One Roku accessibility feature that some users find helpful, or perhaps a bit annoying, is the voice guide or narration that provides audio descriptions for on-screen menus and actions. Some people love having these extra audio cues, while others may prefer a quieter browsing experience or simply don’t know why their TV is talking to them!
The fastest way to toggle narration is to press the asterisk button on your Roku remote 4 times. If this doesn’t work, use the Roku menu by going to Settings > Accessibility > Audio Guide, and set it to “Off”. You can edit the remote shortcuts behavior to prevent triggering this accidentally.
So, whether you accidentally enabled the feature or you are assisting someone who no longer needs the audio guide, follow our guide and enjoy a peaceful streaming experience with your Roku device. We’ll cover a few more tips you may be interested in as well. Let’s get started!
What is Roku “Audio Guide” or Narrator Feature?
Roku’s “Audio Guide” or Narrator is a built-in feature designed to help those with visual impairments navigate the Roku interface. It’s a speech feature that provides audio narration for on-screen text, menus, and other elements, making it easier to use the device without relying on visual cues. Sometimes, this feature is called “Screen Reader,” but Roku now mainly refers to it as the “Audio Guide.”
This helpful tool is available on most Roku devices and can be turned on or off according to the user’s preference. As we mentioned, it’s an excellent resource for people who have trouble seeing, but it can also be beneficial for anyone who might want some extra guidance while using their Roku device.
That said, if it’s on unexpectedly, then this obviously isn’t good. It can be annoying, and like other glitches on Roku devices, it makes it seem like the Roku has a mind of it’s own. So, let’s turn it off!
3 Ways to Turn Off Narration On a Roku
We’re going to discuss three simple methods to turn off voice narration on your Roku device here, starting with the simplest:
The first method is to use your remote control. If you’re using a universal remote with your Roku, skip to the next paragraph. You can quickly toggle the Screen Reader narration by pressing the star (asterisk) button on your Roku remote four times in a row. This action will either enable or disable voice narration depending on its current state. Your narrator is probably on because you accidentally hit this button 4 times!
The second way to turn off the voice on your Roku is by adjusting the settings from the device’s menu. You need to navigate to Settings > Accessibility > Audio Guide (or Screen Reader in some versions). From here, you can either turn the feature on and off.
Pro-Tip: Why is your narrator on in the first place? If it was triggered by accident, try to edit the shortcut on your remote so it doesn’t happen again.
Lastly, if you want to disable the star button’s functionality on your Roku remote for turning off voice narration, you can do so by customizing the shortcut options in the device settings. However, keep in mind that customizing this shortcut key might not be available on all versions of Roku devices. This is a little more complicated, but here’s how you do it:
- Navigate to the device settings menu on your Roku device.
- Look for the option to customize the shortcut keys and select it.
- Find the option to customize the star button and select it.
- Choose the option to disable the star button’s functionality for turning off voice narration
This will prevent you from accidentally triggering it in the future.
Disabling Roku Narration from the Roku App
Disabling narration on Roku devices can be done through the Roku remote or through the Roku app, which can be downloaded on your iOS or Android devices.
Once the app is installed and connected to your Roku device, access the remote functionality. You’ll notice that the virtual Roku remote within the app mirrors the physical Roku remote’s layout. To disable the voice narration, all you need to do is press the star button in the app four times in quick succession like we described above.
Moreover, you can disable the remote shortcut as we described above using the app as well, but if you only use the app then you don’t need to worry about this.
Is Your TV Still Talking To You?
If you’ve tried the steps above but your TV is still talking to you, it might be due to the smart TV or the app you’re using that’s providing the additional narration.
First, we recommend checking your TV settings. The process might slightly differ depending on your TV’s brand and model, so it’s a good idea to refer to your TV’s user manual or search for specific instructions online. Generally, look for audio or accessibility settings and search for a feature related to descriptive audio or voice guidance in line with the settings path we have above for Roku.
Next, consider checking the settings of the streaming app you’re using, as some of them might have the audio narration enabled by default within their interface. For example, if you’re watching a show on Netflix or Hulu, navigate to the app’s settings menu and look for any options related to audio language or additional audio descriptions.
Silencing the Roku Chatter
We hope our guide has helped you learn how to turn off the voice on your Roku device with ease. Just remember, you can either use the quick method by pressing the Star button on your remote four times, and you can turn that off if you don’t wanted. Happy streaming, and enjoy the newfound silence on your Roku device!
