How to disable blind mode on a Samsung phone: 5 ways to disable TalkBack and Voice Assistant

Have you accidentally activated mode for the visually impaired on your Samsung Galaxy and now the phone says your every action, but touches work differently? Or maybe you bought a used device, where the previous owner turned on TalkBack or Voice Assistant? Don't worry - you can disable these functions in a few minutes, even if the screen does not react in the usual way.

In this article we will look at all possible methods deactivating modes for the blind Samsung - from standard settings to workarounds through Bixby or ADB. We will describe the nuances for different versions Android (from 10 to 14) and models Galaxy (including S23, A54, Z Flip etc.). You will also learn what to do if the phone is completely blocked by the voice assistant and does not respond to touches.

We warn you right away: some methods require preliminary preparation (for example, turned on USB debugging), so if you are reading this article in advance —save it as a bookmark or send it to your email. And if the screen has already “talked” - scroll below to the “Emergency methods” section.

1. What is blind mode on Samsung and why is it turned on

On smartphones Samsung running Android there are several functions that relate to accessibility features for people with visual impairments:

• 🔊 TalkBack —a voice assistant that announces all actions on the screen (clicks, swipes, notifications). Changes control gestures: for example, one touch selects an element, and a double touch activates it.
• 👁️ Voice Assistant —an alternative interface where control is carried out by voice commands. Often included with TalkBack.
• 📱 Screen Magnification —scales content for the visually impaired (sometimes confused with blind mode).
• 🖥️ High Contrast —changes the color scheme for better readability.

These functions can be activated randomly:

• 🤏 Triple press of the button Home (on old models) or Power (on new ones).
• 🎤 Voice command "Hey Bixby, turn on TalkBack" (if activated Bixby Voice).
• 👶 A child or pet could press the button combination (for example Volume up + Volume down on some firmware).
• 🔄 After updating Android accessibility settings are sometimes reset to default.

If you are not sure which feature it is is on, pay attention to the behavior of the phone:

⚠️ Attention: On some models Samsung (for example, Galaxy S20 and older), the function TalkBack can block standard screen unlock gestures If the phone does not. responds to a PIN or pattern key - use the methods from section 5.

2. Standard method: disabling through settings

If the phone responds to touches (albeit non-standard), try disabling the mode through the menu. Here are step-by-step guide for Android 12-14 (on older versions the path may be slightly different):

More details:

1. Unlock the phone. If the screen is black or does not respond, press. button Power twice to wake up the display.

2. Swipe two fingers from top to bottom to open the notification panel (in TalkBack mode, one finger only selects an item).

3. Find the icon TalkBack in the panel (usually a man with a circle or the inscription “Special Features”) Tap it once (hear a confirmation), then twice to activate.

4. In the window that opens, swipe left/right to find the button Disable, then tap it twice.

5. Confirm disabling (if required).

If the icon TalkBack is not on the panel:

1. Open Settings (gear icon). this:

   • 🔍 On the Home screen, swipe left/right with two fingers to find Settings.
   • 👆 Tap the icon once (highlight), then twice (opening).

For Voice Assistant a different path:

1. Hold down the buttons simultaneously Volume up + Volume down for 3 seconds - this will open the accessibility menu.

2. Swipe with two fingers to find Voice Assistantand turn it off.

⚠️ Attention: On Samsung Galaxy s One UI 5.0+ (Android 13-14) in the menu Accessibility the section may be hidden Screen Narrator - this is TalkBackIf you don’t find it, use the search in the settings (magnifying glass icon at the top).

3. Quick shutdown via Bixby (if the voice assistant is enabled)

If your Samsung is activated, you can turn it off by voice command - even if the screen is not visible or does not respond to touch. the method works on models with a button Bixby, can be disabled TalkBack voice command - even if the screen is not visible or does not respond to touch. This method works on models with a button Bixby (Galaxy S8-S22, Note 8-20) or with a soft button in the interface.

