The function TalkBack (interface voiceover) on smartphones Huawei often turns on accidentally - just press the power button three times or hold down two volume buttons. After activation, the phone begins to voice every touch, which makes control extremely inconvenient. It is especially problematic for beginners to disable this function: standard gestures change, and voice prompts can be confusing.

In this article you will find 5 working methods deactivations TalkBack on devices Huawei (including models with EMUI 13/14 i Magic UI 7/8). We will look at both the classic method through the settings and alternative options for cases when the screen does not respond to touch. You will also learn how to permanently remove this function or customize it to suit your needs.

If you got here after accidentally turning on the voice acting, don’t panic. In 90% of cases, the problem is solved in 1-2 minutes without resetting the settingseven if you don’t see the usual interface. The main thing is to follow the instructions step by step and not try to press at random.

📊 How did you accidentally turn on TalkBack?
Pressed the power button three times
Pressed the buttons volume
It turned on itself after the update
Another method

1. The standard way to disable it is through the settings

This is the most reliable method if you have access to the main menu. On devices Huawei the path to settings TalkBack may differ slightly depending on the shell version, but the general logic remains the same.

Here are step-by-step guide for EMUI 13/14 i Magic UI 7/8:

  1. Unlock your phone. If the screen does not respond to touches, use double tap and hold (standard gesture for TalkBack).

  2. Swipe the screen from left to right, then from top to bottom is analogous to swiping down to open notification panel.

  3. Click on the icon gears (Settings) in the upper right corner. In TalkBack mode, you need tap twice icons with a short pause.

  4. In the settings search bar, enter TalkBack or Accessibility.

  5. Go to the section Accessibility → TalkBack and move the slider to position Off

If the search string is not opens - scroll through the menu two fingers (scroll gesture in TalkBack). On some models Huawei P60 i Mate 50 the path may be like this: Settings → System and updates → Accessibility → TalkBack.

☑️ Preparing to disable TalkBack

Done: 0 / 5
⚠️ Attention: On Huawei Nova 11 and newer models with Magic UI 8 after turning off TalkBack, you may need to restart the device. If voice acting continues, check for system updates in Settings → System → Software update.

2. Quick shutdown via the notification panel

If you urgently need to turn off voice acting without delving into the settings, use the quick access panel. This method works on most devices Huaweiincluding P Smart, Y-series and flagships Mate.

Instructions:

  1. Unlock the screen. If it doesn’t work in the standard way, try swiping your finger across the screen zigzag (sometimes it works as an unlock).

  2. Swipe down two fingers from the top edge of the screen to open the notification panel.

  3. Find the icon TalkBack (usually an icon with a man in a circle or the words “Voice Assistant”).

  4. Double-tap the icon with a pause between taps - this will confirm the choice.

  5. In the window that appears, double-tap the button again Turn off.

If the TalkBack icon is not in the panel, it means it is hidden. To add it:

  1. Open the notification panel and click on the icon pencil (Edit).
  2. Find it in the list TalkBack and drag it to the active area (for dragging use double tap and hold).
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If the notification panel does not open with a swipe, try swiping from the upper left corner to the center of the screen - this is an alternative gesture for TalkBack.

3. Disabling using the volume buttons (emergency method)

When the touch screen is completely blocked due to TalkBack, hardware shutdowncomes to the rescue. This method works on all models Huawei, including Honor (before the separation of brands).

Perform the following steps:

  1. Hold both volume buttons (increase + decrease) at the same time.

  2. Hold them 3-5 secondsuntil you feel vibration or you will not hear a beep.

  3. After vibration, wait another 2 seconds and release the buttons.

On some devices (for example, Huawei P40 Pro), this method immediately disables TalkBack. On others (for example, Mate 30) a voice message will appear asking you to confirm the action. In this case:

  1. Press the button twice Volume up to confirm.
  2. Wait 10 seconds - the function should be deactivated.
⚠️ Attention: On devices with Magic UI 7+ this method can only work when the screen is unlocked. If the phone is locked, first unlock it using the standard method or using a fingerprint (if configured).
Huawei model Does it support turning off with buttons? volume Notes
P50/P50 Pro Yes Requires holding for 4 seconds
Mate 40/40 Pro Yes Works only when the screen is unlocked
Nova 9/10 Yes You may need to double-click to confirm
Y7/Y8 (2022-2023) No Use the method through the settings
Honor 50/60 Partially Works only on firmware up to Magic UI 6

4. Disabling via USB debugging (for advanced users)

If the standard methods do not work and the touch screen does not respond, you can use ADB commands. This method requires a computer and USB debugging enabled, but is guaranteed to work even on locked devices.

What you will need:

  • 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux
  • 🔌 USB cable (original)
  • 📱 Enabled USB debugging on the phone (if not enabled, the method will not work)
  • 🛠️ Utility Platform Tools from Google

Step-by-step guide:

  1. Connect the phone to the computer via USB.

  2. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with platform-tools.

  3. Enter the command to check the connection: 

    adb devices

    If the device is displayed, proceed further.

  4. Run the command to disable TalkBack: 

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

  5. Reboot your phone: 

    adb reboot

If TalkBack is activated again after a reboot, run an additional command to reset accessibility settings: 

adb shell settings reset secure
What to do if USB debugging is not enabled?

