Navigation systems today have become an integral part of the life of every driver, allowing you to feel confident even in unfamiliar cities. 2GIS (or DoubleGIS) is deservedly considered one of the leaders on the market due to the accuracy of the maps and the detailing of buildings. However, the standard voice of the navigator may become boring over time or seem insufficiently intelligible in a noisy environment inside the car.
Fortunately, the developers have provided the ability to customize the voice acting, allowing users to choose from dozens of voice package options. These can be strict professional announcers, as well as celebrities, cartoon characters, or even the voices of famous bloggers. The process of changing audio accompaniment on the Android platform is quite simple, but has its own nuances, depending on the version of the interface and the method of loading data.
In this article we will analyze in detail all the stages of changing the voice: from finding the desired section in the menu to installing third-party packages that are not displayed in the standard list. You will learn how to use Google Play to expand the functionality of the navigator and what to do if the voice is lost after updating the system.
Where to find voice settings in the application
The first step to change the navigation settings is to enter the main menu of the application. Interface 2GIS has undergone changes, so the arrangement of elements may differ slightly in different versions of the software. Typically, settings are accessed through the profile or gear icon located in the upper or lower left corner of the screen.
After opening the menu, you need to find the section responsible for the operation of the navigator. In modern versions, this option is often hidden inside the general settings or placed in a separate “Navigation” block. You will need to follow the path Settings → Navigator → Voice. If you are using an older version of the interface, the item you are looking for may simply be called “Voice.”
It is important to note that the list of available voices depends on what packages are already downloaded to your device. By default, the application installs one standard option, which takes up minimal space. To select an alternative voice, the system may require an Internet connection to download additional files.
⚠️ Attention: If the “Voice” menu item is grayed out, make sure that the voice guidance function is enabled in the navigation settings. Sometimes users accidentally turn off the sound, thinking that the problem is in the choice of speaker.
Standard voices and their loading
Inside the voice selection section, you will see a list of available options, divided into categories. Standard voices are usually marked with a cloud icon, which means you need to download them. Clicking on such an element will launch the download process, the size of which varies from 5 to 50 megabytes, depending on the quality of the recording and the presence of hints.
The developers regularly update the library, adding new voiceover options. Among them you can find both neutral announcer voices and thematic packages dedicated to holidays or advertising campaigns. Selecting a specific option is done by simply tapping on the name, after which the system will confirm activation.
Some voices support the function split audio, which allows you to separate the navigator's voice and music in the media player. This is especially true for those who listen to podcasts or audiobooks on the go. When this mode is activated, the navigator will automatically mute third-party sounds only when a hint is spoken.
Before downloading a new voice, check the availability of free space in the internal memory of the smartphone. Although the files are small, if there is not enough space, the system may throw an installation error.
Using Google Play to install voices
If the built-in selection is not enough for you, there is a way to expand the selection through the official application store. Many popular personalities and voiceover studios release separate packages for 2GIS as stand-alone applications in Google Play. Installing such a package will automatically integrate it into the main list of the navigator.
To do this, open the application store on your Android device and enter the search query “2GIS voice” or a specific celebrity name. Download the application you like following the standard installation procedure. After completing the process, return to the navigator settings - the new voice will appear in the general list of available options.
Please note that third-party voices may require a certain version of the main navigation app. If after installation the application does not see the new package, try updating yourself 2GIS to the latest available version through the same store.
| Voice type | Download source | File size | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Inside the application | ~5 MB | Basic voice acting, always available |
| Premium/Stars | Inside the application | ~20-40 MB | Requires Internet for downloading |
| Third-party package | Google Play | ~10-30 MB | Installed as a separate application |
| Thematic | Inside applications | ~15 MB | Available for a limited time |
☑️ Check before installing a new voice
Manual installation of voice packages
For advanced users, it is possible to manually install voice files downloaded from third party sources. This method is useful if the voice you want has been removed from the official store or if you want to use a unique voice-over created by enthusiasts. Files usually have an extension .zip or a special folder structure.
The downloaded archive must be unpacked and placed in the root directory of the application on the internal drive. The path usually looks like /Android/data/ru.dublgis.dgismobile/files/voices. In some cases, you may need to create a folder voices manually if it is missing.
After copying the files, restart the application. The new voice should appear in the list of available options. If this does not happen, check the application's access rights to the file system in the Android settings, since new OS versions strictly regulate access to system folders.
⚠️ Attention: The interface and folder structure may change with application updates. If manual installation does not work, check the current path to the directory with voices in the official developer help or on the community forum.
What to do if the voice does not sound right?
If after installation the voice sounds too quiet, fast or distorted, try removing the package and downloading it again. Also check the equalizer settings in the Android system - sometimes specific frequencies of voice packets conflict with system sound improvements.
Solving problems with no sound
The situation when a voice is selected, but the navigator is silent, occurs quite often. First of all, check the global sound settings in the application itself. Make sure that the volume slider is not turned to zero or the “Important Alerts Only” mode is activated, which disables detailed prompts.
The second common reason is a conflict with other audio applications. If you are running a music player or instant messenger with active sound, the navigator may not switch the audio stream. Try stopping the music playback and check the voice function again.
You should also pay attention to the Bluetooth settings if you are using a car headset. Sometimes audio is routed to the wrong device. In the navigator settings there may be an option to select sound output: Phone speakers or Bluetooth device.
In 90% of cases, the problem with the lack of voice is solved by checking the volume slider inside the navigator menu or switching audio output from Bluetooth to the phone speaker.
Features of working on different versions of Android
Different versions of the Android operating system have their own restrictions on the background operation of applications and access to the microphone or speakers. On recent versions, such as Android 12, 13 and newer, the system can aggressively “kill” background processes to save energy, which leads to loss of voice while driving. To avoid this, you need to add power saving mode to the exceptions. Go to your phone settings, find the “Applications” section, select the navigator and set the “Battery” option to “No restrictions” or “Do not optimize” mode. This is guaranteed to leave the application active in the background.
To avoid this you need to add 2GIS to exclude the energy saving mode. Go to your phone settings, find the “Applications” section, select the navigator and set the “Battery” option to “No restrictions” or “Do not optimize” mode. This is guaranteed to keep the application active in the background.
In addition, on some shells (for example, MIUI, OneUI, ColorOS) there are additional startup managers. Make sure that the navigator is allowed to run in the background and display notifications on top of other windows.
⚠️ Attention: Energy saving settings are individual for each smartphone manufacturer. If the voice disappears periodically, look for the “Autostart” or “Background Activity” section in the settings of your specific phone model.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to record your own voice for navigation?
At the moment, there is an official function for recording your own voice in the application 2GIS missing. You can only use packages or files created by third parties that are available for download. Creating your own package requires skills in working with sound editors and knowledge of the application file structure.
Why did my favorite voice disappear after updating the application?
With global updates to the data structure, old voice packages may become incompatible or be removed from the library. Try going to the voice management section and clicking the “Download” or “Update” button next to the desired option. If the voice is deleted by the developers forever, you will have to choose an analogue.
Does the choice of voice affect the battery consumption of the smartphone?
The difference in energy consumption between different voices is minimal and almost unnoticeable against the background of the operation of the GPS module and screen. However, using heavy third-party packages with high bitrates may slightly increase the CPU load when decoding audio.
How can I get my voice back if I accidentally deleted all the packages?
Even if you deleted all additional voices, the basic system voice always remains in the application. Go to the navigator settings, select the voices section and find the option marked “Default” or the phone icon - it does not require downloading and always works.