Audio description is an extra voice track that narrates what's happening on screen — turn it off in your device settings, your streaming app, or your TV remote depending on where you're watching

Audio description adds a second narrator to movies, TV shows, and videos to describe action, scenery, and visual details for people who are blind or have low vision. If you don't use it, the extra voice can be distracting or confusing. Where you disable it depends on what you're watching and what device you're using — it might be in your operating system settings, inside a streaming app, or on your TV itself.

The steps are different for each platform, but the principle is the same: find the audio or accessibility settings, locate the audio description or descriptive audio option, and turn it off. Most devices let you toggle it on and off without uninstalling anything.

Key Takeaways

  • Audio description is a separate audio track you can disable in your device settings, streaming apps, or TV menu without affecting other accessibility features.
  • On Windows and Mac, audio description lives in accessibility settings under audio or captions; on iPhone and Android, check accessibility settings in the main Settings app.
  • Streaming services like Netflix, YouTube, and Disney+ have their own audio description toggles inside the app, separate from your device settings.
  • Smart TVs and cable boxes often have audio description controls in their own menus, usually labeled as "descriptive audio" or "secondary audio program."
  • If audio description turns back on after you disable it, check both your device settings and your app settings, since they work independently.

Disable audio description on Windows

Open Settings and go to Ease of Access (or Accessibility on Windows 11). Select Audio from the left menu. Look for an option called Audio Description or Descriptive Audio and toggle it off.

If you don't see it under Audio, check Captions instead — some Windows versions group it there. The setting applies to built-in Windows media players and some apps, but streaming services like Netflix manage their own audio description separately, so you may need to disable it in the app as well.

Disable audio description on Mac

Go to System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions) and select Accessibility. Click Audio in the left sidebar. Uncheck the box next to Audio Description or Descriptive Audio.

On some Mac models, the setting may appear under Captions instead. After you disable it in system settings, check any streaming apps you use — they have their own audio description controls that work independently of your Mac settings.

Disable audio description on iPhone and iPad

Open Settings and tap Accessibility. Go to Audio & Visual (or Media on older iOS versions). Look for Audio Description and toggle it off.

If you're watching through a streaming app like Netflix or YouTube, open that app, go to its settings or account menu, find playback or audio settings, and disable audio description there as well. App-level settings override system settings for that specific app.

Disable audio description on Android

Open Settings and go to Accessibility. Tap Audio and on-screen text (the exact name varies by manufacturer). Find Audio Description or Descriptive Audio and turn it off.

Samsung phones may label it differently — check under Hearing Enhancements or Sound if you don't find it in the main Accessibility menu. Like on other devices, streaming apps manage their own audio description settings separately, so disable it in the app if the system setting doesn't stop it.

Disable audio description in streaming apps

Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, and other streaming services have their own audio description controls. Open the app and start playing a video or show. Look for an audio icon (usually three horizontal lines or a speaker symbol) on the playback screen. Tap it to see available audio tracks. If you see a track labeled "English [Audio Description]" or "English - Descriptive Audio," select the regular English track instead.

Some apps put this control in account settings rather than the playback screen. Check the app's settings menu under Playback, Audio, or Accessibility. The location varies by app, but the principle is the same: choose the standard audio track instead of the descriptive one.

Disable audio description on your TV or cable box

On a smart TV, press the Menu button on your remote and look for Settings, Audio, or Accessibility. Find Audio Description, Descriptive Audio, or Secondary Audio Program and turn it off. The exact menu structure depends on your TV brand — Samsung, LG, and Roku each organize it slightly differently.

If you use a cable box (Comcast, Charter, DirecTV), the control is usually in the box's menu, not the TV menu. Press the Menu or Settings button on your cable remote, navigate to Accessibility or Audio Options, and disable audio description there. Some cable boxes also have a dedicated button on the remote for toggling descriptive audio — check your remote's label or manual.

What to do if audio description keeps turning back on

If audio description reappears after you disable it, check both your device settings and your app settings. They work independently, so disabling it in one place doesn't affect the other. For example, you might have turned it off in Netflix but left it on in your Mac system settings.

On streaming apps, also check whether the show or movie itself has audio description baked in as the default audio track. If the app defaults to the descriptive audio track every time you start a new video, go into the app's settings and look for a Preferred Audio Language or Default Audio Track option. Set it to your standard language without the descriptor label.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does turning off audio description affect other accessibility features?

No. Audio description is a separate feature from captions, magnification, screen readers, and other accessibility tools. Disabling it does not change any other settings on your device.

Will I lose audio description if I update my device?

Usually not. Most devices remember your audio description setting after a software update. However, major updates occasionally reset accessibility settings, so you may need to disable it again if it reappears after an update.

Can I disable audio description for one app but keep it on for another?

Yes. Each app manages its own audio description setting independently. You can disable it in Netflix and leave it on in YouTube, for example. Just go into each app's settings separately.

What if my device doesn't have an audio description option in settings?

Older devices or devices not designed for accessibility features may not have audio description controls. If you can't find it in your device settings, check whether the streaming app you're using has its own audio description toggle — many apps include this even if the device doesn't.

Is audio description the same as closed captions?

No. Closed captions display dialogue and sound effects as text on screen. Audio description is a second voice track that narrates visual information. You can have both, one, or neither enabled at the same time.