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Avatar and Voice retirement FAQs

Find out what happens when an avatar or voice is retired in Synthesia. This article answers common questions about access, usage, and how retirement affects your existing videos.

Meg avatar
Written by Meg
Updated today

When an actor or voice provider removes their consent, we retire their stock avatar or stock voice. This FAQ explains what that means for your projects—what happens to existing videos, how long you can keep using the avatar or voice, and how to stay consistent with custom avatars or voices.


Why are avatars and voices retired?

Avatars and voices are removed from our platform when the actor or voice provider behind a stock avatar or stock voice chooses to opt out of their agreement and no longer wants their likeness or voice used in new videos. We are committed to our ethical principles of consent and control, and we always respect a provider’s decision to opt out. Fortunately, we still offer a wide range of other avatars and voices for you to choose from.


What happens to videos I've already created with a retired avatar or voice?

All existing generated videos created with a retired avatar or voice will remain accessible and functional in your library. Any future updates to existing videos will require a new avatar or voice to be selected.


Can I create videos with an avatar or voice before it retires?

Yes! You can continue creating new videos with an avatar or voice until it is retired. We recommend planning ahead if you have upcoming projects that would benefit from consistency.


How can I ensure the avatar or voice I’m using will not be retired?

To ensure the avatar or voice you’re using in Synthesia will not be retired, we recommend creating and using a custom avatar or custom voice. Custom avatars and voices are owned and managed by you, giving you full control over their availability and ensuring long-term consistency in your videos.

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