If your Roku TV suddenly starts speaking menu items aloud, the television is not talking on its own. The voice comes from the screen reader, a text-to-speech accessibility feature designed to make apps easier to navigate for people who are visually impaired.
The feature can turn on through a shortcut that is easy to trigger by accident. Press the Options button on the Roku remote four times in a row, and the screen reader starts reading information from the display. That shortcut can be useful when needed, but it can also be confusing when the voice appears without warning.
Two ways to turn off the Roku screen reader
The fastest fix is to press the Options button four more times. That reverses the same shortcut and turns off the screen reader without requiring a trip through the settings menu.
If you prefer to change the setting directly, press the Home button on the Roku remote. Open Settings, then open Accessibility. Scroll to Screen Reader and select Off.
The menu option gives you a clear way to check the feature’s status, especially if pressing the shortcut does not produce the result you expect. The important path is Home, Settings, Accessibility, Screen Reader, then Off.
You can also prevent the shortcut from triggering the screen reader in the future. In the Screen Reader section under the Accessibility menu, turn off the Shortcut option. This keeps the screen reader setting separate from repeated presses of the Options button.
Your phone can also work as a TV remote
A separate problem can arise when the physical remote is unavailable. Smartphones offer several ways to control smart TVs, depending on the phone and the television platform.
Most modern Android smartphones feature built-in IR blasters and come with a universal remote app preinstalled. Third-party universal remote control apps are also available on Android and iOS, including the TV Remote Control app on the Play Store. That app has over 500,000 downloads and a 4.6-star rating.
Smart TV platforms also offer mobile companion apps with remote control functions. The Google TV app, Roku mobile app, and Fire TV mobile app can let users manage compatible televisions and streaming devices from a phone.
The Google TV app requires the phone and TV to connect to the same Wi-Fi network, with Bluetooth enabled on both devices. Without those connections, the phone may not be able to communicate with the television through the app.
Which mobile app works with each platform?
The Roku mobile app works with Roku TVs and streaming sticks. The Fire TV mobile app is for Fire OS devices. These platform-specific apps provide a direct way to control devices that match their names.
Across these apps, users can control the volume, navigate menus, and type with the phone’s keyboard. Typing on a phone can be useful when entering information on the TV, while menu controls can replace the directional buttons found on a physical remote.
Apple TV users have another built-in option. iOS devices include a remote control feature in the Control Center, giving Apple TV users access to remote functions from the phone or other iOS device.
“Fortunately, a lot of smart TV platforms ship with mobile companion apps that typically offer remote control functionality.”
Wake-on-LAN can add another control option
Some smart TVs support Wake-on-LAN, a feature that can turn a television on from standby mode. The option can be enabled in the TV’s network or power settings.
That means control features can extend beyond volume and menu navigation. When a television supports Wake-on-LAN and the option is enabled, the network connection can help wake the TV from standby mode.
The screen reader shortcut and phone remote apps solve different problems. The first controls an accessibility feature on a Roku TV, while the second gives users another way to manage a television or streaming device. Knowing both options can make it easier to quiet an unexpected voice or navigate the screen without the usual remote.
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