Tired of your iPhone reading your text messages aloud? Many find this feature helpful, especially for those with visual impairments or while multitasking. However, if you're finding it annoying or prefer to read your messages yourself, turning it off is simple. This guide will walk you through the process, addressing common questions and providing helpful tips.
How to Disable Announce Messages with VoiceOver
The most common reason for unwanted text message voice is the Announce Messages feature within VoiceOver. If you've enabled VoiceOver, this setting likely needs adjusting. Here’s how to disable it:
- Open the Settings app: Find the grey icon with gears on your home screen.
- Tap on Accessibility: Scroll down until you find this option.
- Tap on VoiceOver: If VoiceOver is off, you won't find this setting causing your texts to be read aloud. If it's on, proceed to the next step.
- Tap on Announce Messages: Toggle this switch to the OFF position. This will prevent your iPhone from automatically reading new messages aloud.
If this doesn't resolve the issue, you may have another feature enabled causing your iPhone to read messages. Let's explore other possibilities.
What if Announce Messages is Already Off? Other Potential Causes
If the above steps didn't work, and your texts are still being read aloud, you might have another accessibility feature enabled that's inadvertently causing this issue. Here are a few other things to check:
1. Check Notification Settings for Individual Apps:
Sometimes, individual apps have their own notification settings that include the option to read messages aloud. Go to:
- Settings > Notifications: This will display a list of all your apps.
- Select the app in question: (e.g., Messages)
- Check the notification options: Ensure "Announce Messages" (if available) or any similar option is disabled.
2. Siri and Announce Notifications:
If you use Siri, ensure that the "Announce Notifications" feature is turned off. This feature can also lead to text messages being read aloud. This setting can be found within:
- Settings > Siri & Search > Announce Notifications Turn the toggle OFF.
3. Headphone Detection:
If you usually listen to your messages using headphones, ensure your iPhone isn't automatically starting the audio playback because of this. Check your headphones to see if they're plugged in.
Troubleshooting Persistent Issues
If you've tried all of the above and still experience issues, consider these further steps:
- Restart your iPhone: A simple restart can often resolve temporary software glitches.
- Update your iOS: Make sure your iPhone is running the latest version of iOS. Updates often include bug fixes.
- Contact Apple Support: If the problem persists, reach out to Apple Support for further assistance. They might have further troubleshooting steps or identify a more complex software issue.
This comprehensive guide should help you successfully turn off text message voice on your iPhone. Remember, adjusting these settings will impact your phone's accessibility features, so consider what options best suit your needs.
