To turn off voice on Motorola, you need to identify which feature is speaking: the TalkBack screen reader, the "Hey Google" hotword, or spoken search results. The fastest way to stop your phone from talking is to press and hold both volume buttons for three seconds to disable TalkBack.
Quickly turn off TalkBack with the volume buttons
If your phone is reading everything aloud and responding to every touch, the TalkBack screen reader is likely active. The quickest method to silence it is to press and hold both the Volume Up and Volume Down buttons simultaneously for approximately three seconds. This toggles TalkBack off without needing to navigate menus.
Disable TalkBack through the Settings menu
If the volume button shortcut doesn't work or you prefer a permanent change, use the Settings menu. Go to Settings > Accessibility > TalkBack. Tap the "Use TalkBack" switch and confirm by tapping "Turn off". This stops the screen reader from describing every action aloud. If you can't turn off the Voice Assistant, contact Motorola customer support for guidance tailored to your specific phone model.
Stop your phone from responding to 'Hey Google'
If your phone activates when you say "Hey Google" or "OK Google," you need to disable hotword detection. Open the Google app, tap your profile icon, go to Settings > Google Assistant (or Gemini) > Hey Google & Voice Match, and toggle off "Hey Google". Your phone will no longer listen for the wake word, which is a common part of fixing voice assistant and microphone fixes. Voice command capabilities can be used to make phone calls, send text messages, or open apps by activating the voice assistant with a wake word or dedicated button.
Turn off spoken results from Google Assistant
When you ask Google Assistant a question, it may read the answer aloud. Your Assistant will then reply silently with text only. To turn off voice notifications, go to Settings > Sound & notification > Voice notification and toggle the switch off.
Disable text-to-speech output
Some apps or system functions read text aloud using the text-to-speech engine. To stop this system-wide, go to Settings > Accessibility > Text-to-Speech. From there, you can turn off the engine or adjust its settings so nothing is spoken automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the voice on my Motorola phone turned on by default?
Features like TalkBack are enabled by default to assist users with visual impairments or those who need auditory feedback. While helpful for some, it can be distracting for others and is easily turned off through the settings or volume button shortcut.
Can I adjust the volume of the voice on my Motorola phone?
Yes. Go to Settings > Sound & Notification and adjust the volume slider for media or system sounds. The voice output from TalkBack or Google Assistant follows the media volume setting, so lowering that slider will make it quieter.
How can I troubleshoot if the voice feature is not turning off?
If the voice won't turn off, restart your phone first. If that doesn't work, update your phone's software to the latest version. As a last resort, reset accessibility settings by going to Settings > System > Accessibility > Accessibility settings and tapping the three-dot menu to reset to default.
Does turning off voice affect my phone's other sounds?
No. Disabling TalkBack, "Hey Google," or spoken results only stops the phone from speaking. Ringtone, notification sounds, and media playback remain unchanged unless you adjust those settings separately.
Will turning off 'Hey Google' stop all voice commands?
No. Turning off "Hey Google" only prevents the phone from listening for the wake word. You can still use Google Assistant by manually opening the app or pressing the Assistant button, if your phone has one.
