How to Disable TalkBack on Xiaomi: A Complete Guide to Solutions for All Models

Why TalkBack is turned on by itself and how to fix it

You picked up your Xiaomi or your Redmi, and suddenly your phone started to voice your every action, and it turned on TalkBack, a built-in voice assistant for people with visual impairments, and it's most often activated by accident: you just press the power button three times or you just press two buttons simultaneously on some models, but how do you get the phone back to normal?

The problem is that with TalkBack on, the standard gestures stop working: one tap highlights the element, and a double tap activates it. Many users panic, thinking that the smartphone has broken. In fact, you can turn it off in a few seconds - if you know the right sequence of actions. In this article, we will analyze all possible ways, including when TalkBack does not turn off through the menu or when the phone is locked.

It’s important to understand that the process can vary slightly depending on the MIUI version and device model. For example, on POCO F5, the path to customization of special features will be one, and on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ – a little different. We will look at universal methods that work on 90% of Xiaomi devices, and also discuss the nuances for old and new versions of firmware.

Method 1: Standard disconnection through settings (if the phone is unlocked)

If your Xiaomi is unlocked and you can navigate freely through the menu, follow this instruction. Remember that with TalkBack enabled, gestures change:

• 🔹 One tap - highlights the element (does not press!)
• 🔹 Double tap – activates the selected element
• 🔹 Scroll down/up with two fingers – scroll the page

Now Step-by-step:

1. Unlock your phone (if it is locked, see the method for the locked device).
2. Swipe two fingers from top to bottom to open the notification bar.
3. Find the badge. ⚙️ Settings (can be called Settings in English firmware) and tap it twice.
4. In the settings menu, swipe two fingers up to scroll the list to the Special Features (or Accessibility) section.
5. Twice tap TalkBack (or Screen Reader), then find the switch at the top of the screen.
6. Tap the switch twice to turn off the function. Confirm if a dialog box appears.

If TalkBack is still active after this action, try restarting your phone: press the power button and select Reboot (double tap), which solves the problem 80% of the time.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Xiaomi 13 Ultra, POCO X5 Pro) after disabling TalkBack may require additional confirmation via MIUI Optimization. If you see a notification, tap it twice and follow the instructions.

Method 2: Disable TalkBack on a locked phone

It gets even worse if TalkBack is on and the phone is locked, and the key is not to panic.

Method A: Voice use (for MIUI 12 and later)

Modern versions of MIUI support voice control even on the lock screen:

1. Activate the screen (press the power button or double tap on the screen if Double tap to wake is enabled).
2. Say loud and clear: “OK Google, turn off TalkBack” or “Hey Google, turn off TalkBack.”
3. If the voice assistant requests confirmation, say yes or confirm.

This only works if you have Google Assistant configured and turned on on on your phone, and if you don't, go to Method B.

Method B: Unlock gestures with TalkBack enabled

Algorithm of action:

1. On the lock screen, swipe two fingers from top to bottom to open the notification panel.
2. Find the badge. ⚙️ Settings (it can be hidden – swipe two fingers left/right to scroll).
3. Twice tap the settings icon. If you request to unlock, enter the PIN/password/pattern lock with one finger (TalkBack will voice each digit).
4. After unlocking, follow the standard instructions from the first method.

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi with MIUI 14 or later, if you enter a password three times incorrectly, the lock can work for 30 seconds, in which case wait for unlocking or use a fingerprint / face (if configured).

Method 3: Forced Shutdown via Safe Mode

If TalkBack does not turn off through settings or prevents unlocking, you can boot the phone in Safe Mode, which disables all third-party applications, including some system functions:

1. Turn off the phone by pressing the power button (double tap on Turn off, then confirmation).
2. After completely switching off, press the Power button and hold it until the Mi logo appears.
3. As soon as the logo appears, release the power button and immediately press Volume down.
4. Keep Volume down until the phone boots up completely. "Safe Mode" should appear in the lower left corner.

In safe mode:

• 🔹 TalkBack will be disabled automatically (or it can be turned off in the standard way).
• 🔹 Check if third-party apps that may have enabled this feature are installed (such as the Accessibility Suite from third-party developers).
• 🔹 Restart your phone in normal mode: Settings → Additionally. → Reboot.

On models with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro), safe mode can boot longer than usual - up to 2-3 minutes.

Method 4: Disconnect via ADB (for advanced users)

If none of the previous methods worked, you can disable TalkBack via Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires a computer and a little preparation, but works 100% of the time.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original)
• 📥 ADB Tools (download and unpack)
• 🔧 Included Debugging by USB on the phone (if it has been activated previously)

Instructions:

1. Connect your phone to your computer via USB.
2. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the adb folder.
3. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your device.
4. TalkBack: Adb shell settings put secure enabled_accessibility_services com.google.android.marvin.talkback/com.google.android.marvin.talkback.TalkBackService:com.google.android.accessibility.switchaccess/com.android.switchaccess.SwitchAccessService
5. Reboot your phone: adb reboot

adb shell settings put secure enabled_accessibility_services ""

Then restart the device.-->

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi with MIUI 14+ Additional proof of unlocking may be required OEM Unlock in the developer settings. ADB The device cannot see, check if this option is enabled.

Method 5: Resetting settings (last resort)

If TalkBack is turned on due to a system failure and does not turn off by any means, it remains reset to factory settings. This will delete all data from the phone, so use this method only as a last resort.

How to reset settings with TalkBack enabled:

1. Turn off the phone (press the power button, double tap on Turn off).
2. Press Volume Up + Power and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi Recovery logo appears.
3. Use volume buttons for navigation and power button to select:

After resetting, the phone will reboot to its original state.

💡

Recovery removes ALL data, including photos, contacts and apps, and if you have Mi Cloud enabled, some of the data can be restored once you log in.

The newer models (Xiaomi 14, Redmi Note 13 Pro+) use Fastboot instead of the classic Recovery.

1. Connect the phone to the computer.
2. Press Volume Down + Power to Enter Fastboot.
3. Use the Mi Flash Tool to flash (instructions on the official website).

On POCO and some Redmi, there's an option called "Disable Feature Changes" on the developer menu to activate it:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 7 times on the MIUI version to unlock the Developer Settings.
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
4. Find and enable Prohibit Changes to Special Features.

FAQ: Frequent questions about TalkBack on Xiaomi