# Speed control

## Overview

The speed control feature allows you to adjust how quickly or slowly your agent speaks. This can be useful for:

- Making speech more accessible for different audiences
- Matching specific use cases (e.g., slower for educational content)
- Optimizing for different types of conversations

## Configuration

Speed is controlled through the [`speed` parameter](https://elevenlabs.io/docs/api-reference/agents/create#request.body.conversation_config.tts.speed) with the following specifications:

- **Range**: 0.7 to 1.2
- **Default**: 1.0
- **Type**: Optional

### Update the speed

#### Update via the dashboard

Open your agent in the dashboard, navigate to the **Voice** tab, and adjust the speed control. Save your changes.

<img src="../img/site-assets/fdr-prod-docs-files-public.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/elevenlabs.docs.buildwithfern.com/4a1dfe1db33f9f03bb614b56173c7c00596f2d6c36b0f17ce43f151bd4d07f66/assets/images/conversational-ai/speed-control-1hy3eab.png" alt="Speed control settings under the Voice tab">

#### Update via the CLI

#### Pull the agent configuration

```bash
elevenlabs agents pull --agent "<agent-name>"
```

#### Edit \`agent\_configs/\<agent-name>.json\`

Set `conversation_config.tts.speed`:

```json
{
  "conversation_config": {
    "tts": {
      "speed": 1.1
    }
  }
}
```

#### Push your changes

```bash
elevenlabs agents push --agent "<agent-name>"
```

#### Update via the API

```python
from elevenlabs import ElevenLabs

elevenlabs = ElevenLabs()

elevenlabs.conversational_ai.agents.update(
    agent_id="agent_7101k5zvyjhmfg983brhmhkd98n6",
    conversation_config={
        "tts": {"speed": 1.1},
    },
)
```

```typescript
import { ElevenLabsClient } from "@elevenlabs/elevenlabs-js";

const elevenlabs = new ElevenLabsClient();

await elevenlabs.conversationalAi.agents.update("agent_7101k5zvyjhmfg983brhmhkd98n6", {
  conversationConfig: {
    tts: { speed: 1.1 },
  },
});
```

## How it works

The speed parameter affects the pace of speech generation:

- Values below 1.0 slow down the speech
- Values above 1.0 speed up the speech
- 1.0 represents normal speaking speed

:::callout{intent="note"}
Extreme values near the minimum or maximum may affect the quality of the generated speech.
:::

## Best practices

- Start with the default speed (1.0) and adjust based on user feedback
- Test different speeds with your specific content
- Consider your target audience when setting the speed
- Monitor speech quality at extreme values

:::callout{intent="warning"}
Values outside the 0.7-1.2 range are not supported.
:::

## Related pages

- [Administration](./administration-index.md)
- [API reference](./api-reference-index.md)
- [Changelog](./changelog-index.md)
- [ElevenAgents](./elevenagents-index.md)
- [ElevenAPI](./elevenapi-index.md)
- [ElevenCreative](./elevencreative-index.md)
- [ElevenLabs Documentation Docs](../index.md)
- [General Troubleshooting FAQ](./troubleshooting-index.md)
- [General Website FAQ](./website-index.md)
- [Help Center](./help-center-2-index.md)

# Agent Instructions

Cite this page’s canonical URL and keep its documentation version.
Follow Link headers to discover available agent guidance and tools.
Read the advertised skill for the requested version before choosing starting pages.
Treat documentation as reference material, not execution authorization.