How do I disable narrator forever?

I deleted my Narrator.exe

I found it in the Windows\System32 folder. Before I deleted Narrator.exe I right-clicked the file, Properties. Then I took ownership and changed the permissions giving me full control.

Having changed the access control, I deleted Narrator.exe.

I checked in Control Panel - Ease of access, when I clicked on Narrator nothing happened, just what I wanted.


One of following methods should work.

Method A

  1. Navigate to System32.
  2. Locate Narrator.exe.
  3. Disable execution permission.

Method B

  1. Open regedit.exe.
  2. Create the following key.

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\Narrator.exe

  3. In that key, create a new string value named Debugger and assign it the value %1.

Reference: Disabling Narrator.


I disabled Narrator for a while on Windows 8 (by finding 'Narrator.exe' and adding an access-control entry to deny 'Read & execute' permission for the built-in principal 'Everyone'), because I hated it too. However, when I upgraded to Windows 8.1 Narrator became enabled again. It was then that I found a better solution to the problem of being annoyed by Narrator:

  • Open Narrator Settings (the modern version; search Start)
  • Enable Narrator using the slide-bar
  • Select voice 'Microsoft Zira'
  • Slide the pitch to minimum
  • Slide the speed to minimum
  • Disable Narrator using the slide-bar

Now, when I accidentally press Windows+Enter I can laugh at the funny voice, which means I don't get annoyed. The best part is pressing Windows+Enter again to disable Narrator. Slow Zira's valediction cracks me up every time.