TalkBack, a voice assistant on Xiaomi smartphones, is a useful feature for people with disabilities, but sometimes it is activated by accident. If the screen does not respond to touch, and the phone constantly voices all the actions, standard ways to turn off become unavailable. In this situation, volume buttons come to the rescue, with which you can deactivate TalkBack even without access to the menu.
In this article, you will find step-by-step instructions for different Xiaomi models (including Redmi, POCO, and Black Shark), learn why TalkBack can turn on on on its own, and what to do if the standard method does not work, and learn how to prevent accidental activation of the feature in the future.
Why does TalkBack turn on on its own?
Many users experience a situation where TalkBack is activated without their knowledge, most often because of:
- 🎲 Accidental tapping – triple tapping the screen or clamping the volume buttons can trigger the function (especially on models with a high-speed screen). MIUI 12+).
- 🔄 System updates – after installing a new version MIUI Special Opportunities are sometimes reset.
- 🧒 Actions of children or pets – random gestures on a locked screen.
- 🔧 Software failures are rare, but it happens that Xiaomi itself turns on TalkBack after a reboot.
On some models (such as the Redmi Note 10 Pro or POCO X3 Pro), the feature can be activated when you connect your headphones or headset. If you notice that TalkBack is turned on regularly, check the settings for Special Features → TalkBack → Settings → Gestures.
Method 1: Disabling TalkBack with volume buttons (universal method)
This is the most reliable way, which works on 90% of Xiaomi devices, including the old models on MIUI 9-11 and the new ones on MIUI 13/14.
- 🔇 Press the power button and the volume button at the same time 3-5 seconds until you feel the vibration.
- 📱 Wait until the phone sounds (or says “TalkBack is off»).
- 🔄 Release the buttons and check if the screen is back to normal.
If TalkBack is still active after that, try repeating the action 2-3 times in a row. On some models (for example, Xiaomi Mi 11) you may need to press the buttons for 7-10 seconds.
☑️ Check before disabling TalkBack
Method 2: Alternative button combinations for different models
Not all Xiaomi smartphones support the universal method, and below is a list of combinations for the popular series:
| Xiaomi model | Button combination | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 8/9/10 | Power + Volume Increase (5 seconds) | It's working on MIUI 11-12. |
| POCO F3/X3 | Power + Volume Reduction (7 seconds) | It may take 2-3 attempts. |
| Mi 10/11 Series | Power + Both Volume buttons | Audible confirmation signal |
| Black Shark 4/5 | Press the power button for 10 seconds | If the screen does not respond fully |
If your model is not in the table, try the universal method or Power + Volume Combination. On some devices (for example, Redmi 7A), TalkBack only turns off after triple pressing the power button at 1 second intervals.
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If the phone doesn’t respond to buttons, plug it into charging for 5-10 minutes – sometimes a low charge blocks hardware combinations.
What to do if the buttons don’t work?
If none of these combinations worked, maybe the problem goes deeper.
- 🔌 Put the mouse on. OTG — if USB-The port is working, you can control the phone and disable TalkBack through the settings.
- 📡 Use Mi Remote – on some models, you can control your phone using the Mi Remote app on another device.
- 🔄 Reset the settings - the last option: pinch the power + Up Volume by 15 seconds to switch to Recovery Mode, then select Wipe Data.
⚠️ Note: Wipe Data will remove all files, photos and apps from your phone. Use this method only if other methods have failed and you have a backup.
If the phone is on warranty, it is better to contact the Xiaomi service center - the wizard will disable TalkBack without losing data.
How to prevent the accidental inclusion of TalkBack in the future?
To avoid repeated problems, set up protection against accidental switching on:
- Go to Settings → Special Opportunities → TalkBack.
- Select Settings → Gestures and turn off the option Triple Touch.
- In the "Button Combinations" section, remove TalkBack's binding to the volume buttons.
- Set a password for special features settings (available on MIUI 13+).
On models with MIUI 14, you can completely disable quick access to TalkBack through the notification panel.
- Deploy the notification panel.
- Click on the icon. ⚙️ (Edit).
- Find TalkBack tiles and drag them to Unused.
What if TalkBack is activated on a locked phone?
Common errors when disabling TalkBack
Many users make common mistakes that prevent them from successfully deactivating the function:
- ⏱️ Too short button clamping – most models need to hold the combination for at least 5 seconds.
- 🔊 Ignoring the beeps – if the phone is beeping or vibrating, it means that the command is accepted, but you need to wait for confirmation.
- 🔋 Battery discharge – at a charge below 15%, hardware combinations may not work.
- 📵 Lock buttons with a cover – remove the cover or protective film if the buttons are not pressed until the end.
Another common problem is the confusion between the volume buttons, and the volume buttons, which are different on some models (like the POCO M3), and users press the wrong keys, and make sure you press the right combination before you try to turn it off.
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If TalkBack turned on after the MIUI update, try restarting your phone first – sometimes this solves the problem without additional action.