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For an introduction to screen readers, read All about screen readers before you start testing with TalkBack on your Android phone or tablet.
Introducing TalkBack
TalkBack is the screen reader for Android and is part of the Android Accessibility Suite (Google Play Store).
In February 2021, Google released a major TalkBack update, version 9.1. It introduced multi-finger gestures to make TalkBack easier to use. Earlier versions, up to 8.2, use single-finger gestures that move in several directions. This is one reason TalkBack is often considered more complicated than VoiceOver on iOS.
TalkBack 9.1 is not available on every Android version. At the time of writing, it is available on updated Android R devices, Pixel 3 and other manufacturers’ devices such as Samsung Galaxy phones. This page therefore lists gestures for both newer and older versions.
Different Android versions may have different menu structures, so the instructions below may vary slightly.
Please note
TalkBack changes how you operate your phone or tablet by introducing special gestures. Your usual pointing and tapping actions no longer work in the same way. You can perform normal gestures using two fingers instead of one. Keep the instructions below handy.
Turning TalkBack on and off
There are several ways to turn TalkBack on and off.
Using Settings
- Open Settings on your device.
- Select Accessibility > TalkBack.
- Turn Use TalkBack on or off.
- Select OK.
Setting up a shortcut
If you use TalkBack regularly, it helps to assign it to the volume-key shortcut. You can then turn it on and off by holding both volume keys for three seconds.
To set up the shortcut:
- Open Settings on your device.
- Select Accessibility.
- Select the app you want to use with a shortcut.
- Select TalkBack shortcut.
- Choose Hold volume keys.
- Select Save.
You can now turn TalkBack on and off by holding both volume keys for three seconds.
Navigating with TalkBack
| Action | Single-finger gesture (all versions) | Multi-finger gesture (version 9.1 onwards) |
|---|---|---|
| Explore the screen | Drag one finger across the screen | None |
| Next item | Swipe right | None |
| Previous item | Swipe left | None |
| Select an element | Tap once | None |
| Activate an element | Double-tap | Double-tap |
| Long press | Double-tap and hold the second tap | Double-tap and hold the second tap |
| Read from the next element | None | Triple-tap with two fingers |
| Search | Swipe left, then down | None |
| Pause speech | None | Tap with two fingers |
| TalkBack menu (quick options) | Swipe down, then right | Tap with three fingers |
| Practise gestures | None | Double-tap with four fingers |
| Pass through a normal gesture (bypass TalkBack) | No dedicated gesture. Most normal gestures can be performed with two fingers instead of one. | Double-tap with four fingers and hold, then perform the normal gesture. |
TalkBack reading controls
TalkBack has a menu for quickly changing settings or choosing the type of element to navigate by, such as headings or landmarks. Use these gestures to operate the menu and change settings.
| Action | Single-finger gesture (all versions) | Multi-finger gesture (version 9.1 onwards) |
|---|---|---|
| Reading controls: next setting or element type | Swipe up, then down | Swipe down with three fingers |
| Reading controls: previous setting or element type | Swipe down, then up | Swipe up with three fingers |
| Change the selected reading control | Swipe up or down | None |
| Next item, using the selected reading control | Swipe down | None |
| Previous item, using the selected reading control | Swipe up | None |
Android gestures
These gestures operate common Android functions.
| Action | Single-finger gesture (all versions) | Multi-finger gesture (version 9.1 onwards) |
|---|---|---|
| Go to the home screen | Swipe up, then left | With gesture navigation enabled, swipe up from the bottom with two fingers. |
| Go back to the previous screen or page | Swipe down, then left | With gesture navigation enabled, swipe in from the left or right edge with two fingers. |
| App switcher (recent apps) | Swipe left, then up | With gesture navigation enabled, swipe up from the bottom with two fingers and hold. |
| Next item, using the selected reading control | Swipe down | None |
| Previous item, using the selected reading control | Swipe up | None |