Xiaomi Redmi 5 is one of the most popular budget smartphones of the brand, but its owners often face an unexpected activation of the TalkBack function. This tool for people with visual impairment radically changes the logic of device management: instead of the usual taps, specific gestures are required, and the system begins to voice every action. If you accidentally turned on TalkBack and do not know how to return the phone to normal mode, this article will help you understand.
The main problem is that with active TalkBack, standard navigation methods stop working. For example, one tap on the screen highlights an element, and double tap activates it. Even calling the notification panel or returning to the home screen requires new skills. We have collected all the current ways to turn this feature off, including methods for cases when the touch screen does not respond or the phone is locked.
It's important to understand that TalkBack is not a virus or a system failure. It's a standard Android feature integrated into MIUI firmware. It can be deactivated without losing data, but in some scenarios (like a setup failure) you may need to reset to factory settings. Below are step-by-step instructions for each situation, from the simplest to the most complex.
What is TalkBack and Why it is on Redmi 5?
TalkBack (in some versions of MIUI, it may be called Talking Screen or Screen Reader) is a special feature service designed for people with visual impairments, which converts text and interface elements into speech prompts, and also changes the control mechanics:
- 🔹 One touch – highlights an element (does not activate it).
- 🔹 Double touch – performs an action (analogue of a regular tapa).
- 🔹 Spending with two fingers – scrolling the screen.
- 🔹 The gesture "L" (swipe your finger in the shape of the letter L) - a call to the global menu.
On Xiaomi Redmi 5, the feature can be activated randomly for several reasons:
- 📱 Button combinations. Some versions MIUI Quick triple pressing of the Home button or pressing both volume buttons includes TalkBack.
- 🔄 Reset: Once factory settings are restored, some special features services can be activated automatically.
- 🤖 Firmware updates, in rare cases after upgrades MIUI availability settings are confused.
- 👶 Children or strangers. A common cause is accidentally clicking on the settings menu.
If TalkBack is turned on without your knowledge, don’t panic: it’s not a fault, it’s a feature of Android. However, you can’t turn it off in the standard way (via Settings → Special features) now – you’ll have to use alternative methods.
Method 1: Disable TalkBack through gestures (if the screen is running)
If the Redmi 5 touch screen is touch-sensitive, but you can’t find the right settings due to the changed control logic, use TalkBack’s special gestures, which work on all versions of the Redmi 5 MIUI (including MIUI 9/10/11).
Algorithm of action:
- Do the "L" gesture: swipe your finger across the screen to simulate the spelling of the letter L (left to right, then down), and this will open the global TalkBack menu.
- In the window that appears, find the TalkBack Settings (or TalkBack settings) and activate it with a double tap.
- Scroll down the list with a two-finger gesture (like a normal swipe move, but with two fingers at the same time).
- Find the on/off switch (or Use TalkBack) and double tap disable it.
- Confirm the action in the dialog window (also double tap on the OK button or Turn off).
If the menu is in English, look for icons: the gear for settings, the slider for on/off, and after TalkBack deactivates, the phone will return to standard control.
☑️ Preparing to shut down TalkBack
⚠️ Warning: If the phone restarted after TalkBack was turned off and the function was activated again, this may indicate a failure in the settings MIUI. In this case, go to method 4 (reset settings).
Method 2: Using physical buttons (if the sensor is not working)
In rare cases, TalkBack can block the touch screen or cause a malfunction. If gestures don't help, try disabling the feature through hardware buttons. This method is suitable for Xiaomi Redmi 5 with mechanical keys (Loudness and Power buttons).
Instructions:
- Press the Power Button and Volume Up button for 5-7 seconds at the same time until the Fastboot menu (a black screen with the Xiaomi logo and the Fastboot Mode inscription) appears.
- With the Volume Down button, move to Recovery Mode and confirm the choice with the Power button.
- In the Recovery menu (it can be in Chinese or English), look for Wipe & Reset or Advanced.
- Select Wipe Dalvik Cache (this won’t delete your data, but it will reset the cache of system applications, including TalkBack).
- Restart your phone through the Reboot.
After the reboot, check if TalkBack is disabled. If not, repeat the procedure, but in step 3, select Wipe All Data (this will result in a complete reset and deletion of data, so use the method only as a last resort).
| Action. | The result | Data loss? |
|---|---|---|
| Wipe Dalvik Cache | Resetting the cache of system applications | ❌ No. |
| Wipe Cache Partition | Clearing the cache section | ❌ No. |
| Wipe All Data | Full reset to factory settings | ✅ Yes. |
💡
If TalkBack is still active after resetting the cache, try connecting the phone to your computer and disabling the function via ADB (Method 3).
Method 3: Disconnect via ADB (for advanced users)
If standard methods don't work and you don't want to reset, you can turn off TalkBack via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires a computer with Xiaomi drivers installed and USB debugging enabled.
Step-by-step:
- Download and install Platform Tools (includes ADB and Fastboot).
- On your phone, activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. tap on MIUI Version 7 times until the notification “You’ve become a developer” appears. Return to Settings → Additional → For Developers and enable USB Debugging.
Redmi 5
Win + R
cmd
adb devices(Your device should be displayed)
adb shell settings put secure enabled_accessibility_services com.google.android.marvin.talkback/.TalkBackService:com.xiaomi.accessibility.talkback.TalkBackServiceadb shell settings put secure accessibility_enabled 0adb rebootIf TalkBack remained active after the reboot, try an alternative command:
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.marvin.talkbackThis command will remove the TalkBack app for the current user (no superuser rights).
⚠️ Attention: Use ADB The wrong commands can disrupt the system, and if you're not sure what you're doing, skip this and move on to resetting.
What if the ADB can’t see the device?
Method 4: Completely reset (if nothing helps)
If all previous methods fail, the last option is factory reset, a radical solution that will remove all data from the phone (photos, contacts, apps), but guaranteed to disable TalkBack and return Redmi 5 to its original state.
How to reset:
- Turn off the phone by pressing the power button for 10 seconds.
- Press the Power Button and Volume Up button at the same time until the Mi logo and Recovery menu appear.
- With the help of volume buttons, select Wipe Data (or Clear Data) and confirm with the Power button.
- Select Wipe All Data and confirm it again.
- After the process is complete, select Reboot to reboot.
To find the nearest service center:
- Go to the official website of Xiaomi Service.
- Enter your city or enable geolocation.
- Select the center marked Authorized (official).
- Check by phone if they are dealing with software failures (not all centers provide this service).
The cost of diagnosis in official services is usually 500-1000 rubles, and flashing - 1000-2000 rubles (price depends on the region and complexity of work).
How to Prevent TalkBack Inadvertently Included in the Future
To avoid re-activating TalkBack on Xiaomi Redmi 5, follow these guidelines:
- 🔒 Turn off the hot keys: Go to Settings → Special facilities → TalkBack → Settings. Find TalkBack (or TalkBack shortcut) and turn it off.
- 👶 Set up Child Mode: Install the Google Family Link app or use the built-in Parental Controls in the app. MIUI. Limit access to special features settings.
- 🔄 Update your firmware: Check for updates to Settings regularly → The phone. → System updates. New versions. MIUI Frequently fix bugs with accidental activation of functions.
- 📱 Use a button-lock case: High-sided cases prevent volume buttons or power from accidentally clamping.
If you have children or older people in your family who may accidentally turn on TalkBack, consider installing an alternative launcher (like Nova Launcher) where the special features menu is hidden deeper.
💡
Back up your MIUI settings through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset. This will allow you to quickly restore the system configuration after reset if TalkBack turns on again.