Windows is one of the most commonly used operating systems, and that’s because it includes several features like the Narrator that make it easier for disabled people to use it. While that’s a wonderful feature, it can be a little annoying for people who have fully functioning eyesight.
What is the use of Windows Narrator?
If you are getting annoyed hearing that robotic voice every time you use your PC, all you need to do is read this article to disable it easily. My friend came to me with this exact same issue, and it took me less than five minutes to solve it.
So, put on your reading glasses and enjoy this quick fix. One last point I should mention is to not skip ahead of any sections because you never know what you might need later.
How to Disable Narrator in Windows
There are multiple ways to disable the narrator but some of them are buggy so I will show all of them, and you can decide which one works for you.
Here are the methods to disable narrator in Windows:
1. Turn Off Narrator Using Shortcut
The simplest way to turn off the narrator while it’s running is to simply use your keyboard. Press the Windows key, Ctrl and Enter key simultaneously to turn off the narrator. You should be hearing an audible voice saying ‘Exiting narrator’.
If you are running an older operating system like Windows 8, then this shortcut won’t work. Instead, you have to press the Windows and Enter key at the same time.
Here’s a complete guide on how to Disable Aero Shake on Windows 11.
2. Exit the Narrator Window
Another straightforward method to stop the Narrator from running in the background is to close the window when it appears. Click on the Exit Narrator button or the X button on the top right corner to close it.
3. Turn Off Narrator From Taskbar
Similar to how you can quickly quit apps from the taskbar, you can toggle off Narrator from the taskbar as well.
Here are the steps to disable Narrator from the taskbar:
- Look for the icon that looks like a monitor with clipart on the left part of your taskbar. If you don’t see it, click on the upward arrow to show more icons.
- Once the icon is visible, right-click on it and select the ‘Turn off Narrator’ option.
Check out our separate post: Enable or Disable File History on Windows 11.
4. Force Exit The Narrator Process
If the narrator keeps showing up after trying the previous methods, then you can try closing the process using Task Manager.
Follow these steps to force exit the narrator:
- Do a right-click on the Start icon at the left side of your taskbar, and click on Task Manager.
- Switch to the Processes tab from the menu at the top, and scroll down. Look for the process named Screen Reader and select it. Then, click on the End Task button at the bottom right corner of the taskbar.
5. Disable Narrator Using Settings In Windows 11
If you are running the latest version of Windows on your PC, follow these steps to disable Narrator:
- Do a right-click on the Start icon in the taskbar and click on Settings to launch it.
- From the left pane, click on the Accessibility tab to switch to it.
- After that, scroll down on the right side of the window until you see an option called Narrator.
- Look for the toggle next to Narrator below the ‘Use Narrator’ section and turn it off.
- You have a disabled the narrator in the last step but if you think you won’t need it ever again, then I recommend disabling the toggle for the Keyboard shortcut as well.
Check out the easiest way to Disable Quick Searches on Windows 11/10.
6. Disable Narrator Using Settings In Windows 10
If you are not planning to upgrade to the latest OS anytime soon, here are the steps to disable narrator in Windows 10:
- Press the Windows key and I key at the same time to load the Settings application.
- Click on the Ease Of Access option, which has an icon that resembles a person.
- On the next page, switch to the Narrator tab from the left panel.
- Similar to Windows 11, switch off the toggle for Narrator under the Use Narrator section.
- If you want to make sure the Narrator never launches accidentally, I suggest disabling all the checkboxes under Start-up options.
You may also like to read: Disable Windows 11 Window Drop Shadow.
7. Turn Off Narrator Forever
While Narrator will rarely start running in the background after you have tried the previous methods, if it does, there is an unofficial method that grants you the ability to completely block the application from launching.
These are the steps to disable Narrator forever:
- Open any browser of your choice and go to the Google homepage.
- Search for the keywords ‘TakeOwnershipPro download’ and click on the first result from majorgeeks.
- Once your browser redirects to the next page, click on the download now button with a yellow text.
- Double-click on the downloaded file and set it up by following the instructions.
- Go to your desktop and double-click on This PC.
- Double-click on Local Disk C and open the Windows folder.
- Locate the System32 folder here and open it.
- Press the N key on your keyboard repeatedly until you find ‘Narrator.exe’. Alternatively, you can use the search feature from the top right corner to find it.
- Do a right-click on the file and click on TakeOwnershipPro.
- After that’s done, do a right-click again but this time select the Properties option.
- Switch to the Security tab of the Properties window and click on the Edit button.
- Under Group or User names, select your current user from the list. Then, under permissions, make sure you enable the checkbox under deny for the Read and Read & Execute permissions.
- Click on OK to finalize the changes.
FAQ
Is Windows Narrator a good screen reader?
Yes, Windows Narrator is a good screen reader but when you compare it with other similar apps, you will realize that Windows Narrator offers a much-limited functionality, especially when it comes to using web applications or browsers.
Can Windows Narrator read PDF?
Yes, Windows Narrator can read PDF files but the file will need to be opened by Microsoft Word for the best results. It is possible to use the narrator in other readers as well using the Read aloud function, but I have observed that it is more prone to mistakes using that.
Can Windows narrator read web pages?
Yes, Windows narrator can read webpages, text documents and any other files aloud as long as it’s running in the background. You also have the ability to change the narrator’s voice to your preferences from the narrator’s settings.
What is the narrator’s command?
The command to launch Narrator is to press the Windows, Ctrl and Enter key at the same time if you are running Windows 10 or 11. On the other hand, if you are running Windows 8, then the shortcut is Windows key + Enter.
Can Word write what I speak?
Yes, Word can write what you speak if you enable the dictate feature. This feature can be activated from the Home tab in MS Word, in the Voice section. It’s important that you speak clearly after you enable it otherwise, there will be mistakes.
Why is my computer speaking everything I do?
Your computer is speaking everything you do because you accidentally enabled the narrator feature, either using the shortcut or by using Settings. If the narrator is turned off but your computer is still speaking everything, then you have to remove other text-to-speech apps.
Final Thoughts
Windows narrator is only a useful feature for very few people. This is why, in my opinion, there should be a Windows edition excluding that, so people don’t have to run into narrator issues unexpectedly.
I hope this article provided some insight into how you can purge the narrator completely from your PC. I’m confident that if you tried method 7, Windows narrator will never bother you again.
