How to permanently disable TalkBack on Xiaomi: working methods for all models

TalkBack is a useful feature for visually impaired people, but accidentally turning it on can make using a Xiaomi smartphone a nightmare: the screen stops responding to usual touches, every gesture is accompanied by voice prompts, and standard navigation methods stop working. If you find yourself in this situation, do not panic: you can turn off TalkBack even without the help of vision, knowing the correct sequence of actions.

In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to deactivate voice assistant on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, including models with the shell MIUI 12/13/14 and HyperOS. Particular attention will be paid to situations when the screen does not respond to touch or password is blocked. All instructions are adapted to the current firmware versions of 2026 and tested on devices from Xiaomi 11T Pro to the budget Redmi Note 12.

Why does TalkBack turn on on its own?

Accidental activation of TalkBack is one of the most common problems among Xiaomi owners, most often due to:

• 👆 Triple pressing of the power button - in MIUI Default gesture of quick access to special features.
• 🎯 Errors when updating – after installing the new version MIUI or HyperOS special features settings can be reset.
• 👶 Children or pets – random combinations of touches on a locked screen.
• 🔄 Reset to factory settings – after hard reset, some functions are turned on automatically.

Interesting fact: on some POCO models (for example, POCO X5 Pro), TalkBack can be activated when you connect headphones with physical buttons – the system perceives multiple clicks as a command to enable special features.

⚠️ Note: If TalkBack is activated on a locked phone, do not try to enter a password or pattern lock in the standard way - this will lead to locking the device.

Method 1: Standard shutdown via settings (if the screen is responsive)

If you unlock your phone and your screen is responsive to touch, use this method. In MIUI and HyperOS, the way to set up TalkBack may be different, but the general logic is:

1. Open the settings (cog icon).
2. Go to About Phone → Special Features (or Additional → Special Features on Older Versions).
3. Click on TalkBack (some firmware may call it Voice Assistant or Screen Reader).
4. Move the slider to the off position and confirm the action.

Important: In HyperOS (starting with Xiaomi 14 and Redmi K70), the special features menu is moved to Settings → System → Advanced Settings. If you don’t find an item, search by settings (the magnifier icon in the upper right corner).

Make sure your phone is unlocked |Open settings through the notification bar |Use the Settings search if you don't find the section |Do not confirm the disconnection with voice - this can activate TalkBack-->

On Xiaomi models with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor (such as Xiaomi 13 Ultra), a reboot may be required after TalkBack is disabled - otherwise the gestures will not work correctly.

Method 2: Disconnect via the notification panel (fast method)

If navigating the menu is difficult, try disabling TalkBack through the notification bar, which works on most Xiaomi devices with MIUI 12+:

1. Swipe your finger from the top edge of the screen down to open the notification panel.
2. Click on the icon. ⚙️ Settings (cogs) in the upper right corner.
3. In the search bar, type TalkBack and select the appropriate item.
4. Turn off the function and confirm the action.

On some models (for example, Redmi Note 11 Pro+) in the notification panel can be a separate button Special features – click on it to quickly get to the desired section.

Never.|1-2 yearly|Often, several times a month.|I am constantly struggling with this problem.-->

Method 3: Disable by gestures (if the screen does not respond)

When TalkBack is active, the standard touches don't work, instead, using special gestures. To turn the function off in blind, follow these steps:

1. Swipe your two fingers across the screen from top to bottom until you hear a message about scrolling the notification panel.
2. Tap with one finger at the top right of the screen (where the settings icon should be) and hold until you hear confirmation.
3. With double touch, select Settings.
4. In the search bar (find it by gesture of holding two fingers from left to right) enter by voice or from the keyboard TalkBack.
5. Double tap select the item found and turn off the function.

If the keyboard does not appear, try using voice input: after activating the search, say “Disable TalkBack” – the system should give a direct transition to the settings of the function.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi Pad 6 and other tablets, TalkBack gestures can conflict with the system’s multi-touch commands. If the screen stops responding fully, plug your mouse in through the device. OTG-Adapter and manage settings with it.

Method 4: Disconnect on a locked phone (without entering a password)

The most difficult situation is when TalkBack is turned on on the locked screen, and you can't enter a password in the standard way, in which case one of three methods will help:

Method A: Emergency call

1. On the lock screen, press Emergency Call (usually at the bottom of the screen).
2. Enter the combination ##4636## and it will open the test menu.
3. Return to the home screen via the Home button (if any) or gesture.
4. Now try unlocking your phone in the standard way - sometimes it works.

Method B: Google Voice Assistant

If you have Google Assistant installed on your Xiaomi:

1. Activate the voice assistant with the OK Google command.
2. Say, "Open the special features settings."
3. Follow the voice prompts to turn off TalkBack.

Method C: Reset via Mi Account (requires a binding)

If your phone is linked to your Xiaomi account:

1. Go to account.xiaomi.com from another device.
2. Log in and find your phone in the list of devices.
3. Select the option Find the device → Unlock.
4. Once unlocked, turn off TalkBack through the settings.

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If none of these methods worked, try connecting your phone to your computer via USB and using Mi PC Suite to unlock your screen, which in some cases allows you to bypass TalkBack’s limitations.

Method 5: Disconnect via ADB (for advanced users)

If standard methods don’t work, you can turn off TalkBack via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires a computer and enabled USB debugging, but works even on locked devices (if debugging has been activated before).

Instructions:

1. Download and install Google’s Platform Tools.
2. Connect your phone to your computer via USB.
3. Open the command line (cmd) in the folder with the platform-tools.
4. Enter the command: adb shell settings put secure enabled_accessibility_services com.google.android.marvin.talkback/com.google.android.marvin.talkback.TalkBackService:com.xiaomi.accessibility/com.android.accessibility.TalkBack.TalkBackService
5. Reboot the device: adb reboot

For HyperOS on Xiaomi 14 and later, use a modified command:

adb shell settings put secure enabled_accessibility_services com.xiaomi.hyperos.accessibility/com.android.accessibility.TalkBack.TalkBackService

⚠️ Attention: On devices with unlocked bootloader (Xiaomi.eu, custom firmware) commands ADB In this case, use the Fastboot command to temporarily shut down: fastboot oem disable-talkback This method will only work on devices with official Xiaomi firmware.

How to permanently remove TalkBack from Xiaomi (root method)

If you are constantly faced with spontaneously enabling TalkBack, you can completely uninstall the application using superuser rights (root), this method is only suitable for hard-wired devices (for example, with Xiaomi.eu or LineageOS).

Instructions:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer).
2. Go to /system/priv-app/TalkBack/.
3. Delete or rename the files: TalkBack.apk TalkBack.odex (if any)

Reset the device.

For HyperOS, the path may be different: /product/priv-app/TalkBack/ or /system_ext/priv-app/TalkBack/. Before deleting, back up your files!

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Deleting TalkBack through root prevents you from using official over-the-air updates (OTAs) and you will have to restore deleted files before the next update.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

When you turn off TalkBack, Xiaomi users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ones and ways to solve them:

• 🔄 "After TalkBack was turned off, the screen stopped responding" → Reset the device by holding the power button. If it doesn't work, plug the charger in and try again.
• 🔒 "I can’t enter a password on a locked screen" → Use the method with an emergency call or voice assistant.
• 🔊 "Voice prompts remain even after disconnection" → Check the text-to-voice settings in the Special Opportunities section → Speech.
• 📱 "No special features settings are available" → Update the firmware through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.

On POCO F5 and other devices with MIUI 14, a notification "Special Opportunity Service Stopped" may appear after TalkBack is disabled. It can be ignored - this is not an error, but standard system behavior.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions