Hi Russell, thanks for reaching out! So, you’re seeing the “Hello Russell” message when you try to install Speechify, but it’s not reading the voice part aloud, correct? And you’ve reloaded the app three times already. Let’s try to get to the bottom of this.

A few quick questions to help me understand better:
1. Are you using Speechify on your Mac with OS X 10.15.7?
2. Is the app fully installed, or are you in the initial setup or onboarding stage?
3. Is the volume on your Mac turned up and not muted? Sometimes the voice might be playing but not audible.
4. Have you tried playing other audio or TTS voices on your device to confirm sound works elsewhere?
5. Do you see any error messages after “Hello Russell,” or does it just stay silent?

In the meantime, here are some initial steps we can try:

1. Check Microphone and Speaker Permissions:
Go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy tab. Click on Microphone and Speaker (or Sound), and make sure Speechify has permission to use them.

2. Ensure Audio Output is Correct:
Go to Sound settings and make sure the right output device (built-in speakers or headphones) is selected.

3. Restart the App and Your Mac:
Sometimes a full restart helps reset audio services. Quit Speechify completely, then restart your Mac, and relaunch the app.

4. Check Speechify Settings:
Within the app, look for any voice or speech settings. Ensure you have selected a voice and not muted the sound.

5. Network Connection:
Although Speechify voices can work offline, an unstable connection may affect voice downloads. Confirm your internet is stable.

If none of this works, there might be an issue with the app installation or audio engine initialization on your OS version. Let me know the results of these steps and your answers to my questions. We can dig deeper from there or explore reinstalling with fresh app permissions.

How does that sound so far?

Is using ipad OK?

Hi Russell! Yes, using Speechify on an iPad is absolutely fine. In fact, Speechify has a dedicated iPad app that requires iPadOS 16.0 or later, designed to take advantage of the iPad's multitasking and screen size. The voices are highly natural sounding, and the app offers features like text highlighting and page scanning for reading1 2.

If your Mac is giving you trouble, trying the iPad app might even be an easier, more seamless experience, especially if your iPad is updated.

Are you interested in setting this up on your iPad? If so, I can guide you through the installation and voice setup process there as well!

How do I install Speechify on an iPad?

Hi Russell! To install Speechify on your iPad, here’s a simple step-by-step guide:

1. Check Your iPadOS Version:
Make sure your iPad is running iPadOS 16.0 or later. You can check this by going to Settings > General > About > Software Version.

2. Open the App Store:
On your iPad, open the App Store app.

3. Search for Speechify:
Use the search bar and type “Speechify - Text to Speech.” The official app typically has a high rating and the correct icon.

4. Download and Install:
Tap Get or the download icon to install the app on your iPad.

5. Open Speechify:
Once installed, open the app. It will prompt you to create an account or log in if you already have one.

6. Set Permissions:
The app may ask for permissions to access the microphone, files, or notifications. Allow these to get the full functionality.

7. Select Voice and Settings:
You can choose your preferred voice and adjust reading speed or other options within the app settings.

After that, you should be able to start using Speechify on your iPad for text-to-speech reading.

If you want, I can also help you with configuring voice settings or importing documents to read. Let me know!

Here is the official Speechify app page on the App Store for your reference: Speechify on App Store

Does this help you get started?

DL to iPad. Won’t access any preferences. Straight to “hello Russell” no more.

Hi Russell, thanks for the update. So you’ve downloaded Speechify on your iPad, and it goes straight to “Hello Russell” but then doesn’t let you access any preferences or move beyond that screen, correct?

Let’s try a few specific steps to get past this onboarding hang-up:

1. Force Quit and Reopen the App:
Swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or double-click the Home button) to open the app switcher. Find Speechify and swipe it away to fully quit the app. Then reopen it fresh.

2. Check iPad Storage:
Sometimes apps can misbehave if your storage is critically low. Head to Settings > General > iPad Storage to verify you have some free space.

