Troubleshooting
How to stop your TV from talking: turn off the narrator on any TV
Nefarius Apps14 min read
To stop your TV from talking, first find out which voice it is. If the voice reads the menus, the channel and the volume, a screen reader is on. Turn it off in the Accessibility menu of the TV settings. Its name changes with the brand: Voice Guide on Samsung, Audio Guidance on LG, TalkBack on Google TV and Android TV, Screen reader on Roku, VoiceView on Fire TV. If the voice describes what happens in a show, it is audio description, a narration track of the program. Turn it off in the same Accessibility menu, in the audio settings of the cable box, or in the audio menu of the app.
The fastest ways are on the remote. On a Samsung, press and hold Volume (or Mute) to open Accessibility Shortcuts. On an LG, press and hold Mute. On a Roku, press the Star button four times quickly. On a Fire TV, press and hold Back and Menu.
Which voice is talking?
A TV can talk because of three different functions. Two of them are accessibility features for blind and low-vision viewers. Each function has its own off switch. If you turn off the wrong one, the voice continues.
| What you hear | Function | Samsung | LG | Google TV and Android TV | Roku | Fire TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A voice reads the menus, the channel, the volume and the program guide | Screen reader | Voice Guide | Audio Guidance | TalkBack (Sony: Talkback or Screen reader) | Screen reader | VoiceView |
| A voice describes the scenes, the actions and the clothes of the characters, in some shows only | Audio description | Video description | Video Description | Audio description | Check the app's audio track | Check the app's audio track |
| A voice answers after you speak to the TV | Voice assistant | Bixby or Vision AI Companion | — | — | — | — |
A simple test: open the TV's settings menu. If the voice reads the menu items, the screen reader is on. If the voice talks only during a movie or a show, and only on some channels or apps, it is audio description.
Turn off Voice Guide on a Samsung TV
Samsung says that if your TV announces everything you do, Voice Guide is on. Voice Guide is an accessibility function. Samsung Spain says that it gives you information about the current channel and volume, and about the programs.
The fast way: the Accessibility Shortcuts menu
- On the Samsung Smart Remote, press and hold the Volume button for 2 seconds or more. The Accessibility Shortcuts menu opens.
- Select Voice Guide.
- Turn off Voice Guide.
Samsung's Caribbean page gives the Volume button. Samsung US says to press and hold Mute, or Volume on a remote without a Mute button. If one button does not open the menu, try the other.
The way through the settings menu
The path changes with the model year. Samsung Latin America gives these three paths, and says that the shortcut above works on all models with Voice Guide.
| Model year | Path |
|---|---|
| 2022 to 2026 | Settings > All Settings > General & Privacy > Accessibility > Voice Guide Settings > Voice Guide off |
| 2017 to 2021 | Settings > General > Accessibility > Voice Guide Settings > Voice Guide off |
| 2016 | Settings > System > Accessibility > Voice Guide off |
Samsung says that menus can be different with the model and the software version. If a name on your TV is different, look for Accessibility.
Samsung adds a note: the Accessibility Shortcuts menu has its own voice. Samsung says that the voice guide for Accessibility Shortcuts stays on, even if Voice Guide is set to Off. If the TV talks only while that menu is open, nothing is wrong. Close the menu with the Return button.
If the voice describes the show: Video description
Samsung US lists Video description in the same Accessibility menu. Samsung says that it "offers auditory descriptions of video scenes" and that its "availability is broadcast-specific". Thus you hear it only on shows that carry a description track.
- Open Accessibility Shortcuts with the long press of Volume or Mute.
- Select the audio description option, and turn it off.
Samsung Spain puts this option in Accessibility Shortcuts, under the name Audio Description. Samsung US calls it Video description, in Settings > General > Accessibility. If the voice continues, read the section on audio description below. A cable box or an app can have its own setting.
If the TV answers you: Bixby or Vision AI Companion
Some Samsung TVs talk back after you use a voice command. This is not Voice Guide. Samsung's Hong Kong page gives two more settings to check if the speech continues:
- Bixby: Settings > All Settings > Advanced Features > Voice > Bixby Settings > Bixby Feedback, then turn off Voice Response.
- Vision AI Companion: press and hold the Home button for 2 seconds, go right to Settings, then turn off Spoken Response.
Samsung says that the steps change with the region, the model and the software version.
Turn off Audio Guidance on an LG TV
On an LG TV, the screen reader is Audio Guidance. LG says that Audio Guidance starts when you change the channel or the volume after it is turned on.
The fast way, from LG US:
- Press and hold the Mute button on the LG remote until the Accessibility menu shows.
- If Audio Guidance is on, turn it off.
The path in the settings menu changes with the webOS version. webOS is the software of LG TVs.
| LG TV | Path |
|---|---|
| 2021 or later (webOS 6.0 or later) | Settings button > All Settings > General > Accessibility > Audio Guidance, then set it to off |
| 2020 or earlier (webOS 5.0 or earlier) | Settings button > All Settings > Accessibility > Audio Guidance, then set it to off |
If you do not find Accessibility under General, look for it directly in All Settings.
