Audio Description

Audio description (often shown as "audio displayed," "audio described," or just "AD") is a narration track that describes on-screen action, settings, and text aloud. If your TV or streaming app suddenly started narrating everything, this setting was switched on — here's what it means and how to turn it off.

What "audio displayed" or "AD" means on your screen

When you see "audio displayed," "audio described," "AD," or "DV" (described video) next to a show or movie, it means an alternate soundtrack is available (or currently active) that verbally describes what's happening on screen — character movements, scene changes, on-screen text — in the gaps between dialogue. It exists as an accessibility feature for blind and visually impaired viewers, and it's increasingly required by regulators in the US, UK, and EU.

Why your TV suddenly started narrating

The most common reason people search for this: audio description got switched on by accident — a misclicked remote button, a language/audio setting change, or a smart-TV accessibility shortcut. The narration isn't a glitch; it's the audio description track playing instead of the standard one.

How to turn audio description on or off

The setting lives in slightly different places per platform, but the pattern is the same — look for Audio, Language, or Accessibility while a video is playing:

• Netflix: while playing, open the dialog/audio menu → under Audio, switch from "English – Audio Description" to "English (Original)."
• Prime Video: during playback, tap/click the audio & subtitles icon → choose the audio track without "Audio Description."
• Disney+: playback → audio/subtitle menu → select the standard language track instead of the described one.
• Hulu: playback settings gear → Audio → pick the non-described track.
• Cable/satellite boxes and TVs: check Settings → Accessibility → Audio Description (sometimes called Video Description or Secondary Audio / SAP) and toggle it off.

If narration persists after changing it in the app, check the TV's own accessibility settings too — a TV-level "voice guide" or SAP setting can override the app.

Audio description vs. subtitles and captions

Subtitles and closed captions display dialogue and sounds as text for viewers who can't hear the audio. Audio description does the reverse: it speaks the visuals for viewers who can't see them. A title can offer both independently.

Availability

Coverage varies by catalog: most major-studio originals on Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, and Apple TV+ now ship with audio description, while older or licensed titles may not have it.