How to Enable Accessibility on Xiaomi: The Complete Guide 2026

Xiaomi’s Accessibility features help people with disabilities to use the device comfortably, not only TalkBack’s screen announcer for the blind, but also color filters for color blind people, subtitles for the hard of hearing, gestures for non-sensor controls, but many users are unaware of the tools’ existence — or do not know how to set them up properly.

In this article, you will find detailed instructions for activating all key Accessibility features on Xiaomi, Redmi and other platforms. POCO (including models MIUI 12-14 Android 11-14). We're going to look at not only basic settings, but also hidden features that aren't mentioned in the official manuals, like how to enable voice control through Google Assistant or configure contrasting themes for people with visual impairments.

We will pay special attention to the problem of the conflict of Accessibility functions with some applications (for example, banking or games) and tell you how to get around it without resetting the settings.

What is Accessibility on Xiaomi and Why You Need It

Accessibility (in Russian firmware – “Special features”) is a set of tools that adapt a smartphone to the user’s perception. At Xiaomi, these functions work on two levels:

• 🔹 System level (MIUI): color filters, font enlargement, gestures.
• 🔹 Android Level: TalkBack, Select to Speak, Subtitles.

The main categories of users who will be useful these settings:

It's important to understand that Accessibility isn't just for people with disabilities, for example, color filters help reduce eye strain when reading in the dark, and Select to Speak is convenient for listening to long articles.

How to open the Accessibility menu on Xiaomi: 3 ways

Before setting up, you need to find the Special Opportunities menu itself. MIUI And the way that you can do it, the way that you can do it, is different:

Method 1: Through the basic settings (MIUI 12-14)

The most reliable method, works on all modern devices Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO:

1. Open the Settings app (cog icon).
2. Scroll down and select Special Features (or Accessibility in English firmware).
3. If there is no item, use the search in the settings (the magnifier in the upper right corner) and enter “special”.

Method 2: Through the Quick Settings Panel (Android 11)+)

On some firmware, access to Accessibility can be obtained directly from the notification curtain:

1. Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the notification bar.
2. Click on the pencil icon (panel editing).
3. Find the Accessibility tile and drag it to the active area.
4. Now you can quickly turn on/off special features right from the curtain.

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If Accessibility tile is not on the list, update the firmware to the latest version - in the MIUI 14 it appears by default.

Method 3: Through the Voice Assistant (Google Assistant)

If you have Google Assistant enabled, you can open Accessibility settings with your voice:

1. Activate the assistant with the “OK, Google” command or hold the Home button.
2. Say “Open Accessibility settings” or “Open Accessibility settings.”
3. The assistant will automatically redirect you to the desired section.

⚠️ Note: On some models POCO (for example, POCO X3 Pro) the Accessibility menu can be called “Convenience” or “Additional”. If you don’t find a section, check all tabs in the settings.

How to turn TalkBack on Xiaomi: voice assistant for the blind

TalkBack is a Google screen announcer that voices all the actions on the screen: clicks, swipes, notifications. It is indispensable for people with visual impairments, but requires pre-tuning.

Step 1: Activate TalkBack

To turn on TalkBack:

1. Go to Settings → Special Opportunities → TalkBack.
2. Switch the slider to the "On" position.
3. Confirm the action in the pop-up window (click “OK” or “Allow”).

Step 2: Learning to Sign

Once activated, TalkBack changes the standard control gestures, such as:

• 👆 Single tap - highlights the element.
• 👆 Double tap – activates the element (analogue of a regular tapa).
• 👆 Swipe left/right – moving between elements.

To practice, open TalkBack Settings. → Learning and going through interactive tutorial.

Step 3: Adjust voice and speed

TalkBack uses standard Google voice by default TTS, But it can be changed:

1. Go to Settings. → Special facilities → TalkBack → Settings.
2. Select Voice and download additional packages (for example, IVONA or SVOX).
3. In the Speech section, adjust the speed and pitch of the tone.

⚠️ Note: Some banking applications (e.g. SberBank Online or Tinkoff) may block TalkBack for security reasons.

Color filters and screen correction for color blinders

If you have difficulty distinguishing between colors (e.g. red and green), MIUI There are built-in color filters, and these are the settings that are useful for color perception:

• 🔴 Protanopia (misperception of red).
• 🟢 Deuteranopia (Green Ignorance).
• 🔵 Tritanopia (blue perception).

