TalkBack on Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi and POCO models) is designed for people with visual impairments, but is often activated accidentally - for example, after triple pressing the power button or through special features settings. Once turned on, this voice assistant begins to voice all the actions on the screen, which makes using the phone extremely uncomfortable for ordinary users. Disable TalkBack is not as easy as it seems: standard gestures stop working, and the navigation menu changes.
In this article, you will find 5 working ways to turn off the function, from basic (through settings) to emergency (if the screen does not respond to touch), we will also discuss why TalkBack can spontaneously turn on and how to prevent this in the future. The instructions are relevant for all modern Xiaomi devices based on the MIUI 12–14 and HyperOS, including 2020–2026 models.
Why does TalkBack turn on on its own?
Most often, users experience an unexpected activation of TalkBack for the following reasons:
- 🔄 Triple press of the power button. In the special features settings, the option to quickly start TalkBack via Power can be enabled by default.
- 👤 Setting reset: Once reset to factory settings, some special features return to active state.
- 📱 Update MIUI/HyperOS. In rare cases, after updating the firmware, availability settings are reset.
- 🤖 Accidental tapping of a menu, like when you hand a phone over to a child or when you clean the screen.
On Xiaomi 12T Pro, Redmi Note 12 and POCO F5, TalkBack can be activated even through Google’s voice assistant, if its settings allow access to special features, due to the integration of Google services into MIUI.
If TalkBack is turned on without you, first check if the Quick Start option is activated. Go to Settings → Special Options → TalkBack → Settings → Special Opportunity Shortcut and deactivate the switch after you turn off the feature.
Method 1: Disable TalkBack via Settings (if the screen is responsive)
If you can interact with the screen (albeit with the voice of each action), use this method, and the main difficulty is the modified navigation: instead of standard gestures, you have to use two-finger commands.
1. Unlock the phone (swipe up the screen with two fingers)
2. Open Settings (two fingers touch the icon and hold for 2 seconds)
3. Go to Special Options (scroll two fingers down)
4.Find TalkBack and tap the switch with two fingers
5. Confirm the disconnection in the dialog window-->
More on each step:
- Open the screen. When you're active, TalkBack, the standard swipe up won't work. Use two fingers, swipe them simultaneously across the screen from the bottom up. PIN-code, enter it by touching the numbers with one finger (double touch is not required).
- Start settings. Find the Settings icon on the home screen or in the app menu. Tap it with two fingers and hold it for 2 seconds until you hear the confirmation beep.
- Swipe through the settings list with two fingers (swipe down), find the Special Features section (in HyperOS it may be called Universal Access) and tap it with two fingers.
- Disable TalkBack. In the list of functions, find TalkBack (voice assistant will say the name when you touch it). Tap the switch with two fingers, it will go to the off position. Confirm the action in the window that appears by pressing OK (also with two fingers).
⚠️ Warning: If the phone has restarted after TalkBack is turned off and the feature is active again, this is a sign of a failure in the special features settings. Try method 4 (reset availability settings).
Method 2: Using Google Assistant voice commands
If gestures don’t help or you can’t unlock the screen, try disabling TalkBack via Google Assistant.This method works on devices with Google Play Services preinstalled (most global versions of Xiaomi).
Algorithm of action:
- Activate Google Assistant by saying “OK Google” or holding the Home button (if physical).
- Tell the command to “Disable TalkBack” or “Switch off special features.”
- If the assistant requests confirmation, answer "Yes" or "Affirmed."
- Wait for the audible signal to turn off the function.
On some models (such as Xiaomi 13 Lite or Redmi Note 11 Pro+), Google Assistant may not have the rights to manage TalkBack.
Activate voice input → Say: “Open special features settings” → Wait for the menu to open → Say: “Open TalkBack”⚠️ Attention: Voice commands may not work if the Google Assistant settings have disabled access to special features. To check this after TalkBack is disabled, go to Settings → Annexes → Google → Permissions and turn on all switches. 💡If voice commands are not recognized, try using an external speaker or headphones - sometimes the phone's microphone does not catch the voice well due to background noises. Method 3: If TalkBack is activated due to a failure in a third-party application (for example, after installing a launcher or automation program), Safe Mode will help temporarily disable all third applications and return standard navigation. How to run Safe Mode on Xiaomi: Turn off your phone by holding the Power button. When the logo appears MI or POCO Press and hold the volume down button until the phone boots up. In the bottom left corner of the screen, you'll see "Safe Mode." In Safe Mode: 📱 Open the Settings. → Special features and disable TalkBack in the standard way (with one touch). 🔍 Check which application may have caused the crash (usually launchers like Nova Launcher or automation software like Tasker). 🔄 Restart your phone in normal mode. Xiaomi Model button combination for safe mode Redmi Note 10/11/12 Nutrition + Reduce volume Hold until the logo appears POCO X3/X4/X5 Nutrition + Volume increase Works only on Xiaomi’s global firmware 12/13/14 Nutrition + Both volume buttons may be required 2–3 Black Shark's attempt 5/6 Nutrition + Shark buttons only on gaming models ⚠️ Warning: Safe mode disables all third-party applications, including Google Pay and banking programs. Do not use this mode for payments or authorization in important services. 4: If TalkBack is re-enabled after shutdown, it may be caused by damage to the special feature configuration files, in which case only resetting this setting section will help, without losing personal data. Instructions: Open Settings → Special facilities → Special Features Settings (the path may be different in HyperOS) Scroll down and find Reset Settings or Restore Default Values. Confirm Reset. After rebooting, all Availability features (including TalkBack) will return to factory settings. On some firmware (MIUI 13+) This item can be hidden. Alternative: Settings → System system → Additionally. → Resetting settings → Resetting special features On devices with HyperOS (for example, Xiaomi 14 or Redmi) K70) Resetting availability settings may require you to enter a password from your Mi Account, even if it wasn't previously linked. If you don't remember the password, use method 5 (full reset. What to do if the reset didn't help? If TalkBack is activated again after the reset, the problem may be in the firmware. Try: 1. Update MIUI/HyperOS Up to the latest version through Settings → Updating the system. 2. Remove the application cache Settings in Settings → Annexes → Application management → Settings → Warehouse → Clear the cache. 3. Perform reset to factory settings (method) 5). Method 5: Complete reset (if nothing helps) The last measure is hard reset – apply only if: 🔧 All the previous methods didn't work. 📵 The screen does not respond to touches due to TalkBack. 🔄 The phone got stuck during the boot phase after trying to disable the function: 📂 All data (photos, contacts, messages) will be deleted. 🔒 After the reset, you will need to enter the Mi Account information if it was tied. 📱 Make sure your phone is charged at least 50%. Instructions for Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO: Turn off your phone. Press both Power and Volume (on some models - Power) + Turning down the volume). When the Mi logo appears, release the buttons, open the Recovery menu. Use the volume buttons for navigation and the Power button to select Wipe Data (or Clear Data). Confirm the reset by selecting Confirm or Yes. Once the process is complete, select Reboot to reboot. On new HyperOS models (such as Xiaomi 14 Ultra), the Recovery menu can be in Chinese: 📛 Third item at the top (data cleanup). 🔄 Last paragraph — (resetting). ⚠️ Warning: If after a reset, the phone requires a Mi Account that you don't remember, don't try to enter passwords at random - the device may lock permanently. 💡Before resetting, try connecting your phone to your computer and copy important data through MTP (file transfer). Even if the screen doesn't respond to touch, sometimes TalkBack doesn't block access to the file system. How to prevent TalkBack from accidentally turning on in the future? To avoid TalkBack being reactivated again, follow a few simple steps: Disable the special feature shortcut: Settings → Special facilities → TalkBack → Settings (cogs) → Special Opportunity Label → Set up gesture lock: In Settings → Lock screen → Additional settings turn off the camera/applications quick start option if it interferes. Update firmware: In some versions MIUI 12-13 was a bug that caused TalkBack to turn on after the reboot.Update to MIUI 14 or HyperOS solves the problem. Use Child Mode: If children often take the phone, activate Settings → Special facilities → Child Mode. It blocks system changes. On models with HyperOS (for example, Xiaomi) 13T or Redmi K60) You got a feature called "Standard Press Protection." To turn it on: Settings. → Display. → Protection against accidental pressing → This will prevent TalkBack from activating when you accidentally touch the screen in your pocket or bag. FAQ: Frequent questions about TalkBack on Xiaomi: Can you disable TalkBack via your computer (ADB)? Yes, if the phone is debugging on. USB. Connect the device to the PC, open the command line and type: adb shell settings put secure enabled_accessibility_services"" Then restart the phone. Attention: this method will reset all the special settings. Why did the TalkBack screen slow down after the TalkBack was turned off? This is a temporary effect due to the reset of the special cache. Reboot the phone, the speed will recover. If the problem remains, clear the cache of the Settings: Settings app → Annexes → Application management → Settings → Warehouse → TalkBack's cache clears up when you plug in your headphones. How do you fix it? It's a bug in some versions. MIUI. Turn off the option "Automatic profile switching": Settings → Sound. → Automatic profile switching → Off. Also check the headphone settings in the Mi Bluetooth app (if you use wireless models). Can I use a phone with TalkBack on? Technically, but it's extremely inconvenient. Basic gestures: 👆 Scrolling: two fingers up/down. 🖱️ Selection of element: two fingers touch. 🔙 Backup: swipe two fingers from right to left. Use the Gboard keyboard to type text, which is better adapted for TalkBack than the standard one. MIUI-After reset, the phone requires an old Mi Account? If you don't remember the account you were tied to before the reset: Try to restore your password via account.xiaomi.com. If the account is not yours (for example, the phone was bought with hands), contact the Xiaomi service center with a check about the purchase. On some models (Redmi 9A, POCO M3) you can bypass the lock via Fastboot, but this requires technical skills. Important: Do not buy "unlock" services from third parties - this can lead to a loss of warranty or IMEI blocking.