How to Turn Off Text to Speech On Android, iPhone or Windows PC

Automatic text-to-speech features can be annoying for certain users. Here’s a straightforward guide on how to turn it off for Android, iPhone (iOS), Windows, macOS, and Xbox.

On Android

Turning off Talkback (automatic screen reader on Android)

1. Open Settings:
   • Tap on the gear icon to open the Settings app.
2. Accessibility:
   • Scroll down and select "Accessibility."
3. Find TalkBack:
   • If there are tabs like General or Vision. Select Vision.
   • Find the TalkBack option and click on it.
4. Turn Off Use Talkback:
   • Toggle off any Use Talkback or Talkback Shortcut options.

Turning off "Select To Speak"

1. Open Settings:
2. Go to Accessibility:
3. Find Select to Speak:
   • Select Vision if there are tabs like General or Vision.
   • Find the Select to Speak option and click on it.
4. Turn off Select to Speak shortcut

If you have Motorola, Xiaomi MIUI or Samsung phone, the steps are similar, but the menu options might slightly differ due to the custom UI.

On iPhone (iOS)

1. Open Settings:
   • Tap on the Settings app.
2. Accessibility:
   • Scroll down and select "Accessibility."
3. Spoken Content:
   • Select "Spoken Content."
4. Turn Off:
   • Toggle off "Speak Selection" and "Speak Screen."

On Windows PC

1. Open Settings:
   • Click the Start menu and select the gear icon for Settings.
2. Ease of Access:
   • Select "Ease of Access."
3. Narrator:
   • Click on "Narrator" from the left sidebar.
4. Turn Off:
   • Toggle the Narrator switch to off.

For both Windows 10 and Windows 11, the steps are almost identical, with slight variations in the layout and naming of menu items.

On macOS (Macbooks)

1. Open System Settings:
   • Click the Apple menu and select "System Settings" (or "System Preferences" in older versions).
2. Accessibility:
   • Select "Accessibility."
3. Spoken Content:
   • Go to "Spoken Content" or "Speech."
4. Turn Off:
   • Uncheck "Speak selected text when the key is pressed" or turn off any active text-to-speech options.

On Xbox

1. Open Guide:
   • Press the Xbox button on your controller to open the guide.
2. Settings:
   • Navigate to "Profile & system" > "Settings."
3. Ease of Access:
   • Select "Ease of Access."
4. Narrator:
   • Click on "Narrator."
5. Turn Off:
   • Toggle the Narrator switch to off.

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Following these steps should help you disable text-to-speech features on your device. For further details on how to turn off text to speech on Android, how to disable text to speech on Macbook, how to turn off text to speech on phone, and other operating systems, you can refer to the official support pages of each operating system.

Why People Turn Off Text-to-Speech

Many users choose to turn off text-to-speech for various reasons:

1. Annoyance:

• Text-to-speech can become intrusive, especially when it activates unexpectedly. According to discussions on Reddit, users often report frustration with their devices suddenly reading out loud, which can be disruptive in quiet environments or during meetings .

1. Performance Issues:

• Some users have noted that enabling text-to-speech can slow down their device. This is particularly highlighted in forums where gamers discuss performance hits when using voice features on Xbox .

1. Unintended Activation:

• Accidental activation of text-to-speech features is a common issue. This is often reported by Android and iPhone users who accidentally trigger these features via accessibility shortcuts .

1. Battery Drain:

• Continuous use of text-to-speech services can also lead to faster battery depletion. Users on tech forums frequently mention disabling these services to conserve battery life, especially on older devices .

1. Personal Preference:

• Some people simply prefer reading text themselves rather than listening to it, finding it easier to process information visually rather than audibly.

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References:

• Android Accessibility Help
• Apple Support - Spoken Content
• Microsoft Support - Windows Narrator
• Apple Support - macOS Speech
• Xbox Support - Narrator

Sources:

1. Reddit Discussion on Text-to-Speech Annoyance
2. Reddit Gamers on Xbox Narrator Performance
3. Reddit Android Text-to-Speech Activation Issues
4. Reddit iPhone Users on Accidental Activation
5. Reddit Discussion on Battery Drain Due to Text-to-Speech