To change Alexa's voice to male, say "Alexa, change your voice" or open the Alexa app, select your device, and go to Settings > Alexa's Voice.
For years, Amazon's virtual assistant was defined by a single, widely recognized feminine voice. However, as voice assistant technology has matured, customization has become a key focus for smart home users. In an effort to provide more personalization and inclusivity, Amazon introduced a new, masculine-sounding voice option, internally referred to by the code name "Ziggy" alongside the standard voice. This new option allows users to change the auditory character of their Echo devices while maintaining identical features, language settings, and smart home control capabilities.
Changing Alexa's voice is incredibly simple and can be accomplished using either a quick voice command directly to your speaker or by adjusting the configuration settings in the Alexa mobile application on iOS or Android. Similar to adjusting settings on other devices, such as when you learn how to set up a new iPhone from scratch, configuring your voice assistant takes just a few steps. In this detailed guide, we will walk through all available methods, explain how to manage different voices on a multi-device setup, and help you troubleshoot common errors.
Understanding Alexa's New Masculine Voice Option
The introduction of the masculine voice option represents a significant shift in how Amazon brands its voice assistant. Rather than labeling the voices by gender, Amazon refers to them neutrally as "Original" (the classic feminine voice) and "New" (the masculine voice). This choice mirrors similar naming conventions adopted by Apple for Siri and Google for Assistant. Regardless of the label, the voice swap is purely cosmetic; the assistant is still called "Alexa" by default and performs all the exact same smart home routines, calculations, and integrations.
The masculine voice is generated using advanced neural text-to-speech technology. This allows the Echo speaker to synthesize words in real-time with realistic intonation, natural pauses, and a smoother cadence compared to older, robotic text-to-speech engines. The voice is currently supported across multiple English dialects, including US, UK, and Canadian English, as well as several foreign languages. When you switch to the masculine voice, it is applied locally to the specific device you configured, meaning you can have different voices in different rooms if you prefer variety.
It is important to note that the voice changes do not alter your Alexa wake word. By default, the device will still respond to the wake word "Alexa," though you can optionally change the wake word to "Ziggy," "Echo," "Amazon," or "Computer." Combining the masculine voice with the wake word "Ziggy" creates a completely different persona for your Echo device, which many users find to be a refreshing change of pace after years of using the default configuration.
How to Change Alexa's Voice Using Voice Commands
The absolute fastest way to switch Alexa's voice is by speaking to your Echo speaker. Amazon designed the voice selection to be interactive, allowing you to sample the voice and confirm the switch without opening your smartphone. To begin, stand near your Echo speaker and say clearly: "Alexa, change your voice."
Alexa will respond by saying something like: "Here is the voice option you just asked to change. Would you like to use this one?" or "I have another voice option. Would you like me to use it on this device?" If you like the sample voice that is played, respond with a clear "Yes" or "Sure." If you say yes, Alexa will immediately apply the voice change, and all subsequent responses on that specific Echo speaker will use the new masculine voice. If you say no, Alexa will revert to the original voice or present other options if they are available for your current language setting.
If you have multiple Echo speakers in your house, this voice command will only affect the specific device that heard and processed your command. If you want to change the voice on all your devices, you must repeat the voice command to each individual speaker or use the Alexa app to adjust them in batch. This localized setting is highly beneficial for families who want to customize their individual spaces, like having the classic voice in the kitchen and the new masculine voice in the home office.
Dica DomineTec: If you are using Alexa in a multilingual environment, make sure to set your primary language to English (US) first, as some secondary languages do not support the new masculine voice model yet.
How to Change Alexa's Voice via the Alexa Mobile App
If you prefer a visual interface or need to configure a device that is out of speaking range, the Alexa mobile app is the best tool for the job. Ensure your smartphone is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your Echo devices, and open the official Amazon Alexa app. Tap on the Devices tab at the bottom of the screen to view your smart home hierarchy.
Next, tap on Echo & Alexa at the top to display a list of all your registered Echo speakers. Select the specific speaker you wish to modify. Once the device control screen opens, tap the Settings icon (represented by a gear in the top-right corner). Scroll down the list of settings until you find the option labeled Alexa's Voice and tap it to reveal the configuration page.
On this page, you will see two columns or options: Original (feminine) and New (masculine). Tap on "New" to select the masculine voice. A brief download progress indicator may appear if your device needs to pull the voice package from Amazon's servers. Once completed, your Echo device will immediately start using the new voice. You can return to this menu at any time to switch back to the original voice or adjust other device preferences.
