TalkBack on Android is a great accessibility feature that allows you to interact with your screen without having to look at it. This makes smartphones accessible to visually impaired people. However, when you’re not used to it, it can be hard to navigate through your phone when Talk Back is active.
So, if you have mistakenly enabled TalkBack, it becomes tricky to open Settings and disable it. In that case, knowing how to disable TalkBack without Settings app can be really helpful. And that’s just what I’m going to guide you through in this post. So, read on!
How to Disable TalkBack Without Settings Menu? -3 Effective Methods
To disable the TalkBack feature without going to the Settings Menu, tap and hold both Volume keys for 3 seconds. Alternatively, you can command your Google Voice Assistant to turn off the TalkBack feature. Or else, use ADB to permanently disable TalkBack if you have access to a PC.
So, here’s how to disable TalkBack without Settings app in a few simple steps.
1. Turn Off TalkBack Using the Volume Key Shortcut
The easiest way to disable TalkBack on Android phones without using Settings is through the volume key shortcut. This works the same for most Android phones, except that Samsung phones have an additional method. So, follow the steps to turn off the talkback screen reader according to your device:
On Samsung Devices
If you have a Samsung device, you can use the steps below to turn off the TalkBack feature using the Volume keys shortcut:
- Press both Volume Up and Volume Down key on your Samsung phone, and hold for three seconds.
- TalkBack will now be turned off on your phone. You can also press the Power key and Volume Up key together to turn off TalkBack whenever it is activated.
You can use these Volume keys shortcut to disable TalkBack whenever it is accidentally activated on your Samsung phone.
On Other Android Devices
If you’re using an Android phone from an OEM other than Samsung, then you can use the following Volume key shortcut to disable TalkBack on your phone.
- Press both Volume Up and Volume Down key on your Samsung phone, and hold for three seconds.
- TalkBack will now be turned off on your phone after three seconds.
You can now use this key combination shortcut to turn off the TalkBack feature whenever needed on your Phone.
2. Turn Off TalkBack Using Google Voice Assistant
Google Assistant can also help you disable TalkBack without having to navigate to Settings. You can simply voice command Google Assistant. Here’s how to do it:
- Launch Google Assistant by saying “Hey Google” or “Ok Google.”
- Alternatively, tap and hold the Home button on your Android phone to turn on Google Assistant.
- Once Google Assistant has been activated, say “Turn off TalkBack,” and TalkBack should turn off on your phone.
You can now use this voice command to disable TalkBack whenever it is activated accidentally on your phone.
3. Turn Off TalkBack Using ADB
ADB is a suite of developer tools that can help you manage your Android phone while it is connected to your PC using a USB cable. Use the steps below to turn off TalkBack using ADB on your Android phone.
- Download SDK Platform Tools relevant to your PC from the official website. We will be using a Windows PC for this example.
- Now extract the archive using your preferred method. If you’re using a Windows PC, right-click the .ZIP archive and select Extract All.
- Click Browse and choose a custom location if needed for your extracted files.
- If you wish to extract the archive in the same location, do not click Browse, simply click Extract instead.
- Once extracted, switch to your Android phone and open the Settings app. Now select About phone at the bottom of the app. This option could be located somewhere else, depending on your OEM.
- Tap Software information.
- Now find your current Android build number and tap on it seven times. This will activate the Developer Mode.
- Go back to the settings app and tap the new Developer options. If you’re running stock Android, you can find this option in the System section.
- Find USB Debugging in the Developer Options menu and enable it.
- Click OK to confirm your choice.
- Now switch back to your PC and connect your Android phone to it using a USB cable.
- Go to the extracted Platform Tools folder and open Command Prompt in the same location. Initiate this by right-clicking an empty area and selecting Open in Terminal on a Windows PC.
- Now type adb devices and press Enter.
- Tap OK on your Android phone to approve ADB Debugging.
- Type adb devices and press Enter again. Your device should now be listed in the command prompt window.
- Now use the command below to force stop and turn TalkBack off on your Android phone immediately.
adb shell am force-stop com.google. Android.marvin.TalkBack
- If you wish to completely disable the feature, type the command mentioned below. Press Enter to disable and turn TalkBack off.
adb shell settings put secure enabled_accessibility_services com. Android.TalkBack/com.google. Android.marvin.TalkBack.TalkBackService
You will now have disabled TalkBack using ADB on your Android phone easily.
How to Permanently Turn Off TalkBack on Your Android?
To turn off TalkBack on your Android permanently, open the Settings app and navigate to Accessibility settings. Then tap TalkBack and turn off the switch next to it. Now, you will have disabled TalkBack permanently.
Follow the steps below to help you turn TalkBack off. I’ll be using Stock Android for this guide. If you are using an OEM skew, then the location for this option will slightly differ depending on your phone’s UI.
- Open the Settings app and tap Accessibility.
- Select TalkBack.
- Turn off the toggle for TalkBack at the top.
- Tap Ok to confirm your choice.
This will turn TalkBack off permanently on your Android phone.
3 Reasons Why Disable TalkBack on Your Phone?
Disabling TalkBack permanently helps make sure that it doesn’t get turned on when it’s not needed, as this makes navigating through your phone difficult. Additionally, even if you have special needs, still sometimes the TalkBack setting on your device might not be convenient for you.
Here’s a deeper look at why you could consider disabling TalkBack:
1. It Gets Turned On When It’s Not Needed
TalkBack has a tendency to get activated even when it’s not needed, especially if you use Google Assistant and an additional TalkBack shortcut that can trigger it. This can get quite annoying, especially if you’re reading private messages or emails, as it can end up reading your private conversations out loud in public. So if you don’t want TalkBack to start talking and reading your screen randomly, it’s best to disable it to maintain your privacy.
2. You Don’t Need Accessibility Features
Accessibility features like TalkBack are designed to help users with special needs navigate through their phones. It gives spoken feedback for everything on your screen, making Androids accessible even for visually impaired individuals. However, if you’re not someone who needs such Accessibility features, it’s best to disable TalkBack.
3. TalkBack Doesn’t Fit Your Requirements
TalkBack is a fairly new Accessibility feature Google is constantly improving with new gestures and better ways to interact with elements on your screen. It could be that these gestures and the way TalkBack works don’t fit your current requirements.
You might simply be looking for an easy-to-use screen reader or a more comprehensive accessibility third-party tool that makes it much easier to use your Android device. In that case, you could try out a third-party app instead and disable the default TalkBack on your phone.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to Turn Off TalkBack on the Lock Screen?
To turn off TalkBack on the lock screen, simply navigate to Settings > Accessibility > TalkBack > Experimental > Shortcut from lock screen. This will prevent TalkBack from getting activated on your lock screen in the future.
Why Won’t TalkBack Turn Off on My Phone?
If TalkBack doesn’t turn off on your phone despite following all the right steps, your phone may have a bug. Otherwise, it could be due to issues with background services, corrupted system files, etc., on your Android. In this case, I recommend using the ADB method to turn off TalkBack. Or else, you can try resetting your device to fix the issue.
Is TalkBack a Useful Feature?
Yes, TalkBack is an extremely useful feature for users with special needs. It can help you interact with your screen without ever having to look at it. You can also use it as a screen reader while paired with your headphones to consume written content phonetically. The possibilities are endless.
That being said, you might not always find your phone’s default TalkBack feature useful. In that case, you can try out a third-party app.
