You’ll want to know how to turn off voice assistant on Xfinity Flex. Luckily, we have the answer.
People with visual disabilities find the voice assistant on Xfinity Flex a great help.
However, if you can follow what is on the screen with your own eyes, then you don’t really need Xfinity Flex’s voice assistant and its features.
How do you turn off the voice assistant feature on your Xfinity Flex? Read on to find out!
There are two ways to turn off voice guidance on your Xfinity Flex. You may use the Xfinity Flex remote or voice control. Either way, you won’t be able to use the voice assistant feature. You can also switch off the audio description if you don’t have visual disabilities and can hear clearly.
Before we proceed to the detailed steps of turning off voice assistant on your Xfinity Flex, let us discuss the different voice assistant features.
Xfinity Flex’s Different Voice Assistant Features
Most recently, many users have been looking for ways to turn off the voice assistant features on their Xfinity Flex.
Since they don’t have visual disabilities, they feel that these tricks have been useless and time-consuming.
Let’s find out what these features do.
1. Voice Guidance
The voice guidance feature allows users with visual disabilities to explore TV shows and movies independently. It speaks about what’s on the screen and describes the programs to help you decide what to watch.
2. Voice Control
The voice control feature allows you to manage your Xfinity Flex using spoken commands. Instead of clicking apps, you use your voice to open and navigate them.
3. Audio Description
The Audio description feature works as a narrator.
It creates a richer, more independent experience for people with visual disabilities by describing key visual elements, such as actions and facial expressions.
Now that you know the different voice assistant features on your Xfinity Flex and what they do let us move on to the actual steps of turning them off if you don’t need them.
How to Turn Off Voice Assistant on Xfinity Flex
If you’re sharing your home with someone who needs Xfinity Flex’s voice assistant features, you want to know how to turn them off or on quickly.
It can be helpful for someone with disabilities, but it can also get confusing and annoying for those that don’t.
You can either use voice commands or manual navigation on your remote to switch it on or off. Anyone can do it, even those with visual disabilities that rely on the feature.
Find out how you can turn these off below:
Step #1: How to Turn Off Voice Guidance on Xfinity Flex Remote
Your Xfinity Flex has different voice assistance features to make your life easier.
It’s a helpful tool for those with visual disabilities, allowing them to navigate Xfinity’s library of shows and movies.
Voice guidance is one feature that will tell you via voice prompts what’s on your screen.
It can tell you about program descriptions, titles, and menu options so you can choose what you want to watch.
The problem is that it can get annoying for regular users, as repeated voice prompts can affect your viewing experience.
You can turn off the feature (voice guidance), and here’s how you can do it:
- Press the B key on your remote.
- Navigate to the Accessibility Settings screen.
- Tap on the B key again on your remote.
- Locate the Voice Guidance menu.
- Choose Turn Off Voice Guidance, then press OK.
Note: Voice Guidance isn’t only for those who are blind or have low vision. It also works well for those who have difficulty reading.
Step #2: How to Turn Off Voice Guidance Using Voice Control
Xfinity Flex takes it to the next level with its voice assistant features since you can also switch it off using voice commands.
It’s not a one-way street for Xfinity Flex users since you can also speak a command, and your system will do it for you.
It’s a convenient way to turn off voice guidance since you don’t need to go through the menu options and navigate to the settings.
Your remote and box should be able to recognize the command as long as you say the keywords.
Here’s how to turn off voice guidance using voice commands:
- Locate the voice control button on your remote.
- You can find it two rows above the OK button.
- Or below the Down Arrow on the directional pad.
- Press the voice control button and say “voice guidance.”
- Select Turn Off Voice guidance, and press OK.
Note: If someone relies on this feature in your home, make sure you reactivate it after you’re done watching.
Step #3: Switching Off Audio Description Using the Voice Remote
Xfinity Flex’s Audio Description is another voice assistant feature that makes it easier for those with visual issues to watch their favorite shows and movies.
Turning this feature on will narrate descriptions of elements on the screen. It can describe visual segments like action sequences, facial expressions, costumes, and even scene changes.
As long as it’s made available by the show or movie publisher, your Xfinity Flex box will be able to relay it to you once the feature is activated.
Here’s how to turn off Audio Description using your Xfinity Voice Remote:
- While watching, press and hold the Voice Control button on your remote.
- Speak “audio description” into your remote.
- If the feature is turned on, the command will turn it off.
- You’ll know it’s off since the description audio will stop.
Tip: Check out Step #2 to locate the voice control button on your remote.
Step #4: Turning Off Audio Description via the Accessibility Settings
Apart from using voice commands on the remote, you can also manually turn off the audio description feature.
By going to the accessibility menu, you have all the settings for voice assistant available, including the one to turn audio descriptions on or off.
Here’s how to deactivate audio descriptions through the accessibility settings:
- Press the Xfinity button on your remote.
- Navigate to the Settings menu, then press OK.
- Scroll down to Accessibility Settings.
- Select Audio Description.
- Press OK to toggle it Off or On.
Note: You won’t hear audio descriptions during commercial breaks or when the scenes are heavy with dialogue.
Step #5: Accessibility Shortcuts for your Voice Assistant
Xfinity Flex’s voice assistant feature is found in its accessibility options. This is the section where you can enjoy all forms of accessibility enhancement features, especially if you have visual issues.
You can control settings such as Closed Captions, Voice Guidance, and Audio Description.
If you’re using one particular feature all the time, you can set up a shortcut, so you don’t have to go through all the menus to turn it on or off.
Here’s how to set up your Accessibility Shortcut on your Xfinity Flex:
- Go to your Xfinity Flex’s Settings.
- Press the Arrow Down key to Accessibility Settings.
- Select Remote Shortcut, then press OK.
- Choose Voice Guidance or Audio Description.
- You can also say “Accessibility Settings” on your remote.
Pro Tip: To access this shortcut, all you need to do is press the B button twice on your remote, and it will toggle your chosen feature On or Off.
Voice Assistant on your Xfinity Flex is something you want to activate if you want to enhance your viewing experience even when you have impairments.
It allows you to enjoy your favorite shows and movies without someone talking you through what’s happening on the screen.
The good thing here is that most services like Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, and Hulu support Xfinity’s voice assistant features.
Bottom Line
Now that you know how to turn off voice assistant on Xfinity Flex, you can now enjoy watching your favorite content without wondering if you missed anything.
It’s certainly a life-changer as you can watch them on your own and switch them On or Off depending on who you’re sharing the account with.
It can be confusing for someone without any impairment to watch with these additional voice prompts. Following these steps should help you turn them Off quickly.
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Kevin has over five years of experience working in various Tech startups and providing Technical solutions. He has contributed to many Tech publications and websites. Check out more about him here.