Turn off TalkBack

 

TalkBack is an accessibility feature that helps people who are blind or have low vision to interact with their Android devices using touch and spoken feedback.

When TalkBack is on, items on the screen are outlined with a focus box, and the device gives audio cues about what is on the screen. Instead of typical touch interactions, you can navigate the device through TalkBack gestures. To learn TalkBack basics, watch a video.

A few TalkBack gestures to remember: 

• To scroll up or down on the screen: Place two fingers on the screen and drag up or down.
• To move the focus box from one item to another: Swipe left or right with one finger.
• To select an item: Touch the item with one finger, then double-tap anywhere on the screen with one finger.

Tip: To turn off TalkBack, depending on your device and settings, you might need to try more than one of the options listed below.

Option 1: Turn off TalkBack with shortcuts

Important: The TalkBack shortcut setup varies depending on the device manufacturer, Android version and TalkBack version. Try the following options to turn off TalkBack: 

• Press and hold both volume keys for a few seconds. Listen for confirmation that TalkBack is turned off.  
• If you have any other shortcut button  or a floating button displayed on the screen, set the focus on that item by touching it with one finger, then double-tap to turn off TalkBack.

If these options don't work, try one of the other options below.

Option 2: Turn off TalkBack with Google Assistant

1. Say 'Hey Google, turn off TalkBack'.
2. Listen for confirmation that TalkBack is turned off.

Option 3: Turn off TalkBack in Settings

Step 1: Unlock your device

1. If your lock screen isn't displayed, press the Power button.
   • If the lock screen still isn't displayed, turn on the screen display with TalkBack gestures:
     1. With one finger: Swipe up and then right (or swipe down and then right) to open the TalkBack menu.
     2. In the TalkBack menu: Tap Show screen once to focus it and then double-tap to select it.
2. From the lock screen, bring up the password screen, swipe up with two fingers from the bottom.
3. On the password screen, use your PIN or pattern to unlock the phone:

• To unlock with your PIN: With one finger, tap on each number of your PIN and then tap OK or the enter button.
• To unlock with your pattern: With one finger, tap on each dot of your pattern one after another continuously.

Once the phone is unlocked, try to turn off TalkBack using shortcuts, press the volume up and down keys at the same time for a few seconds, or ask the Google Assistant to turn off TalkBack. If these shortcuts don't work, proceed to Step 2.

Step 2: Open your device settings

There are two ways to open your device settings with TalkBack.

Use the navigation bar

1. To open the notifications bar, from the top of the screen, swipe down with two fingers.
2. To expand the notifications bar, swipe down with two fingers again.
3. To focus the bar, tap Settings .
4. Double-tap to select it.

Use the app drawer

1. To open the app drawer, use one of these options, depending on your device manufacturer:
   • With two fingers, swipe up from the bottom of the screen. This option works on devices that use vertical scrolling for the app drawer. 
   • With two fingers, swipe left or right. This option works on devices that use horizontal scrolling for the app drawer. 
2. With two fingers, scroll to find Settings .
3. To focus the app drawer, tap Settings .
4. Double-tap to select it.

Step 3: Turn off TalkBack in Settings

1. Open the Accessibility screen,
   • To find Accessibility, scroll with two fingers. 
   • Tap Accessibility once with one finger to focus it, then double-tap to select it.
2. Open the TalkBack screen
   • To find TalkBack, scroll with two fingers
   • Tap TalkBack once with one finger to focus it, then double-tap to select it
3. Tap Use TalkBack switch with one finger to focus it, then double-tap to select it
4. Tap Stop in the confirmation to focus it and then double-tap to select it

Contact the device manufacturer

If you're unable to use any of these options, contact the device manufacturer or review the device manufacturer's accessibility help content.

Final step: Turn off TalkBack shortcuts

Important: To make sure that you don't turn on TalkBack accidentally in the future, turn off the accessibility shortcut after you turn off TalkBack.

1. On your device, open Settings.
2. Select Accessibility.
3. Select TalkBack.
4. Turn off TalkBack shortcut. 

Resources

• Turn on TalkBack
• Get started on Android with TalkBack