How to Turn Off Voice Over on Apple TV

Turn Off Voice Over in Settings

Voice Over is Apple TV's screen reader that reads text aloud and describes what's on screen. To turn it off, go to Settings on your Apple TV home screen, select Accessibility, then Accessibility again, and toggle Voice Over to Off. The toggle will turn from green to gray when it's disabled.

If you're using an Apple TV remote, press and hold the Menu button to return to the home screen if you're not already there. Navigate to Settings using the touch pad or arrow buttons, then move down to Accessibility. You may see it listed as "Accessibility" twice in the menu — select the second one. Scroll down until you find Voice Over, then press the touch pad to toggle it off.

Voice Over will stop speaking when ready once you turn it off. Your Apple TV will return to normal operation without audio descriptions or spoken feedback for every action you take.

Key Takeaways

Voice Over is turned off through Settings > Accessibility > Accessibility > Voice Over toggle.
The toggle switches from green (on) to gray (off) when you disable Voice Over.
Voice Over stops speaking right away once you turn it off — no restart needed.
If you accidentally turned Voice Over on, the same steps will turn it back off.
You can also use Siri to turn Voice Over off by saying "Turn off Voice Over" to your remote.

Using Siri to Disable Voice Over Faster

If navigating menus while Voice Over is speaking feels difficult, you can use Siri instead. Press and hold the Siri button on your Apple TV remote and say "Turn off Voice Over." Siri will confirm the command and disable it when ready.

This method works even if you find the spoken feedback overwhelming, because you only need to speak one command rather than navigate through multiple menu screens. Siri understands variations like "Disable Voice Over" or "Stop Voice Over" as well.

What to Do If You Can't Find the Toggle

On older Apple TV models (4th generation and earlier), Voice Over lives in a slightly different location. Go to Settings, then Accessibility, then VoiceOver (written as one word, not two). The toggle is in the same place, but the menu path is shorter because there's no second Accessibility layer.

If you're on an Apple TV 4K or Apple TV HD (5th generation or later), use the path described in the first section. Check your Apple TV model in Settings > About if you're unsure which version you have.

Voice Over Turns Back On After an Update

Sometimes Voice Over reactivates after you update your Apple TV's software. This happens because the system resets certain accessibility settings during the update process. If you notice Voice Over speaking again after an update, follow the same steps to turn it off — go to Settings > Accessibility > Accessibility > Voice Over and toggle it off again.

To prevent this from happening in future updates, you can also disable Voice Over before you start a software update. This doesn't may provide it won't turn back on, but it reduces the chance.

Accidentally Turned Voice Over On

Voice Over usually turns on by accident when someone holds down the Siri button and says "Turn on Voice Over," or when a child presses buttons on the remote in a specific sequence. If you suddenly hear audio descriptions of everything on your screen, Voice Over is active.

The fastest way to turn it off is to press and hold the Siri button and say "Turn off Voice Over." If that doesn't work or you prefer not to use Siri, navigate to Settings > Accessibility > Accessibility > Voice Over and toggle it off manually. Don't worry — you haven't broken anything, and turning it off takes less than a minute.

Other Accessibility Features You Might Confuse With Voice Over

Apple TV has several accessibility tools, and Voice Over is just one of them. Closed Captions display text at the bottom of the screen but don't read anything aloud — you turn those on and off in Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles and Captioning. Audio Descriptions add a separate audio track that describes action during movies and shows, but this is controlled by the app or streaming service, not Apple TV itself.

If you hear spoken feedback but don't see a Voice Over toggle turned on, check whether Closed Captions are enabled instead. You can also check whether the app you're using (like Apple TV+, Netflix, or Hulu) has its own audio description setting turned on.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does turning off Voice Over affect other accessibility features?

No. Voice Over is independent from other accessibility tools like Closed Captions, Audio Descriptions, or Zoom. Turning Voice Over off won't change any of those settings.

Will Voice Over turn back on if I restart my Apple TV?

No. Once you turn Voice Over off, it stays off until you or someone else turns it back on. Restarting your Apple TV won't reactivate it.

Can I turn off Voice Over without using the remote?

You can use Siri by speaking to your remote, but you need the remote itself to access Settings. There's no way to turn Voice Over off through the Apple TV app on your phone or through iCloud.

What if Voice Over is on but I can't understand the menu instructions?

Try using Siri instead — press and hold the Siri button and say "Turn off Voice Over." If Siri doesn't work, ask someone else to help you navigate to Settings, or restart your Apple TV by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then plugging it back in.

Does Voice Over work with all Apple TV apps?

Voice Over works system-wide on Apple TV, so it describes menus, settings, and navigation across all apps. However, some streaming apps may have their own accessibility features that work differently or in addition to Voice Over.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.