To stop Roku from talking, press the Star (*) button on your remote four times quickly. This is the fastest way to turn off the Screen Reader or Audio Guide feature that is narrating your menus.
Stop your Roku from talking in seconds
The most immediate way to disable the voice is with a simple remote shortcut. While on any Roku screen, press the Star (*) or Options button on your remote four times in a row. A confirmation message will appear, and the narration will stop immediately. If you ever need to turn the feature back on, just press the Star button four times again.
If the remote shortcut does not work, you can disable the feature through the Settings menu. Use your remote to go to Settings, then select Accessibility. From there, choose Screen Reader or Audio Guide, and set the toggle to Off. This path works on all Roku devices that support the feature.
What is the Roku talking feature?
The "talking" feature on your Roku is called the Screen Reader, or on some older devices and software, the Audio Guide. This is an accessibility tool designed to assist users with visual impairments by narrating on-screen text and menus aloud. It is available on all Roku TV models and most Roku streaming players sold in the US and Canada, and your device must be updated to Roku OS 7.5 or later for the feature to be available.
If you are looking for a similar solution on a different brand, you may want to know how to turn off voice on Vizio smart TV. While the Roku Screen Reader is a specific accessibility tool, other smart TVs have their own voice guidance settings that can be adjusted separately.
Prevent the Screen Reader from turning on again
Accidental activation of the Screen Reader is common, especially if the remote shortcut is pressed by mistake. To prevent this, you can disable the remote shortcut entirely. Go to Settings, then Accessibility, then Screen Reader, and select Shortcut. Choose Disabled to stop the Star button from toggling the feature on or off. This is the most reliable way to stop the voice from coming back unexpectedly.
If you are trying to turn narrator off on Roku and the voice keeps returning, disabling the shortcut ensures it stays off. For users who want a complete shutdown of the device, you can also learn how to turn off Roku from the Settings menu under System, but remember that turning off the device does not disable the Screen Reader, it will still be active when you power it back on.
Once the shortcut is disabled, the only way to re-enable the Screen Reader is through the Accessibility settings menu, which prevents accidental activation while you are browsing or watching content.
