Move around your home screen with TalkBack

At the top of your screen, you can get information, like time, notifications, battery status, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. The status bar might hide when an app is in full screen mode. If the status bar is hidden and you want it back, open Notifications.

Tip: If your focus is on the status bar, to move out of it, touch another part of the screen.

Some Android devices have a search bar on the home screen so that you can search the web without a separate app. If your device doesn't have a search bar automatically, you can add it as a widget.

Notifications show information from your system or apps, like Calendar events, missed calls or news updates. You can find notifications in the status bar. To open notifications, two-finger swipe down from the top of the screen. To close notifications, two-finger swipe up.

You can open apps with the icons on your device. For example, to open Gmail, select the Gmail icon, then double-tap. Some apps are on your home screen and some are in the app section.

Use and explore your apps:

• To find the apps on your home screen: Drag your finger over the screen.
• To open an app once it has focus: Double-tap anywhere on the screen.
• To explore all the apps on your device: On the home screen, two-finger swipe up to open the app drawer.
• To add an app to your home screen: Touch the app to give it focus. Then, double-tap and hold. Drag your finger where you want to place the app.
  • You can also double-tap and hold until the menu comes up. Then, select Add to home screen.
• To remove an app from the home screen: Select the app, then open the TalkBack menu. Select Actions Remove.
  • This doesn’t uninstall the app.

Folders are app collections that you can add to your home screen. For example, a Google Play folder might have apps like Play Music, Play Books and Play Movies. To explore a folder, open it and move your finger over the screen. To create a folder, drag one app on top of another.

Widgets are shortcuts on your home screen that help you get information or perform tasks. For example, with the Calendar widget, you can find upcoming events on your home screen.

To add a widget:

1. On the home screen, move focus on the apps list.
   • Don’t double-tap.
2. Open the TalkBack menu.
   • On devices with multi-finger gestures: Three-finger tap. Or, in one motion, swipe down then right.
   • On devices without multi-finger gestures (prior to updated Android R with TalkBack 9.1): In one motion, swipe down then right.
3. Select Actions Widget.
4. To find a widget, swipe right or left, or explore by touch.
5. To add the focused widget, double-tap and hold.
6. Drag the widget where you want to place it.

To remove a widget:

1. On the home screen, move focus on the widget.
2. Open the TalkBack menu.
   • On devices with multi-finger gestures: Three-finger tap. Or, in one motion, swipe down then right.
   • On devices without multi-finger gestures (prior to updated Android R with TalkBack 9.1): In one motion, swipe down then right.
3. Select Actions Remove.