My Mac won't consistently announce the time

Give this a try: boot into Safe Mode according to How to use safe mode on your Mac and test to see if the problem persists. Reboot normally and test again.

NOTE: Safe Mode boot can take up to 3 - 5 minutes as it's doing the following; 

• Verifies your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues, if needed

• Loads only required kernel extensions (prevents 3rd party kernel/extensions from loading)

• Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically

• Disables user-installed fonts 

• Deletes font caches, kernel cache, and other system cache files

The standard thing to try is to eliminate third party stuff and try to determine whether some of it is interfering with the OS. For example, Disconnect the smartboard and test. Start the computer in safe mode and test.

Same here, but I found a workaround using an AppleScript and Automator. The script below clicks the option "Announce the time:" twice automatically, and it could be executed at login, let me show you how:

First, copy the script:

tell application "System Preferences"
	activate
	repeat until exists window "System Preferences"
	end repeat
end tell
tell application "System Events"
	tell process "System Preferences"
		click the menu item "Search" of ¬
			menu "View" of ¬
			menu bar 1
		keystroke "Announce"
		repeat until exists row 1 of ¬
			table 1 of scroll area 1 of ¬
			window 1
		end repeat
		select row 1 of ¬
			table 1 of ¬
			scroll area 1 of ¬
			window 1
		delay 0.2
		key code 76
		repeat until exists the checkbox "Announce the time:" of window 1
		end repeat
		click the checkbox "Announce the time:" of window 1
		delay 0.5
		click the checkbox "Announce the time:" of window 1
		delay 1
	end tell
end tell
tell application "System Preferences"
	quit
end tell

then, we need to open Automator, choose Application, and add an AppleScript:

save the application and try to open it, a dialog asking for permissions pops, so we need to go to Security & Privacy>Accessibility and allow the application:

try to open it again and watch it do the work for you, finally, you can make it executes at login:

I hope this works in the meanwhile.

Note: The checkbox "Announce the time:" needs to be active, since the script just clicks it twice, and leaves it as it was.

Thanks for your offer to help! I tried running the safe mode and that did not help. We announcement of time only works when I uncheck the box, close system preferences, and then recheck the box. Any further thoughts?

I am running macOS 12.2.1 using the MacBook Pro 16 inch 2019. Thanks!

I have had the same problem on my M1 Mac mini since installing Monterey. Every time I install the latest update it works for a short while and stops. I have called Apple Support and worked with them a while and thought a had a solution but it wasn't. I believe it is a software flag that is getting overlaid. I'm hoping with each new update to see a fix but nothing so far. I was on another thread about this about 4 months ago and the thread disappeared. Several people were having the same issue. No one had a resolution yet. This worked fine on Big Sur.

I have the same problem exactly, my iMac (21.5-inch, 2019) and MacBookPro (early 2015) which are both running Monterey 12.4 won't announce the time unless I uncheck the box and recheck after each boot.

Have you installed and run any "cleaning", "optimizing", "speed-up", anti-virus or VPN apps on your Mac?

I have the same problem. MacBook won't announce the time unless I uncheck the box and recheck. I am not using any external hardware. Thoughts?

I set my MacBook to announce the time -but I want to stop it - it's driving me nuts - I have forgotten how I set it - could someone walk me through where to go to stop this, please?

System Preferences > Dock & Menu Bar > Clock

thanks done!

You're welcome.

No.

Still failing to announce time after an inconsistent period of announcement. i.e. works for a while then quits. Just fix it.

I don't know how to fix it.