.

Firefox: Check the permissions icon (usually a lock) in the address bar and ensure autoplay is allowed.

Safari: Go to Safari > Settings > Websites > Auto-Play and make sure it's set to allow audio.


Step 3: Try a Different Voice

Sometimes a specific voice fails to load. Open Helperbird, go to Text to Speech settings, and try selecting a different voice. If another voice works, the original voice may have a temporary issue.


Step 4: Select Text First

Some Text to Speech modes require you to select text before clicking play. Try highlighting the text you want read, then click the play button.


Step 5: Refresh the Page

Text to Speech can sometimes stop working if a page has been open for a long time. Refresh the page and try again.


Step 6: Check Your Internet Connection

Some premium voices require an internet connection to work. Make sure you're connected to the internet and try again.


Step 7: Restart Your Browser

If nothing else works, close your browser completely and reopen it. This clears any temporary issues that might be blocking audio.


Step 8: Update Helperbird

Make sure you're running the latest version of Helperbird. Updates often fix audio-related bugs. Check your browser's extension page for updates.


Video Tutorial


Need Additional Help?

Still having Text to Speech issues? Reach out to our Helperbird support team with details about your browser and the problem, and we'll help you fix it!

What People Are Saying

Join over 1,000,000 people who use Helperbird every day.

This app does wonders!!

Sandra Fox

Sandra Fox

Helperbird user

Amazing tool, love the new overlay feature!!

James Connel

James Connel

Helperbird user

Helperbird does so many things that are game changing for me! By far the two most important are the font changes and the highlight ruler. I can change fonts to something dyslexia friendly. The ruler helps me stay on the line I'm trying to read. These two things change the blur into words! Tech support has been great when I have had problems!

Firefox user

Firefox user

Helperbird user

wonderful

Ayman Mahrous

Ayman Mahrous

Helperbird user

Helperbird is an excellent extension supporting a range of learning differences. Aside from providing many evidence-based dyslexia-assistive tools, the extension also functions as an easy-to-use, feature-rich web experience customization tool suitable to support a wide range of cognitive differences (i.e., color blindness and ADHD-related focus concerns, among others). Also, the developer is a very good person who supports the various learning-different communities in many ways, including by designing the free version of Helperbird to provide enough functionality to be beneficial to people who cannot afford to subscribe to the full-function version.

Kirk Smith

Kirk Smith

Helperbird user

Helperbird is a very useful and smartly designed tool that will most definitely make the browsing life of any user suffering from from dyslexia or is even remotely visually impaired a lot easier. It’s very easy to use, has the ability to synchronize settings on multiple devices, and is very efficient thanks to a useful set of straightforward customization options.

Vladimir Ciobica

Vladimir Ciobica

Helperbird user

Helperbird logo: Stylized owl with large yellow eyes and a beige face, against a green background.

Download Helperbird

Make browsing easier and more accessible with tools like Text to Speech, Immersive Reader, and more.