Turn on TalkBack

TalkBack helps people who can't see to use their Android devices. It lets them touch their phone and hear what is on the screen.

When TalkBack is on, a box goes around what's on the screen. Your phone makes sounds to tell you about what's on the screen. Instead of touch, you can move around the device using TalkBack gestures. To learn how TalkBack works, you can watch a video.

Tip: How you turn on TalkBack on your phone can be a little different. It depends on your phone and its version of Android.

When you set up your phone

When you set up your phone, hold down both volume buttons for a few seconds. This will turn on TalkBack. You can keep using the volume buttons as a shortcut to turn TalkBack on or off once you've set it up.

Tip: If you don't want the volume button shortcut later, you can turn it off. Go to Settings Accessibility TalkBack. Select TalkBack shortcut and turn it off to disable it. Learn how to change your TalkBack shortcut.

After you've set up your phone

You have a few ways to turn on TalkBack once your phone is all set up.

Way 1: Use device settings

1. On your phone, open Settings .
2. Tap Accessibility TalkBack.
3. Choose Use TalkBack.

After you've turned on TalkBack, control your device with TalkBack gestures.

Way 2: Use shortcuts

You can use a special button on your screen or press phone buttons to turn TalkBack on or off.

1. On your device, open Settings .
2. Tap Accessibility TalkBack TalkBack shortcut.
3. Turn on TalkBack shortcut.
4. Your phone shows you how to set up the shortcut for your specific phone. You can also learn more ways to configure the accessibility shortcut.

Way 3: Use Google Assistant

If you have set up Google Assistant, you can just talk to your phone.

1. Say 'Hey Google'.
2. Then say 'Turn on TalkBack' or 'Turn off TalkBack'.

How to use your phone with TalkBack on

• To pick an item, touch it with one finger. Your phone will say what it is. Then tap twice with one finger open or use the item.
• To move to the next item, swipe right with one finger.
• To scroll up or down on the screen, put two fingers on the screen and drag up or down.
• If your phone uses 'Gesture navigation' for gestures like home, back or recent apps, use two fingers instead of one. Learn more about TalkBack gestures.

Tip: TalkBack speaks password letters to you. If you don't want it to read your password, in secure fields, you can change the setting.

Get more help

• If you turned it on accidentally, learn how to turn off TalkBack.
• For more Accessibility help, contact the Disability Support team.