Modern smartphones Xiaomi and Redmi are powerful multimedia devices, but their functionality is not limited to entertainment or work. Hidden deep within the system settings lies a critical section designed to make the gadget accessible to every user, regardless of its physical features. Section Accessibility (Accessibility) in the shell MIUI or HyperOS contains a set of tools that help people with visual, hearing or motor impairments effectively interact with the touch screen.
Many device owners accidentally activate some functions of this menu and are frightened by a sudden change in the behavior of the interface, believing that the phone is broken. In fact, this is the work of screen readers or special gestures that require understanding the logic of their work. Availability in the ecosystem Android is built to compensate for user limitations using software methods, turning the smartphone into a universal assistant.
In this article we will analyze in detail, what tools are available in the accessibility menu on smartphones Xiaomi, how to configure them correctly and in what situations they can be useful even for people without disabilities. Understanding these settings will allow you to fully control your device and adapt it to your personal needs.
The main purpose of the Accessibility section
The main purpose of this system section is to remove barriers between the user and the operating system interface. When you go to settings, you see a list of services, each of which solves a specific task. For example, for visually impaired users, the ability to read everything that happens on the screen is critical, and for people with hand tremors, pressing delays or alternative input methods are necessary.
It is important to note that the activation of some services requires granting advanced permissions to the security system. Android warns that the service can access the displayed data or control the screen. This is a necessary precaution because such rights actually give the app complete control over the device. However, the built-in services Google and Xiaomi are proven and safe components of the system.
⚠️ Attention: If you accidentally activated the function TalkBack and the phone began to voice every action, do not panic. To quickly disable it, it is usually enough to hold down the volume up and down buttons simultaneously for 3-5 seconds, or perform a specific unlocking gesture, which will be discussed below.
Users often ignore these settings until they are faced with the need to use them. However, knowledge of the principles of operation accessibility menu can help in non-standard situations, for example, when the screen sensor partially does not work or you need to control the phone without touching.
Functions for users with visual impairments
The most popular tool in this section is TalkBack a screen reader from Google. When you turn it on, the phone begins to speak out loud the names of icons, texts of messages and actions that you perform. In this case, the control logic changes radically: a single touch only selects an element and sounds it, and to activate (click) you need to double-tap anywhere on the screen.
Navigation through lists and menus is carried out using two-finger swipes. Scrolling up or down with two fingers allows you to scroll through content, while regular swipes with one finger can be perceived by the system as an attempt to move between elements. This takes some getting used to, but allows you to use your smartphone completely blind. In the settings TalkBack you can adjust the speed of speech, (voice pitch) and the level of detail of the voiceover.
In addition to the screen reader, there is a function Zoom (Magnification). It allows you to temporarily zoom in on the entire screen or a specific part of it. This function is usually activated by triple tapping on the screen. Once activated, a magnifying glass appears that can be moved with one finger, and the scale can be adjusted by pinching with two fingers inside the magnifying glass area. This is extremely useful for reading small text in the browser or instant messengers without having to change system fonts.
- 👁️ Zoom: Triple tap to zoom the screen or a separate window.
- 🗣️ TalkBack: Full voiceover of the interface and change the logic gestures.
- 🔦 Sound detector: Vibration and notification when the doorbell sounds or a baby cries.
- 📱 Text-to-speech output: Selecting text in any application to listen to it.
Another useful one function is Sound detector. The smartphone constantly listens to its surroundings and vibrates if it detects certain sound patterns, such as a doorbell, siren, or a baby crying. This allows hard of hearing people not to miss important events happening outside their field of vision.
You can use the Google Assistant voice assistant to quickly set up TalkBack. Just say "Turn on TalkBack" and the system will prompt you to activate the service, which is useful if you can't see the screen.
Tools for motor control and input
For users who have difficulty with precise touches or have limited hand dexterity, the system Android on devices Xiaomi offers a number of adaptive solutions. One of the key functions is Gesture input (Switch Access). This tool allows you to control your smartphone using external switches or volume buttons without touching the screen at all.
The operating principle is based on sequential scanning of interface elements. The system highlights groups of elements or individual buttons one by one. When the desired item is highlighted, the user presses the assigned button (such as volume up) to select it. Scanning then continues within the selected group until a specific element is activated. This is a difficult, but the only possible way to fully use a smartphone for people with serious motor impairments.
Settings -> Accessibility -> Gesture input -> SettingsThere is also a function Accessibility menu. This is a floating button that appears on the screen on top of all applications. It contains quick commands: lock the screen, take a screenshot, control the volume, access the Back and Home gestures. This eliminates the need to reach for physical buttons or perform complex swipes from the edges of the screen.
⚠️ Attention: Function Universal switch requires careful adjustment of the scanning delay time. If you set the time too short, you will not have time to select the desired element; if it's too large, navigation will become painfully slow. Select this parameter individually to suit your reaction.
Another interesting tool is control using head or face movements, available on some models with advanced front cameras and AI algorithms, although on mass devices Xiaomi this function is less common and is often implemented through third-party services Android. A more common function is Auto-press, which allows you to set up repeated touches in a certain area of the screen at a specified interval.
☑️ Setting up motor control
Settings for users with hearing impairments
Hearing is the most important channel for perceiving information, and its loss significantly limits the use of multimedia functions of a smartphone. The accessibility section offers powerful compensation tools. First of all, this Subtitles (Live Caption). This function recognizes speech in real time in any audio and video materials played on the phone and displays it in the form of text blocks.
The technology works locally on the device, using neural network models for speech recognition. This means that subtitles are generated even when watching a video without a built-in text track or when listening to voice messages in instant messengers. Recognition accuracy depends on the quality of the audio and language, but for English and major European languages it is extremely high. Russian language support is also constantly improving in the latest versions. Subtitles Android.
| Function | Description | Where to find |
|---|---|---|
| Live Caption | Automatic subtitles for any media | Sound and vibration -> Subtitles |
| Sound amplification | Amplification of quiet sounds through headphones | Special features -> Sound amplification |
| Visual notifications | Camera flash when call/message | Special features -> Visual alerts |
| Sound balance | Adjusting the left/right channel volume | Special features -> Audio correction |
For users with unilateral hearing loss, this function is useful Audio correction. It allows you to shift the sound balance completely to the left or right channel, as well as turn on mono sound. In mono sound mode, the stereo signal is summed up, and you hear the full picture in each ear, which is critical if you use only one earphone or hear with only one ear.
It is also worth mentioning the function Visual alerts. When activated, the smartphone's camera flash begins to blink when there is an incoming call or notification. This allows you not to miss an important call, even if the phone is face down or is in a noisy environment. input