Google’s TalkBack voice assistant is a useful tool for visually impaired people, but turning it on accidentally can turn using a Xiaomi smartphone into a nightmare. The screen begins to sound every touch, gestures stop working in the usual way, and standard navigation methods are blocked. If you encounter this problem on your Redmi, POCO or other Xiaomi device, do not panic: you can turn off TalkBack in several ways, even if the phone seems “locked”.
In this article, we will discuss 5 Proven methods of deactivation of TalkBack, including standard settings, control gestures, commands through ADB, And even ways to get the screen to not respond to touch, and we'll focus on the nuances for different versions. MIUI (from 12 before 14) android models 11-14. If you tried to disable the assistant through the menu, but failed – here you will find alternative solutions.
1. Standard TalkBack Disconnection through Settings
If TalkBack is switched on by accident but the screen is still touch-responsive (albeit with a delay), try turning it off via system settings, a method that works on most Xiaomi devices with MIUI 12/13/14.
Algorithm of action:
- 🔧 Open Settings (cog icon) This may require a double-touch with a delay (as TalkBack changes the gesture logic).
- 👁️ Scroll down to the Special Opportunities section (in some versions) MIUI It's called Universal Access).
- 🎤 Find TalkBack (or Screencaster) and tap it twice.
- 🔘 Transfer the slider to the Off position. or press the Disconnect button (confirmation will be required).
If the phone still behaves incorrectly after TalkBack is turned off (for example, it does not respond to single touches), restart the device. In rare cases, you may need to reset the control gestures in the Settings → System → Gestures section.
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If TalkBack is enabled after the MIUI update, check Settings → Applications → Application Management → TalkBack and reset the app cache/data.
2. disable TalkBack with gestures (if the screen is unresponsive)
When TalkBack is activated, standard Android gestures are replaced with special combinations. If you can't open the settings because of this, use universal control gestures:
- 👆 Swiping up/down with two fingers is an analogue of swipe on the screen.
- 👇 Double touch with retention - the isolation of the element (analogue of a single tap).
- 🤏 Plug gesture (finger mixing/dilution) – switching between screens or zooming.
- ⏻ Triple-touch with three fingers – Quick shutdown of TalkBack (not working on all Xiaomi models).
To turn off TalkBack gestures:
- Do a double touch with hold on any free screen space to activate the context menu.
- Scroll down with two fingers to the TalkBack Settings item and select it with a double tap.
- Find the option to turn off TalkBack and confirm the action.
Why don’t the gestures work on some Xiaomis?
3. Disconnect via Google Assistant (voice commands)
If the screen is completely locked and gestures are not working, you can try disabling TalkBack using Google Assistant, which works if the device is enabled with the voice assistant and allows access to settings.
Instructions:
- Activate Google Assistant by saying “OK Google” or holding the Home button (if physical).
- Tell the command, "Open the special features settings."
- When the menu opens, say “turn off TalkBack” or “turn off the screen announcer.”
- Confirm the action with a voice if necessary.
If Google Assistant is not responding, check:
- 🔊 Is the microphone connected (is it locked in Settings) → Confidentiality).
- 🌐 Is there internet access (a connection is required to process voice commands).
- 🔄 Is the assistant in the settings disabled? → Annexes → Google.
4. Disable TalkBack via ADB (for power users)
If standard methods don't work, you can turn off TalkBack using ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires a computer and enabled USB debugging, but is guaranteed to work even on a locked screen.
Step-by-step:
- Connect your phone to your PC via USB and enable USB Debugging Mode (if it’s not already activated, this could be a problem – see the block below).
- Open the Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (macOS/Linux) and type: Adb devices Make sure the device is identified (should appear its serial number).
- 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 Then reset all special features services: adb shell settings put secure accessibility_enabled 0
- Reboot the device: adb reboot
Install ADB-PC drivers|Enable debugging on USB Xiaomi|Connect your phone to the original cable|Check the visibility of the device in adb devices
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What to do if USB debugging is not enabled?
⚠️ Note: If Debugging Mode was disabled before TalkBack activated, you won’t be able to turn it on through the standard menu, leaving two options: Use gestures (section 2) or voice commands (section 3) to enable debugging through Settings. → The phone. → Build number (7 taps to unlock developer options) perform reset to factory settings (section 6), but this will delete all data from the device.
5. Disable TalkBack via Safe Mode (Safe Mode)
If TalkBack has been installed as a third-party app (e.g. via Google Play), it can be disabled by downloading it to Safe Mode.In this mode, all third applications are deactivated, including non-standard versions of TalkBack.
How to download Safe Mode on Xiaomi:
- Turn off the phone with a long hold on the power button.
- Hold the Power button until the Xiaomi logo appears, then immediately press and hold the Volume Down button.
- Hold Volume Down until the phone boots with the Safe Mode label at the bottom of the screen.
In Safe Mode:
- 🔍 Go to Settings. → Apps and find TalkBack in the list.
- 🗑️ Click Remove Updates or Disable (if it is a system application).
- 🔄 Restart your phone in normal mode.
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Safe Mode disables all third-party applications, but does not affect system components. If TalkBack is sewn into the firmware (as on most Xiaomi), this method may not work.
Extreme measures: reset to factory settings
If none of the methods work, you will have to reset hard, which will remove all the data from your phone, including photos, contacts and apps, so only use this method as a last resort.
How to reset Xiaomi to factory settings:
- Turn off the phone.
- Press the Power and Volume buttons simultaneously until the Recovery menu appears.
- Use the volume buttons for navigation and the power button to select the Wipe Data (or Factory Reset) item.
- Confirm the reset and wait for the reset.
| Xiaomi model | Combination for Recovery | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 10/11/12 | Food + Volume Up | From the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data. |
| POCO F3/F4/F5 | Food + Volume Up | Some versions of MIUI require a password to be entered after reset. |
| Xiaomi 12/13/14 | Power + Volume Up + Volume Down | On flagships, there may be a lock on Mi Account after reset. |
| Redmi 9/9A/9C | Food + Volume Up | On budget models, Recovery can be in Chinese – look for the character (data cleanup). |
⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 13/14 And the associated Mi Account may need to enter your login and password after the reset, and if you don't remember your account details, the phone will turn into a brick. email/phone!