Voice prompts on Xiaomi can be useful for people with disabilities, but for most users, they become an annoyance. Brand smartphones (including Redmi and POCO) often turn on this feature by default after updates or when some services are activated. In this article, we will discuss all the ways to disable voice action, from system settings to hidden developer settings.
Complicating the problem is that different versions of MIUI (Xiaomi's Android shell) have different paths to settings, so we tested the instructions on devices with MIUI 12.5, MIUI 13 and MIUI 14 (Android 10-14) and put together universal solutions, so if your smartphone makes sounds when you tap on the screen, scrolle or open apps, you're in the right place.
Why did the smartphone start to voice the action?
There are several reasons why Xiaomi might start commenting on your actions in voice:
- 🔄 Update MIUI: After installing the new firmware version, some features are reset to factory settings, including TalkBack (a service for the visually impaired).
- 🎧 Headphone/column connectivity: The system can automatically activate voice prompts when Bluetooth devices are detected (especially if Google Assistant has been used before).
- 🤖 Random turn on: Key combinations (such as holding volume buttons) or gestures in the special features menu can activate the function.
- 📱 Third-party apps: Some programs (e.g. Google Maps or Yandex.Navigator) include their own voice alerts that conflict with system systems.
TalkBack is often the fault of the service (in MIUI it can be called Voice Assistant or Screen Narrator), its task is to voice all the actions for users with visual problems, but sometimes it turns on spontaneously, for example, after a phone falls or when you connect to a car tape recorder via Android Auto.
Method 1: Disconnection through “Special Opportunities”
This is the most reliable method, as it disables the TalkBack system service (or its analogue in MIUI), the instructions are suitable for all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models:
- Open the settings (cog icon on the desktop).
- Scroll down and select Special Features (on some devices – Additional Settings → Special Features).
- Slip on the item Voice Assistant, TalkBack or Screen announcer.
- Turn the slider to the off position (or uncheck the tick).
- Confirm the action by pressing OK in the window that appears.
If there is no TalkBack, try another way:
Settings → Applications → Application Management → Three points (menu) → Show system → TalkBackHere you can not only disable the service, but also reset its settings or remove updates (if they cause failures).
Make sure the service slider is in the "off" position.
Restart your phone to apply changes
Check if voice prompts disappeared when you pressed the screen
If you have any sounds, go to Method 2.-->
⚠️ Note: Some devices (e.g. Xiaomi Mi 11 or Redmi Note 10 Pro) may need to restart after TalkBack is disabled. If voice prompts are back after the restart, check if the service is enabled in Quick Settings (swipe down from the top edge of the screen).
Method 2: Deactivate through Quick Settings
If the voiceover is activated due to accidental pressing, it can be quickly disabled through the notification panel:
- Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open Quick Settings.
- Find an icon with an eye or lip image (could be called TalkBack or Voice Assistant).
- Slap it once – the service must be deactivated.
If the icons are not in the main panel:
- 🔍 Click on Edit (Pencil icon) in Quick Settings.
- 📱 Find it in TalkBack and drag it to the active area.
- 🔕 You can now turn on/off the function quickly.
On some models (such as the POCO F3 or Redmi K40), the TalkBack icon can be hidden behind the “More” button (three dots) in quick settings. If the panel does not respond to touch after activating the service, use a two-finger gesture to swipe down.
Method 3: Disabling voice alerts in applications
If system settings don't work, the problem may lie in third-party programs, most often the fault is:
- 🗺️ Navigators: Google Maps, Yandex.Navigator, 2GIS.
- 🎵 Music services: Spotify, YouTube Music, VK Music.
- 📱 Social media: TikTok, Instagram (voicing stories).
- 🤖 Voice assistants: Google Assistant, Alice from Yandex.
To disable voice alerts in a specific application:
- Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Select the application you want (such as Google Maps).
- Slip Notices or Permits.
- Find the Sound, Voice Alerts, or Speech items and turn them off.
For Google Assistant, the path is different:
Settings → Google → Settings for Google apps → Search, Assistant and Voice → Voice Assistant → Settings → Voice OutputYou can turn off voice notifications and voices when you enter text.
How to turn off voice in Yandex.Navigator?
Method 4: Resetting special features settings
If the previous methods didn't work, you might have lost the system parameters, and then you might have to reset:
- Open the Settings. → Special facilities.
- In the upper right corner, click on Three Dots → Reset settings.
- Confirm the action (a password may be required).
This operation will return all the parameters of special features to the factory, including:
- 🔊 Settings for TalkBack and other screen announcers.
- 👁️ Screen augmentation and color filters.
- 🎚️ Gestures and keyboard combinations for special functions.
⚠️ Note: The reset does not affect the phone’s basic settings (Wi-Fi, accounts, etc.), but it can disable all additional accessibility features you’ve set up previously (such as Signatures for the Hard of Hearing or Enlarge Font).
Method 5: Using Developer Parameters
If voice action involves debugging or testing features, it can be disabled through the developer menu, which is suitable for advanced users.
First, activate the developer mode:
- Go to Settings. → The phone.
- Tap 7 times on the item MIUI version (you will be notified you became a developer!).
- Return to Settings → Additional settings → For developers.
Now find and disable the following options:
| Parameter | What's he doing? | Recommended value |
|---|---|---|
| USB debugging | Includes advanced features when connecting to a PC | Off. |
| Keep the screen down. | Prevents the display from turning off during charging | Off. |
| Enable password sounding | Voice support when entering a password | Off. |
| Show touch | Displays dots on the screen when pressed (may conflict with TalkBack) | Off. |
| Window animation | Accelerating or disabling animations (sometimes affecting voiceover) | 1x or off. |
Pay special attention to the Special Opportunity Service item in the developer menu, where you can manually disable all active services, including TalkBack and Select to Speak.
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If after changes to the developer menu, the phone began to work unstable (for example, notifications began to disappear), return all parameters to factory values or reset settings through Settings → Reset settings → Reset all settings (without deleting data).
Method 6: Checking gestures and keyboard combinations
On Xiaomi, voice acting can be enabled through hidden gestures or button combinations, such as:
- 🔘 Triple press of the power button: TalkBack activates on some models.
- 👆 Holding two fingers on the screen: Can trigger voice assistant.
- 🔊 Volume buttons + Power: Combination for emergency call (sometimes conflicting with availability services).
To disable these combinations:
- Go to Settings → Special features → Gestures.
- Check the active combinations and disable the unnecessary ones.
- Then go to Settings → Buttons and gestures → Button combinations and reset the settings.
POCO and some Redmi have a separate Game Turbo menu that can intercept gestures, and make sure that voice controls are not activated.
Settings → Special features → Game Turbo → Settings → Voice controlWhat do you do if nothing helps?
If the voice action does not disappear after all the manipulations, the problem may be related to:
- 🐛 Firmware failure: Especially after the update MIUI "airborne" (OTA).
- 📦 Application conflict: For example, if two voice assistants are installed (Google and Xiaomi).
- 🔧 Damage to system files: Often occurs after manual intervention (root, modified firmware).
In such cases, it will help:
- Cleaning the cache of system applications: Settings → Applications → Application management → Three points → Show system → TalkBack → Clear the cache
- Reset phone settings (without deleting data): Settings → About phone → Resetting → Resetting all settings
- Flashing through the Mi Flash Tool (for experienced users).
⚠️ Note: If you use custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), the problem may be incorrect build, XDA Developers) for bugs for your model.
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Before resetting or flashing, back up your data via Settings → Additional settings → Backup and Reset. This will save contacts, messages and application settings.