Instructions:

1. Activate Bixby in one of the ways:

   • 🗣️ Tell «Hey Bixby» (if voice wake-up is enabled).
   • 🔘 Press and hold the Bixby button (physical or on-screen).
   • 🔋 Press and hold Power + Volume Up (on some models).

"Turn off TalkBack"

"Turn off Narrator"

If Bixby does not recognize the command:

• 🔊 Check whether the microphone is turned on (on some models TalkBack blocks access to the microphone).
• 🌐 Make sure that the language Bixby matches the command language (set in Settings → Bixby → Language).
• 🔄 Restart your phone by holding Power + Volume Down 10 seconds, then try again.

⚠️ Attention: On Samsung Galaxy S23 and later Bixby is disabled by default. If you have not configured it, this method will not work.

4. Disabling via USB debugging (ADB) for advanced users. users

If the standard methods do not help, and USB debugging was enabled earlier, you can disable TalkBack via a computer. This method is suitable for Android 10-14 and requires:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB and drivers Samsung.
• 🔌 USB cable (preferably original).
• 🔧 Previously enabled option USB debugging in the settings developer.

Step-by-step guide:

1. Connect the phone to the computer via USB. On the phone, select the mode Transfer files (if prompted).

2. Open the command line (CMD on Windows or Terminal on macOS/Linux) and enter:

   adb devices

   If the device is detected (the serial number appears) - continue. If not, install the drivers. Samsung USB Driver.

3. Run the command to disable TalkBack:

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

   For Voice Assistant use:

   adb shell settings put secure enabled_accessibility_services com.samsung.android.app.va_assistant/com.samsung.android.app.va_assistant.VAService

4. Reboot the phone:

   adb reboot

If after reboot the blind mode is activated again:

• 🔄 Repeat the command, adding at the end ;com.android.settings/.accessibility.AccessibilitySettingsActivity.
• 📱 Check if synchronization of accessibility settings with your account is enabled Google (disable it in Settings → Accounts).

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB can lead to system malfunctions if you enter incorrect commands. Do not change other settings through adb shellif you are not sure of their purpose.

5. blocked

Situation: TalkBack turned on, the screen does not respond to touches, and PIN/pattern unlocking does not work due to changed gestures. Here's what to do:

Method 1: Hard reboot

On some models Samsung a hard reset resets accessibility settings:

1. Press and hold the buttons Power + Volume Down 10-15 seconds until the phone turns off and starts to reboot.

2. As soon as the logo appears Samsungrelease the buttons.

3. After loading, check if it is disabled TalkBack.

Method 2: Unlocking via Safe Mode

Safe Mode disables all third-party applications, including TalkBack:

1. Turn off the phone (hold Power + Volume Down).

2. When the logo appears Samsung Release Powerbut continue to hold Volume Downuntil loading is complete.

3. In the lower left corner of the screen will appear inscription Safe Mode. Now TalkBack should be disabled.

4. Open Settings → Accessibility and manually deactivate unnecessary functions.

5. Reboot the phone to exit Safe Mode.

Method 3: Reset via Recovery (data loss!)

If all else fails, this remains reset to factory settingsThis will delete all data from the phone, so use the method only as a last resort.

1. Turn off the phone.

2. Hold Power + Volume up + Bixby (or Power + Volume Up on models without Bixby).

3. When the menu appears Recoveryrelease the buttons. Use Volume to navigate and Power to select.

4. Select Wipe data/factory reset → Yes.

5. After reset, reboot the phone (Reboot system now).

⚠️ Attention: On Samsung Galaxy s One UI 4.0+ reset via Recovery may require entering a password Google (FRP protection). Make sure to remember the account details associated with the phone.

6. How to prevent accidental activation of blind mode

To no longer encounter this problem, set up your phone in advance:

• 🔕 Disable hotkeys:
  1. Go in Settings → Accessibility → Enhancement → TalkBack → Settings.
  2. Disable the option TalkBack hotkeys (or Quick enable).
• 🎤 Set up Bixby:
  1. Open Settings → Additional features → Bixby.
  2. Disable Voice wakeup or remove the command "Turn on TalkBack" from the list of voice actions.