If you are setting up Alexa for family members who use different profiles, you can also configure individual voice settings for each profile. Under Settings, select your Profile & Family to ensure that Alexa recognizes your voice print and responds using your preferred settings. This ensures a highly customized experience, even on shared devices in common areas like the living room or kitchen.
Adjusting Wake Words and Language Options
While changing the voice alter the assistant's output, you can also customize the input by changing the wake word. Alexa devices are designed to listen for a specific trigger word before they start recording and processing audio. Changing the wake word is a great way to prevent accidental triggers, especially if you have family members with names that sound similar to "Alexa." To change the wake word, navigate to your device's setting page in the Alexa app, tap Wake Word, and select from the available list: Alexa, Echo, Amazon, Computer, or Ziggy.
It is important to understand that changing the wake word does not automatically change the voice, and changing the voice does not automatically change the wake word. The two settings are entirely independent of one another. You can have a masculine voice that responds to the wake word "Alexa," or a feminine voice that responds to the wake word "Ziggy." This allows you to mix and match inputs and outputs to match your personal preference.
Language options also affect voice availability. Alexa supports dozens of languages and regional dialects, but the new masculine voice is not available in every language. If you change Alexa's language to a dialect that does not support the masculine voice, the assistant will automatically default back to the original feminine voice. Always check the official Amazon documentation to see if your language of choice has received the "New" voice update.
To ensure optimal recognition, make sure your speaker's language setting matches your primary speaking language. If you speak English with a British accent but have your Echo set to US English, the recognition rate will decrease, and some localized voice features may not perform as expected. Adjusting the language takes a few minutes but dramatically improves the overall user experience.
Troubleshooting Voice Change and Connection Issues
Occasionally, you may run into issues where the voice change command does not work, or the Alexa app does not show the option to switch to the masculine voice. This is usually caused by outdated software, network connectivity issues, or regional restrictions. The first step in troubleshooting is to ensure your Echo device is running the latest firmware. You can check for updates by saying, "Alexa, check for software updates." If an update is available, the device will download and install it automatically over the next few minutes.
If the device is up to date but the option is still missing, try restarting your Echo speaker. Unplug the power adapter from the wall or the back of the device, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in. This clears the system cache and forces the device to reconnect to Amazon's servers, which often resolves temporary software glitches. Additionally, make sure your Alexa app on your smartphone is updated to the latest version via the App Store or Google Play Store.
Another common issue is that the masculine voice option appears greyed out or unavailable. This typically occurs if the device is set to an unsupported language or if it is registered to an Amazon account in a region where the new voice has not yet rolled out. If you suspect regional issues, verify your Amazon account settings and ensure your location is configured correctly. If you continue to experience connection errors or if your device is completely unresponsive, you may need to factory reset the speaker and set it up from scratch.
| Configuration Profile | Wake Word Options | Output Voice Option | Best Suited For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic Setup | Alexa, Echo, Amazon | Original (Feminine) | Standard smart home layouts; users accustomed to classic branding. |
| Modern Custom | Ziggy, Computer | New (Masculine) | Tech enthusiasts; avoiding accidental triggers with name "Alexa". |
| Hybrid Mix | Alexa | New (Masculine) | Users who want the masculine voice but prefer the classic wake word. |
| Hands-Free Office | Computer | Original (Feminine) | Work environments where "Computer" fits the room aesthetic. |
Once you have the voice set up, discover the most useful Alexa voice commands to get the most out of your device.
FAQ
Can I use the male voice on older Echo Dot models?
Yes. The new masculine voice option is compatible with most older Echo devices, including the Echo Dot 3rd Gen, 4th Gen, and all newer models. As long as your device is updated to the latest firmware and set to a supported language like US English, you should be able to change the voice using either voice commands or the Alexa app.
Does changing the voice use more Wi-Fi data or storage?
No. When you switch to the masculine voice, your Echo speaker downloads a one-time voice profile package from Amazon's servers, which takes up a small amount of local storage. Once downloaded, the voice synthesis is processed on-device and does not consume additional bandwidth during daily use compared to the default voice.
Is the male voice available in languages other than English?
Yes, Amazon has started rolling out the masculine voice option to other languages, including Spanish, French, and German. However, availability varies by country and regional settings. If you do not see the "New" option in your app settings, it is likely not yet supported for your active language.
Why did my Alexa voice revert back to female on its own?
This can happen if your Echo device loses connection to your Amazon account, undergoes a factory reset, or if a major software update resets the device settings. To fix it, simply re-apply the change by saying "Alexa, change your voice" or selecting the "New" voice option in the Alexa mobile app.