Text-to-speech is usually off by default, but if it's running, the steps to stop it depend on your device and which program started it
Text-to-speech reads screen content aloud through your speakers or headphones. On most devices, it does not run unless you or an app turned it on. If you hear unexpected audio narration, the quickest fix is often a keyboard shortcut or a toggle in your accessibility settings. The exact location varies by device type and operating system version.
Before you disable it entirely, check whether an app (rather than your system) is doing the reading. Some apps like Kindle, Google Play Books, or your web browser have their own read-aloud features separate from your device's accessibility tools. Turning off the app's feature is faster than disabling system-wide text-to-speech.
Key Takeaways
- On Windows, Narrator is the built-in text-to-speech tool; press Windows key + Control + N to toggle it off, or disable it permanently in Settings > Accessibility > Narrator.
- On Mac, VoiceOver is the equivalent; press Command + F5 to turn it off, or go to System Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver and uncheck the Enable VoiceOver box.
- On iPhone, Speak Screen and Speak Selection live in Settings > Accessibility > Spoken Content; toggle both off if you do not use them.
- On Android, TalkBack is Google's screen reader; open Settings > Accessibility > TalkBack and turn it off, or use the power button shortcut if you enabled it.
- If an app is reading text aloud, look for a read-aloud button or menu option within that app before changing system settings.
Turning off Narrator on Windows
Narrator is Windows' built-in text-to-speech tool. The fastest way to stop it is to press the Windows key and Control and N at the same time. This keyboard shortcut toggles Narrator on and off when ready. If that does not work, Narrator may not be running, or a different app may be producing the audio.
To disable Narrator permanently so it does not start on its own, open Settings by pressing Windows key + I. Go to Accessibility on the left side, then select Narrator. You will see a toggle labeled "Use Narrator" at the top of the page. Click it to turn off the toggle. Below that, you can also uncheck "Start Narrator" so it does not launch when you restart your computer.
If you want Narrator to stay off but need it occasionally, leave the toggle off and use the Windows key + Control + N shortcut when you need it. This gives you control without automatic startup.
Turning off VoiceOver on Mac
VoiceOver is Mac's screen reader and text-to-speech feature. Press Command and F5 together to toggle it off when ready. This works on most Mac keyboards and is the quickest way to stop the audio narration.
To turn off VoiceOver permanently, click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Settings. Click Accessibility in the sidebar, then select VoiceOver. Uncheck the box next to "Enable VoiceOver." The narration will stop, and VoiceOver will not start again unless you re-enable it.
If Command + F5 does not work, your Mac may have a different keyboard layout or the function keys may be set to do something else. In that case, the Settings route is more reliable. You can also customize the keyboard shortcut in the same VoiceOver settings panel if you want a different key combination.
Turning off Speak Screen and Speak Selection on iPhone
iPhone has two separate text-to-speech features: Speak Screen reads entire pages aloud, and Speak Selection reads only the text you highlight. Both are off by default, but if one is active, you can disable it in Settings.
Open Settings and tap Accessibility. Scroll down and tap Spoken Content. You will see toggles for both "Speak Screen" and "Speak Selection." Turn off whichever one is on. If neither toggle is enabled but you still hear audio, check whether the app you are using (like Kindle or Apple Books) has its own read-aloud feature turned on. Look for a speaker icon or "read aloud" button within that app.
If you use Speak Screen or Speak Selection sometimes but not always, you can leave them off and set up them on demand. Swipe down from the top of the screen with two fingers to trigger Speak Screen, or highlight text and tap Speak from the menu that appears.
Turning off TalkBack on Android
TalkBack is Google's screen reader for Android phones and tablets. To turn it off, open Settings and go to Accessibility. Tap TalkBack. You will see a toggle at the top labeled "Use TalkBack" or just "TalkBack." Tap the toggle to turn it off. Android will ask you to confirm; tap OK.
If you enabled TalkBack using a power button shortcut (holding the power button and volume up together), you can also use that same shortcut to toggle it off. This is faster if you remember the combination.
After you turn off TalkBack, your phone will return to normal audio and touch behavior. If you still hear unexpected audio, check whether your app has its own read-aloud feature. Some Android apps include built-in narration that runs separately from TalkBack.
Checking whether an app is causing the audio instead of your system
Before you dig into system settings, test whether the audio is coming from the app you are using. Close the app completely and see if the narration stops. If it does, the app itself has a read-aloud feature, not your device's accessibility tool.
Open the app again and look for a speaker icon, a menu button (three dots or lines), or a settings gear. Many reading apps like Kindle, Google Play Books, and Apple Books have a dedicated read-aloud button on the page or in the toolbar. Tap or click it to turn off the narration. Some web browsers also have a read-aloud feature in their menu; look for "Read aloud," "Listen," or a speaker icon.
If you cannot find the button, try right-clicking (on computer) or long-pressing (on phone) the text or page. A menu may appear with a read-aloud option you can toggle off.
What to do if text-to-speech keeps turning back on
If you disable text-to-speech but it starts again on its own, something is re-enabling it. This usually happens because an app, a scheduled task, or an accessibility shortcut is set to set up it automatically.
On Windows, check Settings > Accessibility > Narrator and make sure "Start Narrator" is unchecked. Also look at Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard and scroll down to see if any shortcuts are set to launch Narrator. On Mac, check System Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver and confirm the toggle is off, then restart your computer to clear any background processes.
On iPhone and Android, restart your phone completely. Power it off, wait ten seconds, and power it back on. This clears temporary settings and stops any app from re-launching text-to-speech. If the problem persists after a restart, an app you installed may be the cause. Try uninstalling recently added apps one at a time to find which one is triggering it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is text-to-speech turning on by itself?
A keyboard shortcut, an accessibility setting, or an app is likely triggering it. On Windows and Mac, check your accessibility settings to see if a startup option is enabled. On phones, restart the device and check which apps you recently installed. Some apps automatically enable text-to-speech features when you open them.
Can I turn off text-to-speech for just one app?
Yes. If the app has its own read-aloud button or menu, use that to disable it within the app only. Your system text-to-speech will remain available for other uses. If the app does not have its own control, you will need to disable text-to-speech at the system level, which affects all apps.
Is text-to-speech the same as closed captions?
No. Text-to-speech reads content aloud through audio. Closed captions display spoken words as text on your screen. They are separate features. You can turn off one without affecting the other.
Will disabling text-to-speech affect other accessibility features?
No. Text-to-speech is independent. Turning it off does not affect screen magnification, high contrast, captions, or other accessibility tools. Each feature can be controlled separately.
What if I need text-to-speech again later?
You can turn it back on using the same settings or keyboard shortcuts. On Windows, press Windows key + Control + N. On Mac, press Command + F5. On phones, go back to Accessibility settings and toggle the feature on. There is no penalty for turning it on and off as needed.