How to completely disable TalkBack on Xiaomi phone: 5 working ways

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

TalkBack is a standard Android feature for visually impaired people that voices all actions on the screen. On Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi, POCO and Mi), it is often activated accidentally: by double pressing the power button, crashing after a MIUI update or even using magnet cases. The main problem is that once TalkBack is turned on, the control logic changes: one touch highlights the element, and double – activates it, which confuses untrained users.

In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to disable TalkBack, including methods for situations where:

• 📱 The screen does not respond to touch due to failure
• 🔒 The phone is locked (unknown pattern lock or PIN)
• 🔄 The function is turned on again after restarting
• 📲 No access to settings due to child mode

Important: If you’re using Xiaomi with MIUI 14 and later, some menu paths may be different – we’ll show you the current options for each firmware. Also note that Android 13+ models (such as Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi Note 12) may require additional authentication through a Google account when resetting.

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

If you have access to the home screen and settings menu, this method will take no more than a minute.

1. Open the Settings app (cog icon).
2. Go to the Special Opportunities section (in MIUI 14 it may be called Universal Access).
3. Select TalkBack (or Screencaster on some models).
4. Move the slider to the off position.
5. Confirm the action in the pop-up window by pressing OK.

If TalkBack is activated again after that when the screen is locked, check the settings of the Special Features Gestures:

• 🔍 Go to Settings. → Special facilities → Special opportunity gestures.
• 🚫 Turn off the option Triple press of the power button (it is often to blame for accidentally turning on).
• 🔄 Reboot your phone to make the changes take effect.

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

On most Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 11, POCO X5), you can turn off TalkBack right from the notification curtain without going into the settings.

1. Swipe your finger across the screen from top to bottom to open the notification bar.
2. Find the TalkBack icon (usually an icon of a person with a mug or speaker).
3. Tap the icon twice (one time - highlight, the second - activation).
4. Confirm the disconnection in the dialog window.

If the icon is not in the curtain, add it manually: go to Settings → Notification Panel → Order of icons and drag TalkBack to the active area.

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On some models (such as the Xiaomi 12T), the notification bar opens with a two-finger gesture from top to bottom.

Method 3: Disconnecting with Google Assistant (if your phone is locked)

If TalkBack is on a locked phone and you don’t remember the pattern lock, try using Google Assistant, which works on Android 9 and later devices that have Google services installed:

1. Activate Google Assistant with a voice command: say “OK, Google” or hold the Home button (if you have one on your model).
2. Say, "Open the special features settings."
3. In search results, select TalkBack and turn it off.

If voice input is not working:

• 🔊 Check if your phone is connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile data).
• 🔋 Make sure the battery is at least 15% charged – Assistant may not respond when the charge is low.
• 📶 Restart your phone in Safe Mode (hold the power button) → Restart in Safe Mode, then try again.

Method 4: Reset your settings via Recovery (if other methods didn’t work)

If TalkBack blocks all activities and you don't have access to settings, you'll have to use Recovery mode, which will lead to data loss, so use it only as a last resort. It's suitable for all Xiaomi models, including Redmi 10, POCO F4, etc.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone with a long press on the power button.
2. Press the button combination: 📱 For most models: Power button + Loudness up. 🔧 For older devices (e.g. Redmi 5): Power button + Loudness up + Loudness down.

Mi

Recovery

Use volume buttons for navigation and power button for selection.

Wipe & Reset → Wipe All Data

Confirm the action and wait for the process to be completed.

Attention, after reset, the phone will return to factory settings.

• 🔑 Enter the Google account data that was linked to the device (required to MIUI 12+).
• 📱 Reset the phone as if after purchase.
• ☁️ Restore data from a backup (if it was created in Mi Cloud).

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Recovery is the only way to disable TalkBack if the phone is completely locked and does not respond to touch, but after this procedure, all settings and applications are guaranteed to fly off.

Method 5: Disconnect via ADB (for advanced users)

If you are familiar with Android Debug Bridge (ADB), You can turn off TalkBack from the command line without resetting. USB-cable.

What you need:

• 💻 Computer with installed Xiaomi drivers (you can download on the official website).
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📦 Utility. ADB (download).

Instructions:

1. Turn on USB Debugging on your phone: Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version and press 7 times to activate Developer Mode. Return to Settings → Additional → For Developers and enable USB Debugging.

Connect your phone to your computer and confirm your trust in the device.

ADB

adb devices

(Your device should appear)

adb shell settings put secure enabled_accessibility_services com.google.android.marvin.talkback/com.google.android.marvin.talkback.TalkBackService

adb shell settings put secure accessibility_enabled 0

Reboot the phone.

If TalkBack is still active after executing commands, check if it is enabled in the device administrator settings:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Permissions → Device Administrators.
2. Uncheck TalkBack.

Attention! If you use Xiaomi with custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), standard methods may not work.

⚠️ Install the official firmware via Fastboot or contact the service center. Self-firmware can lead to blocking the bootloader (brick) on models with Anti-Rollback (for example, Redmi). K40, Xiaomi 11T).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions