To turn off screen reader on Roku, press the Star (*) button on your remote four times quickly. This is the fastest way to immediately disable the voice that narrates your menus.
How to turn off screen reader on Roku with the remote shortcut
If your Roku has suddenly started talking and you need it to stop right away, the remote shortcut is your best option. Simply locate the Star (*) button, usually found just below the directional pad and to the right on your Roku remote, and press it four times in rapid succession. This will instantly disable the Screen Reader, also known as the Audio Guide, and silence the voice feedback. This method works regardless of which menu you are currently in, making it the ideal choice when you need to turn off voice on Vizio smart TV or any other Roku-powered device immediately. If you have a different brand of television, you may need to turn off voice narrator on Samsung smart TV through its own accessibility settings instead.
Turn off the Roku screen reader through the settings menu
If the remote shortcut does not work, or if you prefer a more deliberate approach, you can disable the feature through the system settings. From the Roku Home screen, navigate to Settings. Then select Accessibility. Within that menu, choose Screen Reader (or Audio Guide on some devices). Finally, select Off to disable the narration. This is the standard method for anyone asking, "How do I get my Roku to stop talking?" and provides a clear, step-by-step path to resolving the issue.
Disable the screen reader using the Roku mobile app
If your remote is unavailable or unresponsive, you can turn off the Screen Reader using the Roku mobile app on your smartphone or tablet. Open the app and ensure it is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your Roku device. Tap the remote icon at the bottom of the screen, then tap the gear icon to open settings. Scroll down and select Accessibility, then tap Audio Guide and switch it to the off position. This method is especially useful if you have misplaced your physical remote.
How to prevent the screen reader from turning on again
Many users accidentally enable the Screen Reader by pressing the Star (*) button too many times while holding the remote. To stop this from happening again, you can disable the remote shortcut. Within the Accessibility settings menu, look for an option to turn off the shortcut key for the Screen Reader. Disabling this setting means that pressing the Star button four times will no longer activate the voice, preventing future accidental activations.
Troubleshooting tips
If the Screen Reader remains on after following these steps, check that your Roku remote has fresh batteries and is functioning properly. An unresponsive remote may not register the four-button shortcut. If the issue persists, restart your Roku device by unplugging it from power for a few seconds and then plugging it back in. Also, ensure your Roku device is updated to Roku OS 7.5 or later, as the Screen Reader feature requires this version or newer. If none of these steps work, performing a factory reset, found under Settings > System > Advanced System Settings, will restore your device to its original state, though this will erase your personalized settings.
