Voice Access for Android
By activating Voice Access it is possible to control your Android device via voice. This is especially useful for users who have difficulty using the touchscreen.
Voice Access is available for all devices with Android version 5.0 or higher.
Install Voice Access
Before you can install Voice Access, you must first meet the following preconditions:
Your device must have Android 5.0 or higher
The Google app must be installed
In addition, the following three things are recommended:
Set up “Ok Google” detection from any screen:
Open the Google app, tap More in the bottom right, then Settings, then Voice Settings. Then tap "Voice" and turn on "Ok Google."
Check if you have downloaded a language for offline use:
Go back to the previous screen and click on 'Offline Speech Recognition'. Download the desired languages.
Use the Pixel Launcher. Download the app here.
Finally, install the Voice Access app.
Turn on Voice Access
After you install Voice Access, you can only turn it on in way 1 the first time.
Way 1: via settings
Open the Settings app
Tap Accessibility
Tap Voice Access, found under the 'Downloaded services' heading
Turn on the Switch
Then turn off the 'Time out after no speech'-switch in the Voice Access settings.
Way 2: Via Shortcut
Open the Settings app
Scroll down, tap Accessibility
Tap Volume key shortcut
Turn on the Switch
Tap Shortcut service
Tap Switch Access
Press and hold both volume buttons for three seconds
Note: this only works on devices with Android version 8 or higher.
Turn off Voice Access
Saying “Stop listening” or “Thanks, Google” disables Voice Access.
You can also turn off Voice Access via the settings. You can also try long-pressing both volume buttons. This way you can disable Voice Access via a shortcut.
Voice Access commands
After you turn on Voice Access, numbers appear on the screen with all the elements to perform actions.
For example, if you see the number 7 next to a "Save" button, you can perform actions in the following ways:
7
Save
Click 7
Click Save
In some apps, it's easier to navigate with a grid than by clicking on specific elements. A grid is also useful if the element you want to click on does not have a number.
Say “Show grid” to start grid selection.
Say “More squares” or “Less squares” to make the grid larger or smaller.
To interact with the grid, say a number or use commands. For example: “Tap 3” or “Long press 3”.
Say “Hide grid” to hide the grid again.
Note: it will often happen that you cannot fully control apps with voice control.
Navigation
You can navigate with these commands.
Command | Action |
|---|---|
Open <app> | Opens the given app |
Go back | Presses the back button |
Go home | Presses the home button |
Show notifications | Shows your notifications |
Show Quick Settings | Displays the quick settings menu |
Show recent apps | Shows your recent apps |
Overview of common commands via Voice Access
Ask for help
These commands will help you to use Voice Access.
Command | Action |
|---|---|
What can I say? | Shows all the commands you can say |
Show all commands | Shows all commands |
Open tutorial | Opens the tutorial to learn Voice Access |
Hide numbers | Hides the numbers on the screen |
Show numbers | Shows numbers on the screen |
What is <number>? | Explains what type the element with the given number is |
Stop Voice Access | Stops Voice Access |
Send feedback | Opens a screen to send feedback about Voice Access |
Overview of commands to ask for help via Voice Access
Adjust settings
With these commands, you can adjust settings. For example, turn Wi-Fi or Bluetooth on or off and change the volume level.
Command | Action |
|---|---|
Turn <on/off> <setting> | The given setting is turned on or off. For example: “Turn on Wi-Fi” turns off Wi-Fi. |
Turn <up/down> volume | Turns the volume up or down |
Turn <media/alarm/phone> volume <up/down> | The volume of the given item is increased or decreased. For example: “Turn media volume up” turns volume up. |
Mute | Turns off the sound |
Silence | Mutes the sound |
Unmute | Turns the sound back on |
<Mute/unmute> <media/alarm/phone> volume | Turns the volume on or off for the given item. For example: “Mute phone volume” turns off the volume. |
Turn device off | Turns off your device |
Overview of commands to adjust settings via Voice Access
Assistant
Commands' that you normally say after “Ok Google” still work. For example:
Command | Action |
|---|---|
Set timer for <time> | Start a timer for the given time |
Turn on flashlight | Turns on your device's flash |
When was the Empire State Building built? | Answers when the Empire State Building was built |
Who created Google? | Answers who founded Google |
Overview of assistant commands via Voice Access
Gestures
Use these commands to tap, scroll, and use other gestures through your voice.
Touch
Command | Action |
|---|---|
Touch <element> | Touches the given element |
<element> | Touches the given element |
Long press <element> | Long touches the given element |
Switch <on/off> <setting> | The given setting is turned on or off. For example: “Switch off airplane mode” to turn off airplane mode. |
Expand <element> | Expands the given element |
Collapse <element> | Collapses the given element |
Overview of touch commands via Voice Access
Swipe
Command | Action |
|---|---|
Scroll <left/right/up/down> | Scrolls to the given direction. For example: “Scroll left”, the page scrolls to the left. |
Scroll to <top/bottom> | Scrolls all the way up or down. For example: “Scroll to top”, the page will scroll all the way to the top. |
Swipe <forwards/backwards> | Swipes to the given direction. For example: “Swipe forwards”, swipes forward |
Overview of commands to swipe via Voice Access
Magnifying glass
These commands allow you to zoom or enlarge so that you can read the screen better.
