TalkBack: screen reader for Android

The built-in screen reader for Android devices is called TalkBack. A screen reader makes it possible to use apps without sight. Gestures allow you to navigate through apps and perform actions. TalkBack is available on Android phones, tablets and watches.

Download our free ScreenReader app to learn TalkBack gestures and actions.

Turn on TalkBack

You can enable TalkBack in the following ways:

Way 1: via settings

1. Open the Settings app

2. Scroll down, tap Accessibility

3. Tap TalkBack

4. Turn on the switch

Way 2: Via Shortcut

1. Open the Settings app

2. Scroll down, tap Accessibility

3. Tap Volume key shortcut

4. Turn on the switch

5. Tap Shortcut service

6. Tap TalkBack

7. Tap Allow in the dialog box

8. Press and hold both volume buttons for three seconds

Note: this only works on devices with Android version 8 or higher.

Turn off TalkBack

If you get confused with the gestures, the easiest way to turn off TalkBack is the second way: press and hold both volume buttons for three seconds.

If you're using an older device, your only option is to navigate back to the TalkBack settings via gestures.

TalkBack gestures

With version 9.1 of TalkBack, a lot has changed in the gestures. In previous versions of TalkBack, there were only one-finger gestures. In the new version, gestures that require multiple fingers have been added.

In general, TalkBack gestures were perceived as more difficult compared to VoiceOver. Making the right angles is difficult and therefore sometimes goes wrong. TalkBack version 9.1 changes this. Multi-finger gestures have been added as an alternative to angled gestures.

The main gestures to learn are:

• Touch the screen with 1 finger to explore

• Swipe right with 1 finger to go to the next element

• Swipe left with 1 finger to go to the previous element

• Tap the screen twice with 1 finger to activate an item

• Swipe left, right, up, or down with 2 fingers to scroll in that direction

Note: it will often happen that you cannot fully control apps with TalkBack.

Swipe with 1 finger

Gestures to control TalkBack by swiping with 1 finger.

Action	Explanation	Gesture
Explore the screen	Swipe the screen with 1 finger
Go to the next section	Swipe right with 1 finger
Go to the previous section	Swipe left with 1 finger
Increase setting	Swipe up with 1 finger
Decrease setting	Swipe down with 1 finger

Swipe with 2 fingers

Gestures to control TalkBack by swiping with 2 fingers.

Action	Explanation	Gesture
Scroll up	Swipe up with 2 fingers
Scroll down	Swipe down with 2 fingers
Scroll right	Swipe right with 2 fingers
Scroll left	Swipe left with 2 fingers

Swipe with 3 fingers

Gestures to control TalkBack by swiping with 3 fingers.

Action	Explanation	Gesture
Go to the previous reading setting	Swipe up with 3 fingers
Go to the next reading setting	Swipe down with 3 fingers

Tap with 1 finger

Gestures to control TalkBack by tapping with 1 finger.

Action	Explanation	Gesture
Activate the selected item	Tap the screen twice with 1 finger
Long press the selected item	Tap 2 times with 1 finger and hold
Double-tap the selected item	Tap the screen 3 times with 1 finger

Tap with 2 fingers

Gestures to control TalkBack by tapping with 2 fingers.

Action	Explanation	Gesture
Pause or resume speech	Tap the screen with 2 fingers
Start or stop the current action	Tap the screen twice with 2 fingers
Start or end selection mode	Tap 2 times with 2 fingers and hold
Read from next	Tap the screen 3 times with 2 fingers

Tap with 3 fingers

Gestures to control TalkBack by tapping with 3 fingers.

Action	Explanation	Gesture
Open TalkBack menu	Tap the screen 1 time with 3 fingers
Copy text	Tap the screen twice with 3 fingers
Cut text	Tap with 3 fingers 2 times and hold
Paste text	Tap the screen 3 times with 3 fingers

Tap with 4 fingers

Gestures to control TalkBack by tapping with 4 fingers.

Action	Explanation	Gesture
Gesture practice mode	Tap the screen with 4 fingers 1 time
Help using TalkBack	Tap the screen twice with 4 fingers
Directly transmit touches	Tap 2 times with 4 fingers and hold

Shortcuts

Gestures to activate TalkBack shortcuts.

Action	Explanation	Gesture
Go to the first section	Swipe up and then down with 1 finger
Go to the last section	Swipe down and then up with 1 finger
Scroll forward	Swipe right and then left with 1 finger
Scroll back	Swipe left and then right with 1 finger
Back	Swipe down with 1 finger and then left
Home	Swipe up with 1 finger and then left
Overview	Swipe left and then up with 1 finger
Notifications	Swipe right and then down with 1 finger
To search	Swipe left and then down with 1 finger
Local context menu	Swipe up with 1 finger and then right
General context menu	Swipe down with 1 finger and then right

TalkBack settings

You can set up TalkBack exactly the way that works best for you. You can adjust the most important settings as follows:

Open the Settings app, tap Accessibility, tap TalkBack, and tap Settings. On this screen, you can adjust various settings including the language, speed, and pitch.

In addition, you can adjust various details to your wishes, such as the extensiveness level. For example, you can choose whether or not to use phonetic letters. You can also choose not to have information about lists read aloud. There are a number of other settings that you can use to fine-tune TalkBack.

Learn TalkBack

Want to learn even more about TalkBack? Google has written several guides:

• Use TalkBack gestures

• Learn about TalkBack settings