How to turn off Narrator on Windows 11

2 min read · 5 steps · Updated 3 October 2026

Narrator is the screen reader built into Windows for people who are blind or have low vision. It reads out everything under the pointer and puts a coloured frame around it. Most people who search for this page switched it on by accident with its shortcut, and want the voice to stop.

These steps are for Windows 11. The pictures are simplified diagrams, not screenshots, so colours and spacing on your PC look a little different.

Step by step

1. Press the shortcut

   Press Windows key + Ctrl + Enter together. Narrator says that it is exiting and the frame disappears. The same three keys start it again.

   Done

2. Or use the settings

   Press Windows key + Ctrl + N to jump straight to the Narrator settings, or open Start, Settings, Accessibility, Narrator. Switch off Narrator.

   Done

3. On the sign-in screen

   If the voice talks before you have signed in, select the Accessibility icon at the bottom right of the sign-in screen and switch Narrator off there.

   Done

4. Stop it from starting by itself

   In the Narrator settings, expand the first entry to show all its options and untick Start Narrator before sign-in and Start Narrator after sign-in.

   Done

5. Switch off the shortcut

   In the same place, switch off Keyboard shortcut for Narrator, so the three keys no longer start it by accident.

   Done

Good to know

If the PC only reads out what you type, or beeps when you press Caps Lock, a different feature is on. See how to turn off Sticky Keys on Windows 11, which also covers Toggle keys and Filter keys.

A screen that is zoomed in belongs to Magnifier: Windows key + Esc turns it off.

The same thing on other devices: how to turn off TalkBack on an Android phone.

In short: Windows key + Ctrl + Enter turns Narrator off. Windows key + Ctrl + N opens its settings: untick start before and after sign-in, and switch off the keyboard shortcut.