[crackerjack15]

How do you change the voice to female? I can't find it anywhere in idrive 9. Our X7 is female voice in idrive 8.5

[Cam330i]

Originally Posted by crackerjack15

How do you change the voice to female? I can't find it anywhere in idrive 9. Our X7 is female voice in idrive 8.5

Hello,

As of now, you cannot change the male voice on iDrive 9; just like how you cannot change the female voice on iDrive 8 and 8.5! I personally don't understand how I can change Siri's voice on my phone, but I cannot change BMW's voice or at least be given the option...

That said, I am not sure if changing BMW's voice will be an option later on, but as mentioned above, you can change Siri's voice on your iPhone and when you change Siri's voice on your phone, you will then see that change when using Apple CarPlay (e.g., If you have Siri's voice set to a male with an accent, you will hear that same voice when using CarPlay)
NOTE: I am not sure if you can change the voice with Google's Assistant (aka: "Hey Google") or Alexa, but I'm sure if Siri can do it, they probably can too?!

That said, I mention changing the A.I. voice on your phone, because you can use your phone's navigation (e.g., Apple Maps, Google Maps, Waze, etc.) via Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and you can use whatever voice you choose as an alternative to BMW's system!

I use Apple CarPlay for music, but I use BMW's navigation system and my car has/uses iDrive 8.5! However, being that I don't like the navigation system interrupting my music, I have the voice guidance deactivated in my car and so I am not bothered too much by it, but I get where you are coming from!

I hope this helps and we'll see if BMW makes any changes in the future! Please let me (us) know if you have any other questions/comments!

FUN FACT: If you use Apple's Navigation App (Apple Maps) via Apple CarPlay, it will result in the map changing in the control display and the instrument cluster and some like that map better than BMW's because it is a little bit more detailed!
- ANDROID USERS will experience something similar to what I just mentioned ^ , but this is with Google Maps instead!
- Google Maps has a hidden setting that can let you see Traffic Information if you want, along with a Satellite view!

Best,
Cameron

[crackerjack15]

Darn. I don't like the male voice. Thanks for awesome reply and tips! We have android and apple phones so will try both. I mostly use android auto in the X7 because finding an address or business is so much easier than bmw native app. I like the bmw navigation just not the voice search recognition.

[Cam330i]

Originally Posted by crackerjack15

Darn. I don't like the male voice. Thanks for awesome reply and tips! We have android and apple phones so will try both. I mostly use android auto in the X7 because finding an address or business is so much easier than bmw native app. I like the bmw navigation just not the voice search recognition.

Yeah I get where you are coming from!

You mentioned that you have both an Android and an Apple device - I'm not sure if you know this or not, but you can have TWO phones paired up via Bluetooth at the same time, but only one can use Apple CarPlay/Android Auto at a time
(e.g., If your Android device will be connected via Android Auto, then your iPhone will be connected via BMW's Bluetooth system; You would make a call via Google Assistant "Hey Google", whereas the iPhone user would use BMW's A.I. "Hello BMW" to make a call) - I hope this makes sense?

Remember - Google Maps via Android Auto/Apple CarPlay can be configured to show you Live Traffic and a Satellite View, which closely resembles BMW's Maps in iDrive 9 (Digital Premium)

Best,
Cameron
- 2025 BMW 330i - named: "Hayko"
- 2023 BMW X5 - xDrive45e - named: "Connor"

[Zirnitra]

Apologise if I am breaking board rules and this is considered spam. if only BMW had open contracts for voices. How I miss those days when you used Tom Tom for navigation and you could have different characters giving you directions- Ozzy Osborne was funny - especially the un-edited swearing version or John Cleese , yoda, Mr T, Austin powers the list could go on.
The actual voices on the Tom tom were pretty good- my total favorite was the Irish lady voice- dreamy lol. For my current BMW - I am sad I guess because instead of Hey BMW- I have hey Jarvis (from iron man).

[avi66]

Just use WAZE if you want a wide range of voice options, 70’s DJ, Christina Aguilera etc. There’s loads of voice options, but I like English (UK) Kate.

[puckhead85]

Is there a way to just lower the music in CarPlay/XM radio rather then it just stopping/pausing completely when using CarPlay/Google maps. (it kills the vibes haha)

Idrive 7 just lowers the music..