How to Turn Off Audio Description on Roku

Before you start

Audio description is controlled on the Roku device, so you do not need to sign in to a web service or change a separate account setting. The feature stays on the device until you turn it off. The setting can be accessed from playback or from the accessibility menu, depending on the Roku software version. Your remote must be working and the Roku should be connected to a display so you can see the menus.

Roku models may use different menu names. On many current devices the option is called Audio Guide, while audio description during video playback may be labeled differently. Keep the original setting name in mind in case you need to try a second location.

Step-by-step instructions

Turn it off from a video

While a video is playing, press the Star or Options button on the Roku remote. This opens a settings list for the current playback session.

Look for an Audio track, Accessibility or Language option. If you see an audio description entry, select it and choose Off. Some channels use the wording Descriptive Audio or AD.

Turn off the system-wide Audio Guide

From the Roku Home screen, open Settings and select Accessibility. If you do not see Accessibility, check under System because older software versions may place the option there.

Select Audio Guide and set it to Off. This controls spoken descriptions of Roku menus. If the Audio Guide is already off, the voice you hear is likely coming from a channel's own audio description setting and needs to be changed during playback.

Check the output

Return to the same video or menu where you heard the description and listen without changing the volume. The described actions should no longer play over the normal audio.

If the description stops for one video but returns for another, the second channel may have its own audio description setting. Repeat the playback setting in that channel rather than assuming the device-wide option failed.

Common problems and next steps

Roku audio description will not turn off

If the setting appears off but the description continues, check whether the current video has more than one audio track. Switch to a standard or original language track instead of a descriptive audio track.

Restart the Roku if the change does not take effect. Open Settings, choose System and select Power or System restart. After the device restarts, play the same content again and confirm whether the description is still active.

If Audio Guide starts again after being turned off, the shortcut may have been pressed accidentally. Some remotes enable or disable Audio Guide when a button is pressed four times quickly, so the option can reappear without opening the menu.