How to turn on the color filter

Instructions for MIUI 13/14:

1. Go to Settings → Special Options → Color correction.
2. Select the type of visual impairment from the list.
3. Activate the color correction slider.
4. Adjust the intensity of the filter with a runner.

Hidden settings: manual calibration of colors

If standard filters do not fit, you can adjust the correction manually:

1. In the same section (Color correction) click "More".
2. Select "Manually Set Up."
3. Use sliders to adjust the Red, Green and Blue channels.

Color filters work systemically, that is, they are applied to all applications, including games and the browser. PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact filter may conflict with the game's graphical settings, in which case temporarily disable the correction before starting the game.

Subtitles and visual alerts for hearing impaired

For people with hearing impairments, Xiaomi provides:

• 🎬 Subtitles for video and calls.
• 🔔 Visual alerts (blinking flash or screen when calling).
• 🎧 Mono-audio (combining stereo sound into one channel for headphones).

How to Include Subtitles for Videos and Calls

Subtitles work in YouTube, Google Meet, Zoom and the standard player MIUI:

1. Go to Settings. → Special facilities → Subtitles.
2. Activate the slider "Show subtitles."
3. Set up the style of text (font, size, color) in the section "Settings of subtitles".

Visual Alerts for Calls and Notifications

To avoid missing an important call:

1. Open the Settings. → Special facilities → Rumor → Visual alerts.
2. Turn on the options: 🔦 «Camera flash" (blinks when ringing). 📱 «Blinking screen” (stroboscope effect).

Settings

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Visual alerts work even if the phone is down screen – flash will flash through the proximity sensor.

Mono-audio for headphones

If you only use one ear (for example, due to hearing loss), turn on the mono mode:

1. Go to Settings. → Special facilities → Rumor → Mono-audio.
2. Activate the slider.
3. Choose which ear to duplicate the sound (left or right).

Gesture management and Assistant Menu for people with limited motor skills

If you have difficulty using the touch screen (for example, because of tremors in the hands or arthritis), MIUI There are alternative ways of managing:

• 👆 Assistant Menu – a floating panel with basic functions.
• 🖐️ Accessibility gestures – managing swipes.
• ⏱️ Delayed Pressing – Preventing Accidental Touches.

How to turn on Assistant Menu

Assistant Menu is a floating button that replaces physical keys and gestures.

1. Go to Settings. → Special facilities → Interaction → Assistant Menu.
2. Activate the slider.
3. A translucent circle will appear on the screen - tap it to open the menu.

You can use Assistant Menu to:

• 🔙 Go back.
• 🏠 Go to the main screen.
• 🔄 Open latest applications.
• 🔍 Call a Google search.
• ⚙️ Quickly open the settings.

Configuring Accessibility Gestures

To manage swipes:

1. Open the Settings. → Special facilities → Interaction → Accessibility gestures.
2. Turn on the slider and select actions for swipes: 👆 Swipe up - scroll the page. 👇 Swipe down - going back. 👈 Swipe left - opening the menu.

⚠️ Note: Accessibility gestures may conflict with navigation gestures MIUI. If swipes stop working, turn off system navigation with gestures in Settings → System system → Gestures → System navigation.

Hidden Accessibility features that 90% of users don’t know about

In addition to the standard settings, Xiaomi has little-known Accessibility features that can be useful even for ordinary users:

1. Automatic on/off of functions on schedule

For example, you can set TalkBack to only activate in the evening:

1. Go to Settings. → Special facilities → TalkBack → Settings → Schedule.
2. Set time for on and off.

2. Voice control via Google Assistant

If you have Google Assistant enabled, you can control your smartphone with your full voice:

• 🗣️ «Okay, Google, open WhatsApp».
• 🗣️ «Okay, Google, take a screenshot».
• 🗣️ «Okay, Google, increase the brightness by 50%».

For this:

1. Activate Google Assistant in the settings.
2. Enable the option to “Allow device management” in Settings → Annexes → Google → Permits → Special facilities.

3. Increased pressing time to prevent accidental clicks

If you frequently accidentally click on items, increase the latency:

1. Go to Settings. → Special facilities → Interaction → Retention time.
2. Choose “long” or “long”

Frequent Accessibility Issues on Xiaomi and How to Solve Them

While useful, Accessibility sometimes doesn't work properly, and here are the most common problems and solutions.

If none of the solutions worked, try:

1. Update the firmware to the latest version (Settings → About the phone → System Update).
2. Reset Accessibility settings (see spoiler above).
3. Contact Xiaomi through the Mi Community app.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions