Why Is My Smart TV Talking to Me? Here’s Why

Smart TVs are supposed to be advanced, not annoying or problematic. Sometimes it seems like new-age technology creates more issues than old-school tech. The good news is that you can make your non-stop talking smart TV be quiet (except for the actual volume, of course!).

Your smart TV is talking to you because its voice guide is turned on, there are narrated subtitles, or you might’ve activated the accessibility settings. Turn off a smart TV’s voice guide by going to the settings menu, clicking General, then looking for Voice Guides or Accessibility.

Throughout this article, I’ll talk about various reasons why your smart TV is talking, what you can do about it, and why some people prefer voice guides and narrations on their smart TVs.

Why Did My TV Start Talking?

Your TV started talking because it has programs that help people hear everything that’s going on. These voice narrations include subtitle readings, movie descriptions, explanations of what’s happening in a show, and more. You can turn them on and off with your TV remote.

Here’s a list of why your TV talks sometimes:

• Voice guides started narrating your smart TV. Many modern TVs have voice guides. They’re useful for many people, including those who have small speakers or people who don’t want to turn the TV too loud at night. They also help people who can’t hear too well.
• You might’ve held the volume button on your remote for too long. Holding the volume button (either direction) for too many seconds can activate the voice guide. While this isn’t the case on all smart TVs, some makes and models have this as a quick narration option.
• Some smart TVs have narrated subtitles. Spoken subtitles help you hear what’s going on without having to read anything. For example, if you’re watching a movie in another language, the subtitles can be read in English to let you know what they say.
• Many Samsung smart TVs have Bixby that talks. Similarly, some Apple TVs have Siri. These AI voice assistants let you navigate the TV via voice commands. However, they can activate on accident, especially if you say the command out of context. You can turn them off, though.
• Your smart TV might have accessibility settings. Accessibility options are found on smart and not-so-smart TVs. These settings let people with hearing problems adjust the volume or turn on voice commands and assistants. Check your TV’s accessibility menu to see if you accidentally activated something.

Many smart TV problems start with the remote. For instance, you might have trouble running Prime Video on a smart TV if you clicked the wrong settings. Fortunately, I’ll cover the simple solution to your TV’s voice guide issues below.

How to Turn Off Voice Assistant on Your TV

To turn off the voice assistant on your smart TV, follow these steps:

1. Go to the home menu on your smart TV. You can access voice settings in most apps, including Netflix, Prime Video, and other popular streaming services. However, it’s important to change this setting from your TV’s home menu for universal controls.
2. Look for the settings option. According to Samsung, you have to go to your TV’s settings menu to find accessibility options and other selections to adjust the voice guides. Again, make sure you choose the settings from the home screen, not a specific app.
3. Click the general tab. Most smart TVs have their voice guides and AI assistants in the general & privacy tabs, but it’s worth looking for voice-related options from the primary settings menu. You could also find this menu by talking into your remote’s microphone (if it has one).
4. Go to accessibility or look for voice guides. If you think the problem relates to accessibility settings, choose that option. It’ll have everything related to hearing problems and visual enhancements. On the other hand, the voice guide will have everything else about voice assistants.
5. Turn off the voice guide. You can also edit your smart TV’s voice commands if you want to control it without using the remote. Some smart TVs talk to you because they respond to various commands that come with the TV out of the box.

Voice assistants can be quite helpful for people who have trouble hearing or seeing. However, they’re not the best choice for those who don’t want to hear anything other than what’s going on in their favorite shows. Follow the instructions above to quickly bring your smart TV back to normal.

If you prefer a video guide for this process, watch this YouTube clip:

Why Do Smart TVs Have Voice Guides?

Smart TVs have voice guides for plenty of reasons, including to help you navigate the settings, find your favorite shows, and watch television without touching the remote. They also enhance the viewing experience for people who have trouble hearing.

Keep in mind that some smart TV remotes are slow. You might not get the smart TV to talk to you as quickly if you hold down the microphone button for too long. Instead, press the mic button, say a command, and let it go right away.

Here’s a brief list of why smart TVs talk to you with voice guides and assistants:

• Hearing impairment accommodations
• Subtitle narration
• New-age commands (including ‘Find __ Show’, etc.)
• Syncing with Siri, Bixby, and other artificial intelligence
• Factory resetting or installing new updates
• Asking the smart TV a question and having it respond

While a smart TV talking to you might be a bit frustrating, it’s important to remember that it’s an essential setting for many people. You can turn off the smart TV’s talking and voice commands in less than a minute. Make sure you don’t hold the volume buttons for too long to prevent it from coming back.

In Conclusion

You can quickly and easily stop your smart TV from talking by turning off its voice guide or subtitle narrations. However, you might have to look for Siri, Bixby, and other virtual assistants, depending on your smart TV make and model.