How to Turn Off VoiceOver on Mac OS X

Last Updated: March 29, 2019

VoiceOver is a feature in Mac OS X that reads text aloud and guides users with blindness or poor vision through actions and menus. The VoiceOver feature can be managed in the Universal Access menu under System Preferences.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:
Disabling VoiceOver on Mac OS X

1
Click on the Apple menu and select “System Preferences.” The System Preferences window will open and display on-screen.
2
Click on “Universal Access” under the System category.
3
Click on the “Seeing” tab, then select the “Off” radio button next to “VoiceOver.” The VoiceOver feature will now be turned off and disabled.^{[1]
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- Alternately, you can toggle VoiceOver off and on by pressing Command + FN + F5 on your keyboard at the same time.^{[2]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:
Disabling VoiceOver on iOS

1
Tap on the Home button three times. Your iOS device will say “VoiceOver off,” and the VoiceOver feature will now be disabled.
- Alternately, you can allow the VoiceOver feature to help you navigate to Settings > General > Accessibility. Double-tap on “VoiceOver” in the Accessibility menu to disable the iOS VoiceOver feature.