Solving playback issues

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lburrell
Newbie

Screen reader won't turn off, It's set to OFF in Roku settings and all streaming sources tried

I have followed all the steps multiple times. I have activated the short cut and tried the star button pressing. I have turned the screen reader to off in Peacock and PBS and others . No matter what the screen reader keeps turning itself on. PLEASE HELP!!

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7 REPLIES 7
RokuLianna
Retired Moderator

Re: Screen reader won't turn off, It's set to OFF in Roku settings and all streaming sources tried

Hi @lburrell

Welcome to the Roku Community!

If the Screen Reader feature won't turn off on your Roku device, here are some troubleshooting steps you can follow:

  • Check that you're using the correct button combination to turn off the Screen Reader. To turn off the Screen Reader, press and hold the * button on your Roku remote for about 5 seconds until you hear the "Screen Reader off" announcement.
  • Make sure that your Roku remote is not stuck in accessibility mode. Sometimes the remote can get stuck in accessibility mode if a button is pressed accidentally. To check if the remote is stuck in accessibility mode, press and hold the * button on the remote for about 3 seconds until you hear the accessibility menu. If the menu appears, use the arrow keys to navigate to "Normal" and press the * button to select it.
  • If the above steps don't work, try resetting your Roku device to its factory settings. This will erase all your settings and preferences, including the Screen Reader settings. To reset your Roku device, go to Settings > System > Advanced system settings > Factory reset.

We hope it helps!


Warm regards,
Lianna

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makaiguy
Community Streaming Expert

Re: Screen reader won't turn off, It's set to OFF in Roku settings and all streaming sources tried

@lburrell-

Let's be sure we know what you are referring to as the "screen reader".

There are two separate systems that can produce voices overlaying the audio.

Voice announcement of Roku menus, button presses, etc.
A feature called Screen Reader (renamed from Audio Guide in Roku 10.5) announces where you are in the Roku menus for the benefit of the visually impaired. At some point you may have hit the * key on your Roku remote four times in a short period of time. This is a shortcut that toggles the Screen Reader/Audio Guide feature on and off, so four quick presses of the * key should toggle the feature back off.

To deactivate the four-* trigger shortcut altogether use menu path Settings > Accessibility > Shortcut (in the Screen Reader or Audio Guide section) > Disabled

Wrong language or verbal description of action on screen when watching program
Some programs contain multiple audio tracks that can be selected, such as different languages or verbal action descriptions for the visually impaired.

The Roku default method of accessing your choice of audio track is to press the * key on your Roku remote while viewing the program and examining the options presented.

But more and more channels are not using the Roku default but substituting their own method of access -- I'm guessing this is so they will have consistent controls with versions of their app running on platforms other than Roku. Often these options are accessed by pressing the up and/or down cursor control keys while viewing the program to pop the channel's own control options on the screen.

Roku Community Streaming Expert
I am not a Roku employee, only a user like you.  Please, no support questions via private message -- post them publicly to the Community where others may benefit as well.
If this post solves your problem please help others find this answer by clicking "Accept as Solution.".

Streaming Stick 4K+ 3821 | Streaming Stick+ 3810 | TCL Roku TV 43S245/C107X
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Prophet37
Reel Rookie

Re: Screen reader won't turn off, It's set to OFF in Roku settings and all streaming sources tried

I'm having the same issue, but it's only happening when I try to watch the Weird Al movie. An audio narrator is talking the entire time, the audio narration option is off, I can actually turn it on and have 2 audio narrators talking at the same time. WTF?

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renojim
Community Streaming Expert

Re: Screen reader won't turn off, It's set to OFF in Roku settings and all streaming sources tried

@Prophet37, while the video is playing, press * on your remote, select "Accessibility & captions", then "Captioning track", select the English track that isn't checked already.

Roku Community Streaming Expert

Help others find this answer and click "Accept as Solution."
If you appreciate my answer, maybe give me a Kudo.

I am not a Roku employee.
Prophet37
Reel Rookie

Re: Screen reader won't turn off, It's set to OFF in Roku settings and all streaming sources tried

Holy **bleep** Man, Thanks! that was driving me crazy.

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Re: Screen reader won't turn off, It's set to OFF in Roku settings and all streaming sources tried

Thank you! I was going nuts trying to figure this out!

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djev
Newbie

Re: Screen reader won't turn off, It's set to OFF in Roku settings and all streaming sources tried

That worked!  English option 2 was enabled, changed to English option 1 and now I can breath normally!