If the voice describes the show: Video Description
LG calls audio description Video Description. LG says that you hear a voice describing characters' actions or scenes when it is on.
- Press the Settings button on the remote, and select All Settings.
- On a 2021 or later TV, go to General > Accessibility. On a 2020 or earlier TV, go directly to Accessibility.
- Select Video Description, and turn it off.
LG gives two causes: someone changed the setting by accident with the remote, or the feature is on in a set-top box. If the voice continues after you turn off Video Description, LG says that the cause is probably the set-top box, not the TV. LG tells you to contact your service provider for the steps.
LG also says that a narrator in a streaming app is "not a feature of the LG TV". It comes from the app or the connected device, and you turn it off in the captions menu of that app or device.
Turn off TalkBack on Google TV and Android TV
Many Sony, TCL and Hisense TVs use Google TV or Android TV. On these TVs, the screen reader is TalkBack. Some Sony models also have a Screen reader. The menus can change a little with the Android version and the TV model.
On Sony BRAVIA TVs with Google TV, Sony gives these steps:
- Press HOME on the remote.
- Select Settings, then Accessibility.
- Under Services, select Talkback. Unselect Enable, then select OK.
- If Screen reader is on, select Screen reader. Unselect Enable, then select OK.
On other Google TV sets, the path is the same: Google puts TalkBack under Settings > Accessibility > Services. On Android TV, Google gives another path: Settings > Device Preferences > Accessibility > TalkBack. The same Accessibility menu has an Audio description option. Turn it off if the voice describes the scenes.
The accessibility shortcut
Google TV and Android TV have an accessibility shortcut. It works only if someone turned it on before, in Accessibility > Enable accessibility shortcut. Google says that you press and hold the back arrow and down buttons at the same time for 3 seconds, and that by default the shortcut turns on TalkBack.
Sony uses the Mute button. Sony says that a window for the shortcut appears one time during the first setup, or when you hold MUTE for about 3 seconds. When the shortcut is on, a 3-second press of MUTE turns Talkback or Screen reader on or off. To stop this, go to Settings > Accessibility > Accessibility shortcut, and turn off Enable accessibility shortcut.
Turn off the screen reader on a Roku TV
Roku says that its screen reader reads the text, the menu items and other on-screen dialog aloud. Roku gives these steps for its streaming devices, and Roku TVs use the same Roku software.
- The fast way: press the Star button on the Roku remote four times quickly. This turns the screen reader on or off.
- The menu way: go to Settings > Accessibility > Screen reader, and turn it off.
To stop it from coming back, disable the screen reader shortcut in Settings > Accessibility. Roku says that when the shortcut is disabled, four presses of Star do not turn on the screen reader.
Turn off VoiceView on a Fire TV
On a Fire TV or a Fire TV Stick, the screen reader is VoiceView. Amazon gives two ways to turn it off:
- Press and hold the Back button and the Menu button on the remote for several seconds.
- Go to Settings > Accessibility > VoiceView, and confirm that you want to turn it off.
If the voice describes the show: audio description
Audio description is a narration that describes the important things on the screen. The FCC explains that the descriptions go into the natural pauses of the dialogue. The voice is part of the program's sound, not of the TV menus. A screen reader setting does not stop it.
In the US, many shows carry audio description. FCC rules say that local ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC stations in the 120 largest markets must give 87.5 hours of described programs per quarter, about 7 hours per week. Large cable and satellite systems must do the same on the five most-watched cable networks. Thus a TV with audio description on can start to talk in the middle of an evening show.
Audio description and Spanish come from the same setting
The FCC says that audio description uses the "secondary audio" feature of the TV or set-top box, which some TVs call SAP (secondary audio program). Some TVs also show this audio as a language, such as "Spanish" or "SPA". With secondary audio on, you can hear the description on one show, a Spanish version on another, and silence on a third.
If a narrator or Spanish audio comes on antenna or cable channels, do these steps:
- On the TV, open the sound or language settings, and set the audio back to the main audio or to English.
- If you use a cable or satellite box, open the audio or accessibility settings of the box with the box's remote, and do the same.
- If you cannot find the setting, the FCC says to look in the TV manual or to ask the TV maker or your TV provider.
On an Xfinity X1 box
Xfinity gives two ways to turn audio description off on X1:
- Press and hold the voice button on the Xfinity Voice Remote, and say "audio description" again.
- Press the Xfinity button, select Settings, then Accessibility Settings. Select Audio Description, and press OK to turn it off.
In a streaming app
In an app, audio description is usually an audio track. In Netflix, start a show, press up or down, and select Audio & Subtitles. Then choose an audio track without "Audio Description" in its name.
If the narration comes back on Netflix, Netflix says that a setting on the device is usually the cause. Turn off audio description in the device's Accessibility settings, then play a show for at least 5 minutes, so that Netflix saves the change to your profile. Other apps have a similar audio or language menu in the player.
Why did my TV start talking?