3. Check Network Connection:
Even though some Speechify features work offline, initial setup and downloading voices may require a stable internet connection. Try switching between Wi-Fi and cellular data if possible.

4. Reset Network Settings:
This can fix any connection-related issues interfering with app functionality. Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. You’ll need to enter your passcode and reconnect to Wi-Fi afterward.

5. Update iPadOS:
Since you’re on OS X 10.15.7 for your Mac (Catalina), just confirm your iPad is updated to at least iPadOS 16.0, which Speechify prefers for the best experience.

6. Reinstall the App:
Delete the Speechify app entirely, then reinstall it fresh from the App Store.

Following these, when you open Speechify again, it should either move past the “Hello Russell” welcome screen or trigger permissions or setup preferences to appear.

If it still stalls, it could be a bug or app issue. In that case, I can help you contact Speechify’s support team for further investigation.

Meanwhile, here’s a helpful Speechify troubleshooting page that recommends resetting network settings as a common fix:
Why is Speechify not working?

Please try these and let me know what happens. Does this sound doable?

Installed to iPhone. Same exact thing. Bug in DL?

Hi Russell, I see that you installed Speechify on your iPhone as well and are experiencing the exact same issue—getting stuck at “Hello Russell” with no further voice or preferences. That does sound like it could potentially be a bug in the current app version or a problem with the download/setup process.

Here are some focused steps to try next:

1. Update the Speechify app:
Make sure you have the latest version installed. Sometimes bugs causing app stalls are fixed in updates.

2. Clear the app cache or data (if possible):
On iOS, this usually means deleting the app and reinstalling it fresh, which you've done—good.

3. Check your internet connection:
Speechify needs a stable internet connection for initial voice downloads and setup. Try switching between Wi-Fi and cellular.

4. Test on a different network:
Sometimes firewalls or restrictive networks can block necessary downloads for the app.

5. Temporarily disable VPNs or ad blockers:
VPNs or content blockers can interfere with data loading required by the app.

6. Contact Speechify support:
Since the issue persists on both iPad and iPhone, and appears across devices, this seems like something that needs internal attention. You can reach out to Speechify’s support here: Why is Speechify not working? for official troubleshooting or raise a ticket.

Alongside their support, you can share that the app shows “Hello Russell” but stops there with no voice or preferences accessible on iOS devices. This will help them quickly identify if a bug or server-side problem is at fault.

If it helps, I can assist you with contacting them or help explore any alternative text-to-speech apps temporarily while this gets resolved.

How would you like to proceed? Are you open to reaching out to Speechify support, or want me to guide you to some alternative options meanwhile?

Time to contact support? Phone? Chat?

Hi Russell! For contacting Speechify support, the best options are usually email or chat rather than phone. Speechify offers customer support primarily through email at [email protected] and via live chat on their website. They don’t prominently list a phone number for direct support, so chat or email tends to be quicker and more reliable to get help1 3.

If you prefer chat, check their website during business hours for live chat options. Otherwise, sending a detailed email describing your “Hello Russell” hang-up on multiple devices will alert their team to the issue and often triggers a useful support reply.

Would you like me to help draft a support message for you or guide you to their chat feature on the website?

Using email. I’ll go to chat if no results. Thanks!

Hi Russell, that sounds like a solid plan! Using email to start with is great for documenting your issue clearly, and if you don’t get a timely solution, switching to live chat can often speed things up. When you email support, be sure to mention the “Hello Russell” screen freeze happening on both your iPad and iPhone, and the steps you’ve already taken like reinstalling and checking your network. This helps their team understand and diagnose faster.

If you'd like, I can help you draft a clear and concise email message to send to Speechify support to describe your situation. Just let me know! Otherwise, once you try email and if no luck, hopping into chat is definitely your best next move.

Feel free to update me on how it goes or if you want assistance with anything else!

Attempting to install. It reads “Hello Russell” but will not do voice. I’ve reloaded 3X.