How to stop verbal announcement of text messages?

[nantastic]

New phone user here.  Every time I receive a text message, I get a verbal announcement:  Incoming text from John Doe.  Or Incoming text from 800-555-1234.  I cannot figure out where in the settings to turn this off.  I don't mind if I get a chime or sound, but I don't want the phone announcing the name or number out loud.

Thank you.

[B33]

Go to settings --> Accessibility Look under SYSTEM Caller ID & Readout and check Ring Only.. that should stop the issue..b33

[nantastic]

I checked the settings, and it already said Ring Only, so I switched it to one of the other things, received a text and then switched it back to Ring Only to maybe force the setting.

No go.    So I'm still looking for a solution.  Thank you for your input.

[B33]

Nantastic Go back to the Setting i Mentioned and give this a Try.. Tap Talk back and then Tap Settings on the Bottom of the Page and Un-check speak caller ID and see if that Works i'm kind of wondering if it Will it's a Long shot to try it but it don't hurt anything doing it b33

[nantastic]

That sounded promising, but it didn't work either.  I'll keep trying and post back if I figure it out.  Thanks for the ideas.

[B33]

Shoot.!  i thought i had something there O well we'll try on this as well to find something to stop it there is way but it's like looking for a Needle in a Haystack.. b33

[Wildman]

Try checking if Talkback is disabled under settings / Accessibility / Talkback...  If this is enabled disable.

[nantastic]

Yep, TalkBack is turned to off.  I've tried doing a hard power-down every time I change the settings.  The phone is still announcing calls and texts.

[silver6056]

I'm assuming the answer is "No", but just checking!  Have you downloaded an app such as eCID?  (This can be configured to speak the name of a caller and the author of texts and emails, as well as read the entire message).  Hopefully you would have remembered had you done so!

[nantastic]

Nope, haven't even heard of that app, so I don't think that's it.  But I still appreciate all the suggestions, so thanks for your time.

[smashogre]

nantastic - have you gone through all your apps to see if there is one you either don't remember getting or one related to being a personal assistance? There are quite a few, the Siri-like apps are what I'm talking about...a couple of those will read your txts and announce incoming calls...

[B33]

Hey Wildman thanks for the Screen Shoters that is a cool feature.. b

[vzw_customer_support]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions! These were all great tips! Nantastic, is your phone still announcing calls and text messages? The previous settings mentioned were all the ones that I know of that could cause the phone to announce on it's own. Did this start after downloading a new application? Updating software? Boot your phone into safe mode to see if it still occurs. http://bit.ly/S6vLGz

MarquiaF_VZW
Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

[nantastic]

Yes, the phone is still doing it.  I've taken it to the Verizon store on two occasions.  Each time, the clerk did some stuff to my phone and we tested it.  It seemed to have stopped, so I thanked them and went home.  Then it would start again.  The second time, I called my husband at home and asked him to call me back to test it.  In the store, it did not announce the incoming calls/text.  By the time I got home, the voice was back. 

I just followed your link above and tried Safe Mode.  Incoming calls/texts are still being announced in Safe Mode.

Oh, and to answer your other questions, I don't know whether it had to do with an app or update.  This is a brand-new phone.  I got it on September 7.  It came preinstalled with the old OS, so there was a pretty major update right away.  I'm not sure I even received any incoming calls until after the update, and the voice was announcing stuff at that point.

Thank you for the additional suggestions.  I've wondered about wiping the phone and starting over, but I don't know how to do that, nor how much work it will be to reset everything.  I'm using Backup Assistant Plus so I guess I can restore my contacts, but I'll have to redownload apps and other customizations, right?

[vzw_customer_support]

Hi Nantastic
Thank you community members for your advise!

Nantastic it may be an unknown application causing this. Have you tried deleting all old text messages and retesting? The next step would be a hard reset on the device.

Here's a link that would walk you thru this process: http://support.verizonwireless.com/clc/devices/knowledge_base.html?id=49625

Thank you
JoeL_VZW
Please follow us on twitter @vzwsupport

[B33]

I wonder if a Factory Reset would Help the Situation Smash..

[smashogre]

Probably but killing the fly with a jackhammer seems extreme at this point...I had one of those PA apps that, even after I uninstalled it, it would continue announcing txts - drove me bug nuts - and yeah I had to do an FDR.

[Wildman]

Check under Settings / Language and input / Text to Speech Output / Driving Mode

Turn off if it is turned on...

[smashogre]

THat's for a Sammy though, isn't it wildman?

[B33]

I think it is Smash i didn't see it on my Maxx..  Hey Wildman in your Screen shot it's showing 100 in the Battery up in the pull down Bar what was the App that you Used Wildman to show that in your battery.. b

[Wildman]

That may be a Samsung option only but I figured it was worth a try,,,    As for the battery I never even noticed that the battery had the number on it, so I am not sure what placed it there, it may be a stock icon but I cant say because due to my vision being limited its to small for me to see it originally.

I know there is apps in Play Store that added this option to status bar but I do not know the name of any of the apps..