Note: You need Android 7.0 or newer to use the commands below.
Command | Action |
|---|---|
Start magnification | Starts magnification |
Start zooming | Starts zooming |
Magnify | Increases |
Enhance | Improves |
Zoom in | Zooms in |
Zoom out | Zooms out |
Pan <left/right/up/down> | Pans to the given direction |
Move <left/right/up/down> | Moves to the given direction |
Go <left/right/up/down> | Goes to the given direction |
Stop magnification | Stops magnification |
Stop zooming | Stops zooming |
Cancel zoom | Cancels the zoom |
Overview of commands to use the magnifying glass via Voice Access
Text editing
Use these commands to type, edit, and format text with your voice. A blue border appears around editable text fields to indicate that you can start typing and editing. Say the number next to the text field if the blue border does not appear around the text field.
Typing
Command | Action |
|---|---|
Type <word/phrase> | Inserts the given text |
<word/phrase> | Inserts the given text |
Undo | Undoes the previous action |
Redo | Redoes the action |
Insert <word/phrase> <before/after/between> <word/phrase> | The given text is placed before, after, or between the given text. For example: “Insert 'Thank you' before 'Kind Regards'”, inserts 'Thank you' before 'Kind Regards'. |
Format email | This command formats nearby text as an email address. For example: “info at appt dot nl” is formatted as “info@appt.nl” |
Overview of commands for typing text via Voice Access
Replace
Command | Action |
|---|---|
Replace <word/phrase> with <word/phrase> | Replaces the given text with the desired text |
Replace everything between <word/phrase> and <word/phrase> with <word/phrase> | Replaces everything between the given two texts with the desired text |
Capitalize <word/phrase> | Lets the given text start with a capital letter |
Uppercase <word/phrase> | Converts the given text to uppercase |
Lowercase <word/phrase> | Converts the given text to lowercase |
Overview of commands to replace text via Voice Access
Delete
Command | Action |
|---|---|
Delete | Deletes the text |
Delete all | Deletes everything |
Delete <word/phrase> | Deletes the given text |
Delete to the beginning | Deletes everything up to the beginning |
Delete to the end | Deletes everything until the end |
Delete selected text | Deletes the selected text |
Delete from <word/phrase> to <word/phrase> | Removes all intervening text between the given two texts |
Delete <number> <characters/words/sentences/lines/paragraphs/pages> | Removes the given number from the given type of text |
Delete the <next/previous> <number> <characters/words/sentences/lines/paragraphs/pages> | Deletes the previous or next given number of the given type of text |
Overview of commands to delete text via Voice Access
Move
Command | Action |
|---|---|
Go to the beginning | Moves the cursor to the beginning of the text |
Go to the end | Moves the cursor to the end of the text |
Move <before/after> <word/phrase> | Moves the cursor before or after the given text. For example: “Move after thank you.”, moved the cursor after 'thank you'. |
Move between <word/phrase> and <word/phrase> | Moves the cursor between the two given texts. For example: “Move between 'you' and 'me'”, moves the cursor between 'you' and 'me'. |
<right/left> <number> <characters/words/sentences/lines/paragraphs/pages> | Moves the cursor left or right the given number of text elements. For example: “Left 3 characters”, moves the cursor three characters to the left. |
Overview of commands to move text via Voice Access
Select
Command | Action |
|---|---|
Select all text | Selects all text |
Unselect all text | Deselects all text |
Select to the beginning | Selects to the beginning |
Select to the end | Selects to the end |
Select <word/phrase> | Selects the given text |
Select from <word/phrase> to <word/phrase> | Selects from the given text to the given text |
Select <number> <characters/words/sentences/lines/paragraphs/pages> | Selects the given number of the given text element type. For example: “Select 5 sentences”, selects five sentences. |
Select the <next/previous> <number> <characters/words/sentences/lines/paragraphs/pages> | Selects the next or previous given number of the given text element type. For example, “Select the previous 6 paragraphs”, selects the previous six paragraphs. |
Overview of commands to select text via Voice Access
Actions
Command | Action |
|---|---|
Cut | Cuts the text |
Ccopy | Copies the text |
Paste | Pastes the text |
Overview of commands to perform actions on text via Voice Access
Keyboard
Command | Action |
|---|---|
Show keyboard | Shows the keyboard |
Hide keyboard | Hides the keyboard |
Overview of commands to replace text via Voice Access
Voice Access manuals
Want to learn even more about Voice Access? Google has written several guides: