How to disable blind mode on Android Xiaomi

The situation when the smartphone screen begins to sound every touch, and the usual gestures stop working, often confuses users. On devices Xiaomi, Redmi i POCO this occurs due to accidental activation of a function TalkBackintended for people with visual impairments. Accidental activation can occur when cleaning the screen, in a pocket, or when carelessly pressing a key combination.

The main problem is that the control interface changes dramatically: a double tap is required to unlock, and a two-finger movement is required to move through the menu. Many users panic, thinking that the phone is broken or infected with a virus. In fact, this is a standard function Android, and it can be deactivated in several ways, even if the screen does not respond to normal touches.

In this article we will analyze all the current methods for disabling voice acting, from quick hot keys to deep system settings. You will learn how to change the logic of the sensor to regain control of the device in a matter of minutes without contacting a service center.

Emergency shutdown via key combination

The fastest way to regain control is to use the hardware volume buttons. In modern versions of the shell MIUI and HyperOS the default combination is configured to instantly mute the speech synthesizer. This method works even on a locked screen, which is critical if you can’t get to the settings menu.

You need to simultaneously hold down the volume up and down keys. Keep them pressed for about 3-5 seconds. The system should announce that TalkBack is disabled and voice guidance will stop. After this, the sensor will return to the standard operation logic: single press to highlight, again to action.

⚠️ Attention: If holding the volume buttons did not work, the kill switch may have been previously deactivated in the accessibility settings. In this case, proceed to the following methods.

Sometimes the system response may be delayed due to high processor load or low sensor response speed. If nothing happens the first time, release the buttons, wait a couple of seconds and repeat the procedure, holding the keys a little longer - up to 7-10 seconds.

Using the Google voice assistant

If the physical buttons do not help, you can try using software controls. Voice Assistant Google Assistant often remains available even when screen reader mode is enabled, since it operates at a higher system level. This method is effective if the device’s microphone is working and configured.

Activate the assistant with the phrase “Okay, Google” or by long pressing the power button (if this function is configured). As soon as the assistant responds, clearly say the command: “Turn off TalkBack” or “Turn off blind mode.” The system will recognize the request and execute the command by changing the corresponding parameter in the settings database.

It is worth considering that in TalkBack voice input mode may not work correctly due to input focus conflicts. If your assistant doesn't hear you the first time, try speaking louder and more clearly, pausing between words. You can also try the "Open accessibility settings" command to then manually change the switch.

Manually disabling through menu settings

When shortcuts are not available, you will have to navigate through the menu manually. Remember that the control logic has changed: to select an element, you need to click on it once (a green or blue frame will appear), and to activate it, quickly click twice anywhere on the screen. To scroll the list, use the gesture with two fingers at the same time.

The action algorithm is as follows: unlock the phone with a double tap, then double tap on the “Settings” icon. In the menu, find the “Advanced Settings” section or immediately “Accessibility Features”. Inside this section, locate the "TalkBack" or "Speech Synthesizer" item. Enter it by double-clicking.

In the window that opens, you will see a large switch at the top of the screen. Select it with a single tap, and then double-tap to turn it off. The system will ask you to confirm the action - select the "OK" or "Turn off" button, again using the "one click to select, two to confirm" scheme.

Action	Gesture in normal mode	Gesture in TalkBack mode
Select element	Single touch	Single touch (frame appears)
Element activation	Single touch	Double quick touch
Scrolling list	One finger	Two fingers at the same time
Opening notifications	Swipe from top to bottom	Swipe with two fingers from top to bottom

What to do if the menu hidden?

If you cannot find an item in the menu, try using the search inside the settings. Click on the magnifying glass at the top of the screen (once to highlight, twice to enter) and dictate or enter the name of the function.

Setting up gestures and preventing accidental activation

After successfully disabling a function, it is recommended to change the settings so that the situation does not recur in the future. Often the mode is turned on due to sensitivity to certain gestures or combinations. Go to menu Settings → Advanced settings → Accessibility → TalkBack.

Pay attention to the item "TalkBack Shortcut". If the "Hold volume buttons" option is activated there, it is this that caused the problem. You can disable this shortcut completely or change the hold time to a longer one to prevent accidental activation in your pocket.

Also check your gesture settings. In some versions MIUI it is possible to turn on the mode by drawing the letter "L" or other shapes on the switched off screen. Disabling these options will increase the stability of the device in everyday use scenarios.

⚠️ Attention: The settings interface may vary slightly depending on the version of Android (11, 12, 13, 14) and the HyperOS shell. If you do not find the exact name of the item, look for sections with a human silhouette icon or the inscription "Accessibility".

Using USB and ADB debugging

For advanced users who have access to a computer, there is a method to disable the service via the command line. This method requires preliminary setup, but it is reliable if the touch screen completely fails or does not work correctly. You will need a USB cable and the installed package ADB on your PC.

Connect your smartphone to your computer. If USB debugging was previously enabled, you can send a command to force the service to stop. Open a terminal or command prompt on your computer and enter the following code:

adb shell am disable --user 0 com.google.android.marvin.talkback

This command deactivates the TalkBack service package for the current user, effectively disabling the feature at the system level. To enable it back in the future, you will need to replace disable to enable in the same command. This method bypasses the graphical interface and works directly with system processes.

Resetting settings and extreme measures

If none of the software methods helped, there may have been a system failure or conflict a third-party application that simulates the operation of a screen reader. In this case, the option remains with a hard reset. Remember that this step will delete all user data, so only use it as a last resort.

Turn off your phone completely. Then hold down the combination of buttons to enter Recovery mode (usually this Volume Up + Power). In the recovery menu, movement is carried out using the volume buttons, and selection is made using the power button. Find the item Wipe Data/Factory Reset and confirm the action.

After rebooting, the phone will return to its factory state and all accessibility features will be disabled by default. This is guaranteed to solve the problem, but will require time to re-set up accounts and install applications.

⚠️ Attention: Before performing a reset, make sure you remember the password for your Google account. After the reset, the system may request it to confirm ownership of the device (FRP protection).

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Why did the phone turn on the mode for the blind?

Most often this happens due to an accident holding down the volume buttons for 3-5 seconds when the phone is in a case or pocket. The reason could also be a malfunction of the sensor or a system update that reset accessibility settings to default values.

Is it possible to completely remove TalkBack from Xiaomi?

It is impossible to completely remove the TalkBack system application without root access, since it is built into the Android kernel. However, you can disable it in the settings and disable the use of shortcuts, which will make its presence invisible to the user.

The screen flickers and jerks after turning off the mode, what should I do?

This may be a sign of a frozen rendering service. Try performing a force reboot by holding the Power button for 10-15 seconds. If the problem persists, check for system updates in the settings menu.

Does turning off Google Assistant without the Internet work?

Basic settings management commands can work offline if a language pack is downloaded to the device. However, to reliably execute the “Turn off TalkBack” command, it is better to have an active connection to the network so that the assistant correctly processes the request through cloud services.

Does TalkBack mode affect the speed of the phone?

Yes, the active operation of the speech synthesizer and constant monitoring of gestures consume additional processor resources and RAM. On older models Redmi or POCO this can significantly reduce performance in games and heavy applications.