The briefing will not play
Usually the sound is going somewhere you cannot hear it, or the briefing is still being written. Work down these checks; most people are done after the first two.
- APPLIES TO
- ALL DEVICES
- TAKES
- 2 MIN
- UPDATED
- 10 OCT 2026
Check where the sound is going
- Turn up the volume while the briefing is playing, so you change the media volume rather than the ringer.
- Check the output. If your phone is connected to a car, headphones or a speaker, the briefing plays there. Disconnecting an output pauses it; press play again.
- Check that something else is not playing. A call, or another app taking over the sound, pauses the briefing.
Wait for it to be written
The first time you open a drive’s briefing, it has to be written, which takes a little while. The screen says so: “Writing your briefing…” on iPhone, iPad and Mac, “Preparing your briefing” on Android, “WRITING…” on the web. Play appears when it is ready.
What the message means
The briefing was written, but its voice could not be made. The text is on screen, so you can still read it. Choose Refresh briefing to try the voice again.
Something on the device stopped playback. Press play again; if it still fails, choose Refresh briefing.
The forecast is fine; the part that writes the briefing did not answer. Your drive is kept. Choose Try again, or Write the briefing again on Android.
It was written more than five minutes ago. It still plays; choose Refresh briefing for one that matches the latest forecast.
Check the connection
Writing and fetching a briefing needs a connection. On a weak signal, wait until you have a better one, then try again. Once a briefing has loaded, it plays without asking for anything more.
On the car
On Android Auto and Automotive OS, choose Play in Briefing. Loading and failures appear in the Playing row; choose Try again after a failure or Refresh briefing to request a new briefing. If there is no Play button, its voice is unavailable. Read opens the full text while parked. On CarPlay, choose Listen; if its voice is unavailable, read the text on your phone after stopping. Using it on the road has more.
Still silent? Contact support with your device and the drive.
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