If USB debugging is turned off and the sensor does not work, the only option is to reset to factory settings via Recovery Mode. To do this, turn off the phone, then press power button + volume up for 10 seconds. In the Recovery menu, select "Wipe data/factory reset" (volume button control, confirmation - power button).

5. How to permanently remove TalkBack from Huawei

If you never use the voice-over function and want uninstall it completely this can be done without root access, but with some restrictions. On devices Huawei TalkBack is a system application, so simply uninstalling it can lead to failures.

Safe methods:

  • 📵 Disable updates: Go to Settings → Applications → TalkBack → Disable updates. This will prevent automatic updates that could reactivate the feature.
  • 🔧 Hide from menu: In the same application settings, select Delete data i Stop. This will not remove the app, but will make it inactive.
  • 🛡️ Use ADB: With the command adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.huawei.accessibility you can delete the application for the current user (does not require root).

For complete removal you will need root access. After receiving them:

  1. Install a file manager with root support (for example, Root Explorer).
  2. Go to the folder /system/priv-app/ or /system/app/.
  3. Find files with names TalkBack, Accessibility or HwAccessibility.
  4. Delete them or rename them (for example, adding them at the end .bak).
  5. Reboot the device.
⚠️ Attention: Removing system applications may disrupt operation EMUI/Magic UI, especially on new ones models Huawei P60 i Mate 60. Before experiments, create a backup via Settings → System → Backup.
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Even after removing TalkBack, it can be restored by resetting the settings or updating the system. If the function is critical for you, it’s better to just do it. disable it, do not delete it.

6. Solving typical problems after disabling

Sometimes after deactivating TalkBack, users encounter side effects. Here are the most common situations and their solutions:

Problem 1: The screen does not respond to touches after disabling TalkBack.

  • 🔄 Reboot the device - hold the power button for 10 seconds.
  • 🔧 Check if another accessibility mode is enabled (for example, Zoom screen or Color correction).
  • 📱 If that doesn’t help, reset the touch settings in Settings → System → Reset → Reset interface settings.

Problem 2: TalkBack turns on spontaneously after reboot.

  • 🔍 Check if TalkBack activation is assigned to triple press of the power button t Settings → Accessibility → Accessibility Gestures.
  • 🛡️ Disable automatic activation in Settings → Applications → TalkBack → Autorun.
  • 📴 Update the firmware - in new versions EMUI 14 this error has been fixed.

Problem 3: Gestures do not work after TalkBack.

  • 👆 Go to Settings → System → Gestures and enable the necessary options again.
  • 🔄 Calibrate the screen in Settings → Screen → Sensor calibration (not available on all models).

If none of the methods help, check your phone for viruses (for example, via Huawei Mobile Security) or reset to factory settings. On Huawei this can be done without losing data by selecting Settings → System → Reset → Reset settings (not to be confused with a full reset!).

7. How to prevent accidental activation of TalkBack

To never again encounter spontaneous activation of voice, set up your phone in advance:

  • 🚫 Disable quick gestures: Go to Settings → Accessibility → Accessibility gestures and deactivate the option Triple press the power button.
  • 🔒 Protect settings: Set the password to section Accessibility via Settings → Security → Application blocking.
  • 📱 Use alternative launchers: Some shells (for example, Nova Launcher) allow you to disable system gestures.
  • 🛡️ Set up parental controls: You can restrict access to special features. Settings → Security → Parental Control You can restrict access to special features.

On devices with Magic UI 8 a function has appeared Protection against accidental clicksTo activate it:

  1. Go to Settings → Display and brightness.
  2. Select Advanced screen settings.
  3. Enable the option Protection touches.
  4. Activate Block accessibility gestures.

These measures will minimize the risk of accidentally turning on TalkBack, especially if the phone is often used by children or elderly people.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about TalkBack on Huawei

Is it possible to disable TalkBack through voice commands?

Yes, but only if the voice assistant Celia or Google Assistant is already configured. Say: "Okay, Google, turn off TalkBack" or "Hey, Celia, turn off accessibility features". On new models Huawei (with Magic UI 7+) this works stably, on older models you may need confirmation.

Why did the sound in the speaker disappear after turning off TalkBack?

This is a known bug on some devices Huawei (for example, P30 LiteTalkBack changes the sound profile to "Only"). availability". To return normal sound:

  1. Go to Settings → Sound.
  2. Select Sound profile → General.
  3. Disable the option Mono sound (if enabled).

If that doesn’t help, restart the phone.

How to disable TalkBack on Huawei if the screen is broken?

There are two options:

  1. Connect the mouse via the OTG adapter — TalkBack supports cursor control. Move the mouse to the desired elements and do double click with pause.
  2. Use HDMI output (if supported). data-i="305">and control with a mouse/keyboard. USB-C to HDMI and control using mouse/keyboard.

On models Mate 20 Pro and newer you can also use wireless projection on a PC via Huawei Share.

Will fingerprint work after disabling TalkBack?

Yes, biometric unlocking (fingerprint, face) is not associated with TalkBack. However, if you used unlock gesturesthey may need to be set up again in Settings → Security → Biometrics and password.

Is it possible to reassign the volume buttons to turn off TalkBack?

On most devices Huawei this is not possible without root access. However, on some models (for example, P50 Pocket), you can assign disabling special features to long press the power button:

  1. Go to Settings → System → Buttons and gestures.
  2. Select Action when holding the power button.
  3. Assign the option Disable accessibility.