The easiest cause to check is a long press on the remote. On the TVs in this article, a long press of one button opens an accessibility menu or turns on the screen reader directly. Samsung says that holding the volume button is how Voice Guide is often turned on by accident. This can happen when a child plays with the remote, when the remote is under a cushion, or when a button sticks.
| Platform | The press | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung | Hold Volume for 2 seconds, or hold Mute | Opens Accessibility Shortcuts, where one more press turns on Voice Guide or Video description |
| LG | Hold Mute | Opens the Accessibility menu |
| Sony with Google TV | Hold MUTE for about 3 seconds | Opens the shortcut window, or turns Talkback or Screen reader on or off |
| Other Google TV and Android TV | Hold Back and Down for 3 seconds | Turns on TalkBack, if the shortcut was turned on before |
| Roku | Press Star four times quickly | Turns the screen reader on or off |
Audio description has a different cause: the TV or the box plays the description track each time a show carries one.
If the voice does not stop
You turned off a setting, but the TV still talks? Check these points:
- The wrong function. Go back to the first table. Maybe you turned off the screen reader, but the voice is audio description, or the other way around.
- The cable or satellite box. If you watch TV through a box, audio description can be on in the box. LG says that this is the probable cause when the voice continues with the TV setting off.
- The app. If the voice comes only in one streaming app, change the audio track in that app.
- Other brands. If your TV is not one of the brands here, look for an Accessibility menu in the settings. The screen reader and audio description are usually there. The manual of your model gives the exact names.
Walk the menus from your iPhone with Tivi
To turn off the voice, you move through the Accessibility menu. If the remote is lost, or a button does not work, you can do it from your phone.
Tivi is a universal TV remote app for iPhone from Nefarius Apps. It finds the TVs on your Wi-Fi and controls Samsung, LG, Android TV and Google TV sets without an account. It has the arrows and OK, Home, Back and Menu: the buttons you need to open the settings and turn off Voice Guide, Audio Guidance or TalkBack. The free version runs the full remote on one TV.
Tivi has limits:
- The iPhone and the TV must be on the same Wi-Fi network.
- Tivi has no press-and-hold. The long-press shortcuts in this article need the TV's own remote. Use the paths through the settings menu.
- The first connection needs one action on the TV. A Samsung TV asks you to allow the phone to connect. An LG TV shows a code that you type in the app, as the LG pairing PIN guide explains. Android TV and Google TV sets also show a code.
- Tivi does not control Roku, Fire TV or Apple TV devices.
For the full setup, read how to use your iPhone as a TV remote.
The short version
Find out which voice talks. A voice that reads the menus is the screen reader: turn it off in Settings > Accessibility. A voice that describes the scenes in some shows is audio description: turn it off on the TV, on the cable box or in the app. A long press on the remote is the usual way the voice came on.
Common questions
Why does my TV say everything I do?
The screen reader is on. It reads the menus, the channel and the volume aloud. On a Samsung TV, press and hold Volume or Mute, select Voice Guide and turn it off. On an LG TV, hold Mute and turn off Audio Guidance. On Google TV, go to Settings > Accessibility > Services > TalkBack. On a Roku, press Star four times quickly.
Why is my TV talking in Spanish?
The TV or the cable box probably plays the secondary audio (SAP). The FCC says that this channel carries audio description or a Spanish version, and that some TVs label it "Spanish". Open the sound or language settings of the TV or the box, and set the audio back to the main audio or to English.
Why does the narrator talk only on some shows?
Because it is audio description, and only shows with a description track carry it. The setting on the TV, the box or the app stays on, and the voice comes back with each described show. Turn off Video description on a Samsung or LG TV, the secondary audio on the box, or the Audio Description track in the app.
Can I turn off the narrator without the remote?
Yes, if a phone app can control your TV. With the app, you move through the Accessibility menu and turn the voice off. The long-press shortcuts need the TV's own remote, so use the settings path. If you lost the remote, read how to use a TV without its remote for all the options.
Sources
- Samsung US. Voice on Samsung TV or projector announces everything I do.
- Samsung Caribbean (2026). How to disable the Voice Guide function on your Samsung TV.
- Samsung Latin America (2026). Cómo deshabilitar la función Guía de Voz en tu televisor Samsung.
- Samsung Spain. Accesibilidad: TV y audio.
- Samsung US. Accessibility settings on your Samsung TV.
- Samsung Hong Kong (2026). How to disable the Voice Guide feature on Samsung Smart TVs.
- LG US (2026). LG TV: How to turn on/off Audio Guidance.
- LG US (2026). LG TV: How do I turn Video Description (Audio Description) off?
- LG Gulf (2023). Audio Guidance is triggered when I change the channel or volume with the remote.
- Sony (2025). My TV is reading or describing the menu out loud.
- Google. Make Google TV more accessible.
- Google. Make Android TV more accessible.
- Roku (2026). How to enable the text-to-speech screen reader on your Roku streaming device.
- Amazon. Make Fire TV Stop Reading the Screen.
- FCC (2026). Consumer Guide: Audio Description.
- Xfinity. Turn audio description on and off on Xfinity X1.
- Netflix. Audio Description for shows and movies.
- Netflix. Audio Descriptions won't turn off.