How to permanently disable TalkBack on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones: instructions for MIUI 14 and 15

TalkBack is a useful feature for people with disabilities, but accidentally turning it on can turn using Xiaomi Redmi into a nightmare: the screen stops responding to usual touches, every gesture is accompanied by loud voiceovers, 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 a second device.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to deactivate TalkBack on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones running MIUI 14/15, including Redmi Note 12/13, Redmi 10/11 and others. Particular attention will be paid to situations where the screen is locked or the sensor does not respond to touch. All instructions are tested on firmware 2023-2026 and do not require root rights.

Why does TalkBack turn on on its own?

The random 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 launch of special features.
• 👶 Children or pets accidentally pinched a button combination while playing.
• 📦 Firmware updates, after which special features settings are reset.
• 🔧 System failure when MIUI Misinterprets user actions as an enable command.

Unlike Samsung or Google Pixel, where disabling TalkBack is intuitive, Xiaomi makes it complicated by custom gesture logic, for example, simply clicking “Off” on the menu won’t work – the system will require double-touch confirmation, which is confusing for many users.

⚠️ Warning: If TalkBack is activated on a locked screen, the standard unlocking methods are available (PIN, The pattern lock will not work. In this case, you have to use the key. ADB or reset via Recovery.

Method 1: Disable TalkBack via Settings (if the screen is unlocked)

If you managed to unlock the device, use this method - it is the easiest and does not require additional tools.

1. Open the settings (cog icon). Do this by double-tapping with a delay (not a regular tap!).
2. Scroll down to the Special Features section (use a two-finger gesture for scrolling).
3. Select TalkBack → switch the slider to the off position..
4. Confirm the action with a double touch on the “OK” button.

If the slider is not active or the system asks for a password, then TalkBack is protected by the administrator of the device.

• 🔓 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Special access → Device administrators.
• 🔍 Find TalkBack in the list and disable its rights.
• 🔄 Go back to TalkBack and try again.

Unlock the screen (if possible)

Remember the double-touch gesture

Disable the TalkBack Administrator (if necessary)

Check the version. MIUI (influences the location of menu items)-->

Method 2: Gestures to turn off TalkBack on a locked screen

If TalkBack is activated on a locked screen, use a gesture combination:

1. Press both volume buttons for 3 seconds, and this will open the special feature menu.
2. In the window that appears, make a double touch with a delay on the item Turn off TalkBack.
3. Confirm the action with the same gesture.

If this method does not work, try an alternative:

• 📱 Swipe two fingers from top to bottom across the screen to open the notification bar.
• 🔍 Find the TalkBack notification active and tap it twice.
• ⚙️ In the menu that opens, turn off the function.

💡

If the screen does not respond to touch, connect the smartphone to charge – sometimes this temporarily “freezes” the sensor.

Method 3: Disable TalkBack via ADB (for advanced users)

If standard methods do not help, and the smartphone is unlocked, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge requires a computer and USB-cable.

Step 1. Enable debugging over USB:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version.
2. Tap the version number 7 times to activate the developer mode.
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
4. Activate Debugging on USB.

Step 2. Connect your smartphone to your PC and execute the commands:

adb shell settings put secure enabled_accessibility_services com.google.android.marvin.talkback/.TalkBackService:0


adb shell pm disable-user com.google.android.marvin.talkback

If TalkBack is still active after executing commands, try an alternative:

adb shell settings put secure accessibility_enabled 0

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB It can cause system applications to crash if you enter commands incorrectly.Before executing, back up your data via Mi Cloud or Xiaomi Backup.

Method 4: Reset settings via Recovery (extreme case)

If none of these methods work, the last option is hard reset through recovery mode, which will remove all data from the device, so only use it as a last resort.

Instructions:

1. Turn off your smartphone (press the power button + increase the volume for 10 seconds).
2. Press Power + Volume Up until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data (use volume buttons for navigation, power for confirmation).
4. Confirm the reset by selecting Yes.
5. After restarting, set the device as new.

On the Redmi models with MIUI 15, the path may be different:

• 🔧 Choose Advanced → Wipe Data.
• 🔄 Confirm the action by entering PIN-code (if established).

💡

Resetting via Recovery deletes all data, including photos, contacts and apps. Before the procedure, remove the memory card (if any) to save the files.

How to Prevent TalkBack Inadvertently Included in the Future

To avoid re-activating TalkBack, follow the following steps:

• 🔕 Turn off the Quick Start gesture: Go to Settings → Special facilities → Quick Access Gestures and Deactivate TalkBack.
• 🔐 Set a password for settings of special features: Settings → Special facilities → TalkBack Settings → Password.
• 📱 Use a lock-button case if you carry your phone in your pocket often.
• 🔄 Update regularly MIUI — In new versions, bugs with spontaneous inclusion are corrected.

On the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ and other flagships of the Note series, you can also configure Safe Mode, which automatically turns off all special features when holding the power button.

1. Press the power button before the off menu appears.
2. Slip and hold the Safe Mode item.
3. Wait for the reboot - TalkBack will be disabled.

Never.

1-2 times a year

Frequently (once a month or more)

I don't know what that is.-->

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

Even with the instructions, users often make mistakes.

If after disabling TalkBack smartphone began to slow down or give errors, perform a soft reset:

1. Press the power button for 20 seconds (before vibration).
2. Wait 2-3 minutes and turn on the device.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions