How to Stop Your Roku Player From Speaking

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Has your Roku device started narrating every menu or settings option? Don’t worry; there’s a straightforward reason behind this unexpected chatter and an easy fix to silence it.

The cause of your talkative Roku is the “Screen Reader,” an accessibility feature designed for users with visual impairments. Once activated, the screen reader—previously called the Audio Guide—reads out text and descriptions displayed on the screen, including information about your various streaming applications.

This feature is vital for users with sight challenges, but you may find it quite bothersome if enabled by mistake.

Fortunately, turning off the Roku screen reader is simple. Here are a couple of methods to do so.

Repeat the Option Button Press

Here’s the scoop: If you tap the Option button (marked with an asterisk) on your Roku remote four consecutive times, you’ll activate the screen reader.

You’ll see a pop-up message that says “Screen reader enabled” when the feature is turned on. So, if you’re not paying full attention, you might be startled when your Roku begins to speak!

Ben Patterson/Foundry

To turn off the screen reader, simply repeat the process—just press the Option button four times once again.