Text to Speech

How to Turn Off Text to Speech on Xbox?

Learn how to turn off Text-to-Speech on Xbox without affecting other accessibility settings. This guide covers easy steps for both controller and keyboard users. Plus, explore Xbox’s customization options like speech-to-text, high contrast mode, and button remapping.
Supriya Sharma
Supriya Sharma
Last updated:
November 10, 2025
3
Min Read
Text to Speech
How to Turn Off Text to Speech on Xbox?
Table of Contents
Table of Contents

The Xbox series is one of the most sought-after consoles on the market. While the debate on whether it is better than a PlayStation will never end, if you are a fan of titles like Halo, Forza Horizon, or Gears of War, the choice is a no-brainer.

That said, what sets the Xbox apart is the accessibility options it offers to make it possible for anyone with Dyslexia, ADHD, or visual impairments to enjoy all of its titles to the fullest. While this feature can be handy for players, some may find it distracting and would want to turn it off.

If you fall into this category, this blog is for you. It will give you a step-by-step guide on how to switch off text to speech on Xbox without affecting other accessibility settings.

What Is Xbox’s Text To Speech Feature?

As the name suggests, this technology reads aloud any visible text on the screen, including menu items, in-game chat transcription, and notifications.

Officially known as the Narrator within the Xbox ecosystem, this feature is especially useful for party chat transcription, where it reads aloud messages in the party chat, allowing you to concentrate on the gameplay in the heat of the battle.

However, the constant narration of menu options and party chat can be distracting for some gamers. If you prefer to turn off text-to-speech on Xbox without affecting other accessibility features, such as customizing button mapping and high contrast, here's how to do it.  

How to Turn Off Text to Speech feature on Xbox?

There are two possible ways to disable the text to speech feature on your Xbox, and it depends on your setup: whether you are using an Xbox controller or a keyboard.

If you are using an Xbox Controller

  • Press and hold the Xbox button on your controller until it vibrates.
  • Then, press the Menu button to toggle the Narrator off.
  • To turn it back on, repeat the same steps.


Alternatively, you can also access the settings through the Xbox guide:

  • Press the Xbox button to open the guide.
  • Navigate to Profile & system, then select Settings.
Xbox Settings
  • From the Settings menu, go to Accessibility.
Xbox Accessibility
  • Once there, select Narrator to turn it off.
Accessibility Narrator

If you are Using a Keyboard

If you're using a keyboard with your Xbox console:

  1. Press the Windows logo key + Ctrl + Enter simultaneously to toggle the text to speech off.
  2. Press the same combination to turn it back on if needed.

You can also set up an alert to receive notifications if the text to speech option is enabled. Under the same section, find the option "Warn me when turning Narrator on" and turn it on.

Accessibility Narrator Turning on Option

Note: The steps to turn off text to speech on Xbox are the same no matter which of the Xbox series X console you are on.

How to Customize Xbox for a Personalized Experience?

Accessibility

The Xbox Series X includes several other options designed to ensure that every person can customize their gaming experience just the way they want it. The speech to text option converts anything spoken in the party chat to text so that you don't get distracted by the conversations going on there.

If you have visual impairments, you have a high-contrast mode and the option to use color filters to help you distinguish text and colors on the screen so that you can enjoy your favorite games to the fullest.

Xbox allows you to remap buttons for customized gaming with better accessibility. This can be done via the Accessories App, a tool specifically designed for managing Xbox controllers. The console even supports multiple languages, so you can select the one you're most comfortable with for in-game menus and app settings. 

These accessibility features make your games more enjoyable by enhancing your gaming experience and making interactions with other players a breeze.

If you are still curious about text to speech technology and want to explore its capabilities outside the Xbox ecosystem, try Murf. Murf offers the very latest in TTS technology, which you can use to create voice-overs in other aspects of gaming, such as game tutorials, level walk-throughs, and more.

Meet Murf Falcon: The Fastest, Most Efficient Text to Speech API 

Murf Falcon is engineered to deliver human-like speech at an industry leading model latency of 55 ms across the globe. Use Falcon to deploy AI voice agents that not only talk like regular humans, but also deliver the speech at blazing fast speed with ultra precision.

Falcon is the only TTS API that consistently maintains time-to-first-audio under 130 ms across 10+ global regions, even when processing up to 10,000 calls at the same time. Falcon delivers uninterrupted, natural speech. No lag, no clipped phrases, no robotic tone.

Engineered for Real-Time Performance

Falcon’s architecture is tuned specifically for ultra-low latency and responsiveness:

  • Model latency under 55 ms
  • Time-to-first-audio under 130 ms
  • Edge deployment across 10+ regions for global consistency

Its lightweight, compute-efficient model outperforms larger LLM-based TTS systems on context precision and response timing delivering premium naturalness without inflated infrastructure demands.

Human-Like Speech, in Any Language

Falcon ensures voices sound fluent and expressive:

  • 35+ languages, 150+ expressive voices
  • Code-mixed multilingual output without accent distortion
  • 99.38% pronunciation accuracy
  • Conversational prosody for natural tone, rhythm, and pauses

Falcon separates how words are pronounced from the unique qualities of the speaker’s voice, preventing odd tone changes. This also enables the voice to switch languages smoothly in the middle of a sentence.Your AI voice doesn’t just speak multiple languages, it sounds native in each.

Integrates in Minutes

Falcon fits easily into modern development stacks:

  • RESTful API
  • Python, JavaScript, and cURL SDKs
  • Works with Twilio, Anthropic Claude, Discord, and more

Go from API key to live call in minutes, no complex provisioning or specialized infrastructure needed.

Stable and Cost-Efficient at Scale

  • Supports 10,000+ concurrent calls with no latency drop
  • Predictable performance worldwide via edge routing
  • On-prem deployment option for full internal control
  • Priced at 1¢ per minute, reducing voice agent costs by up to 50%

Fast everywhere. Accurate always. Affordable at scale. Try Murf Falcon now!

Transform Text into Natural-Sounding Speech in 200+ Voices

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the chat transcriptions and game transcription settings?

Chat transcription and game transcription are part of the text to speech feature on Xbox but focus on different types of text within the ecosystem. The chat transcription feature converts text from the party chat into spoken words, that can be activated via party chat options column while the game transcription feature converts in-game dialogues or subtitles.

Can I customize the voice of the text to speech feature on my Xbox?

Yes, you can. Xbox consoles give you the option to adjust parameters like the volume, speed, and pitch of the voice in text to speech feature.

Is text-to-speech available for all Xbox games across all the consoles?

The text to speech feature is available on all Xbox consoles, and most games do support it. That said, there could be a few exceptions.

Will turning off text-to-speech affect my ability to use voice commands on Xbox?

No, turning off text-to-speech will not affect your ability to use voice commands on Xbox. Voice commands are a separate feature that allows you to control your Xbox using your voice.

Author’s Profile
Supriya Sharma
Supriya Sharma
Supriya is a Content Marketing Manager at Murf AI, specializing in crafting AI-driven strategies that connect Learning and Development professionals with innovative text-to-speech solutions. With over six years of experience in content creation and campaign management, Supriya blends creativity and data-driven insights to drive engagement and growth in the SaaS space.
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