Discord TTS Not Working? How to Fix Text-to-Speech on Discord

If Discord TTS is not working, start by checking two separate settings: whether your client is allowed to play and use /tts, and whether Text-to-Speech notifications are set to play in the channel you are using. If you can type /tts but hear nothing, the problem is usually a playback setting, channel permission, muted app volume, or output-device issue rather than the message itself.

1. Enable the /tts playback setting

Open User Settings > App Settings > Accessibility. Make sure Allow playback and usage of /tts command is enabled. Discord also places its Text-to-Speech rate control in Accessibility, so you can adjust the reading speed and preview it there. Discord documents these controls in its TTS playback help and Accessibility settings guide.

2. Check Text-to-Speech notification preferences

Discord treats TTS playback preferences separately from the /tts command itself. Go to User Settings > Notifications > Text-to-Speech and choose For all channels or For current selected channel only. If it is set to Never, messages will not be spoken on your client. Discord's Text-to-Speech 101 explains these three options.

3. Verify the server or channel permission

If TTS works in direct messages or another server but not in one channel, the channel may block it. Server owners and moderators can open the channel's permissions for the relevant role or member and allow Send Text-to-Speech Messages. Discord confirms that this permission controls whether members can send TTS messages in that channel in its Channel Permissions Settings 101.

If you do not manage the server, ask a moderator to check this permission instead of repeatedly changing your local settings.

4. Test the /tts command correctly

In a text channel where you can send messages, type /tts followed by a space and your message, for example /tts Testing text to speech, then send it. Discord's official TTS documentation still uses this format. TTS is played by each recipient's client according to that person's own settings, so one person may hear the message while another does not.

5. Check Discord volume and the Windows output device

If the command is accepted but you hear nothing, verify that Discord is not muted at the operating-system level. On Windows 11, open Settings > System > Sound > Volume mixer. Under Apps, raise Discord's volume and make sure it is using the output device you actually want. Microsoft specifically recommends checking per-app volume and output-device selection when system sounds work but one app is silent in its app audio troubleshooting guide.

6. Check Discord's output setting if other Discord audio is also wrong

If you also cannot hear voice-channel audio, open User Settings > Voice & Video and confirm the correct Output Device. This is a broader Discord audio check rather than a TTS-only control, but it is useful when the problem affects every sound from Discord. Discord recommends verifying the output device in its Voice and Video Troubleshooting Guide.

7. Refresh, restart, and update Discord

A temporary client problem can stop audio or settings from applying correctly. Press Ctrl+R on Windows or Cmd+R on macOS to refresh Discord. If that does not help, fully quit the app and reopen it. Discord's troubleshooting documentation recommends keeping the client updated and notes that a full refresh or restart can resolve audio problems.

If you use Discord in a browser, also check that the browser tab or site is not muted. Discord notes that browser TTS voices can differ from the Windows or macOS desktop voices because the speech engine depends on the platform.

8. Reinstall Discord as a last resort

If TTS and other Discord audio still fail after the settings above, reinstall the desktop client. Download a fresh installer only from the official Discord download page. Discord's general troubleshooting guidance recommends a clean reinstall for persistent installation or update problems.

What to check first

• No one hears your /tts message: check the channel's Send Text-to-Speech Messages permission.
• Others hear it but you do not: check your Accessibility TTS playback setting, TTS notification preference, and app volume.
• All Discord audio is missing: check Windows Volume mixer and Discord's output device.
• It suddenly stopped after an update or long session: refresh, fully restart, then reinstall only if necessary.

These checks keep the fix focused on the current Discord controls instead of older menu paths. The key point is that sending TTS and hearing TTS are separate: server permissions control whether a TTS message can be sent, while each user's client settings determine whether it is played aloud.