How to Disable Microsoft Narrator at Start Up

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Quickly disable Narrator on a Windows desktop or laptop computer

Written by Jack Lloyd

Last Updated: September 19, 2024 Tested

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• Using a Keyboard Shortcut
|
• Disabling in Windows 10 Settings
|
• Disabling in Windows 11 Settings
|
• FAQ
|
• Video
|
• Tips
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• Warnings

|Show more |Show less

Is Microsoft's screen reader narrating everything on your PC's screen? If you don't want Narrator to launch at startup, you can disable it in Settings > Ease of Access (or Accessibility) > Narrator. You can also press Windows key + Ctrl + Enter to turn off Narrator anytime.

How to Turn Off Narrator

Pressing Windows key + Ctrl + Enter at the same time instantly turns off Narrator. Or, on Windows 10, go to Settings > Ease of Access > Narrator and toggle off the switch. On Windows 11, go to Settings > Accessibility > Narrator to toggle off the switch.

For popular FAQs on turning off Narrator, jump to more common questions.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using a Keyboard Shortcut

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1. 
   1
   Press Win. This shortcut will work on both Windows 10 and 11. Pressing Windows key + Ctrl + Enter at the same time instantly turns off Narrator.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Disabling in Windows 10 Settings

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1. 
   1
   Open your Windows Settings

   

   . You'll find this gear icon in your Start menu.
2. 
   2
   Click Ease of Access. You'll see this on the left side of the window.
3. 
   3
   Click Narrator. It's on the left panel.
4. 
   4
   Click the switch to turn off Narrator

   

   . Narrator is now disabled.
5. 
   5
   Force-quit Narrator. If Narrator won't stop reading on-screen text long enough to allow you to do anything, you can force it to quit by doing the following:

   • Press Ctrl+⇧ Shift+Esc to bring up the Task Manager program.
   • Find and click the Screen Reader option in the list of programs on the Processes tab.
   • Double-click End task in the bottom-right corner of the window.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Disabling in Windows 11 Settings

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1. 
   1
   Open your Windows Settings

   

   . You'll find this gear icon in your Start menu.
2. 
   2
   Click Accessibility. It's in the left panel.
3. 
   3
   Click Narrator. This is in the right panel.
4. 
   4
   Click the switch to turn off Narrator

   

   . Narrator will no longer start automatically on your PC.
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Common Questions

How do I get my TV to stop narrating?

You'll find the narration option for most TVs in the Settings area under "Accessibility." Look for options to disable Audio Description, TalkBack, Screen Reader, and similar.

Why can't I turn off audio description on my Samsung TV?

On a Samsung smart TV, you can disable narration in Settings > All Settings > General & Privacy > Accessibility > Voice Guide Settings.

How do I turn off audio descriptions on Netflix?

The steps are different depending on device. For most TVs, Blu-ray players, and streaming devices, press the up or down arrow on your remote while a movie or show with narration is playing, select Audio & Subtitles, and select a track without "Audio Description" in the title.

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Tips

• In most cases, you can disable Narrator by pressing the Ctrl+⊞ Win+↵ Enter key combination.
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• On Windows tablets, you'll press the ⊞ Win button and the Volume Up button at the same time to exit the Narrator.
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Warnings

• If you don't begin typing into Start quickly enough while Narrator is enabled, Narrator can inadvertently open Cortana by saying her name.
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