Sudden voice announcement of each touch on the Redmi smartphone and a change in the standard control logic indicate accidental activation of the TalkBack function, and not a virus or technical malfunction of the device.
The main difficulty is the the fact that the usual touch screen control logic is completely changed. A single tap now only selects an element, and a double tap is required to activate it. Swiping causes text to be read rather than scrolled. That is why standard methods of disabling settings seem impossible if you do not know special combinations.
In this article we will analyze all possible methods of deactivating a service, from the simplest gestures to radical measures through a cloud service. You will learn to navigate the changed interface and will be able to return your phone to its usual responsiveness in a few minutes, regardless of the model of your device.
Control features when TalkBack is active
Before proceeding to disable it, it is critically important to understand the new logic of the sensor. The system Android blocks standard gestures to prevent accidental clicks by blind users. Now each of your actions must be conscious and consist of two stages: selection and confirmation.
To navigate the menu, you need to use two-finger swipes instead of one. A single swipe now switches focus between UI elements, highlighting them with a green or blue border. If you try to tap an icon once, the phone will simply say its name out loud, but will not open the application.
To actually launch a app or toggle a toggle switch, you must first highlight the desired item with a single touch, and then quickly tap the screen twice anywhere. This sequence Select → Double tap is the foundation of accessibility navigation. Without mastering this rule, you will not be able to get to the necessary settings.
⚠️ Attention: In TalkBack mode, the fingerprint scanner may not work correctly or require password confirmation, since the system prioritizes voice control.
Quick shutdown after hardware buttons
The fastest way to return the phone to normal mode is to use a physical key combination. The developers MIUI i HyperOS have provided an emergency exit for those who accidentally activated the function. This method works on most modern Redmi models, including the Note and Poco series.
You need to find the side volume buttons. Press the volume up key and the volume down key at the same time. Keep them pressed for about 3-5 seconds. If the function was enabled through this shortcut, the phone will prompt you to confirm the shutdown or turn it off immediately.
In some firmware versions, you may need to hold both volume buttons longer, up to 10 seconds. If you hear a beep or vibration and the audio stops, the procedure was successful. After this, the interface will return to standard one-finger control.
☑️ Checking shutdown using the buttons
If holding the buttons does not produce results, this function may have been disabled in the shortcut settings earlier, or a different combination is used on your model. In this case, you will have to switch to software methods of disabling through the menu.
Disconnection through the accessibility settings menu
If the hardware method did not work, you will have to navigate through the menu using TalkBack gestures. It requires patience but is the most reliable software solution. You need to get to the accessibility section, where the service switch is hidden.
First, unlock the device using the correct double-tap gesture to enter the PIN or pattern. Then find the Settings icon. Select it with one touch to hear the name, and activate it with a double tap. Next, scroll down the list with two fingers to the “Advanced Settings” or “Advanced Settings” item.
Inside this section, find the “Special Features” item. Enter it with a double tap. Here you will see a list of services, with TalkBack usually listed first. Highlight this item and double-click on it. A detailed menu will open, where there will be a large switch at the top of the screen.
| Interface element | One-finger action | Two-finger action |
|---|---|---|
| Application icon | Select and voiceover | List scrolling |
| Switch (toggle switch) | State highlighting | Changing state |
| Text field | Reading text | Opening the keyboard |
| Back button | Speaking the title | Return to the menu |
To turn off the service, highlight the toggle switch "Use TalkBack" and double-click tap. The system will ask you to confirm the action. In the window that appears, select the "Stop" or "Turn Off" button by highlighting it again and confirming by double-clicking. After this, the screen will blink and normal controls will be restored.
If you are confused in the menu, try making a cross gesture with two fingers (swipe crosswise across the screen). On some versions of MIUI, this pauses reading and makes navigation easier.
Using Google Voice Assistant
An alternative method that does not require complex menu navigation is to use voice commands. If Google Assistant is set up on your smartphone, you can try to give a command by voice, bypassing touch input.
Activate the assistant with the phrase “Okay, Google” or by long pressing the Home button (if it has one). Say the command clearly: “Turn off TalkBack” or “Turn off screen reading.” The system will recognize the request and redirect you directly to the desired settings menu or immediately deactivate the service.
This method is especially effective if the screen sensor responds with delays or if you are in an application where it is difficult to get to the settings. However, it requires that the microphone works correctly and the Internet connection is stable to process the voice request.
⚠️ Warning: Voice control may not work if TalkBack intercepts the microphone or if the interface language is different from the language of the voice command.
Remote control via Mi Cloud
In situations where touch input is completely inadequate or the screen damaged, you can use the cloud service Xiaomi Cloud. This method allows you to manage some phone settings remotely from a computer or other device.
Go to the official website i.mi.com from any browser and log in to your Mi account, which is used on a locked phone. Select your device from the list of connected gadgets. If Find My Device is active, you'll have access to a number of control tools.
Unfortunately, there's no direct TalkBack switch in the web interface, but you can use the Sound feature or send a message to indirectly affect the system's performance. A more effective option is to use the remote login feature if it has been previously enabled on the device.
What to do if Mi Cloud is not connected?
If you have not logged into your Xiaomi account on the device or have not enabled device search, this method will not work. In this case, all that remains is a combination of buttons or a complete reset.
It is also possible to use an application Mi Remote or third-party utilities to control the phone from a PC via USB debugging, but this requires preliminary setup, which is extremely difficult in TalkBack mode.
Radical method: Factory reset settings
If none of the soft methods helped, and the phone remains in voice mode, you will have to resort to a complete data reset (Hard Reset). This will delete all files, contacts and applications, but is guaranteed to return the system to its factory state without active specials. capabilities.
To enter Recovery mode, turn off the smartphone completely. Then hold down the Power button and Volume Up button at the same time. Hold them until the logo Redmi or the Recovery menu appears. In this menu, the sensor usually does not work, so navigation is done with the volume buttons (up/down), and selection is done with the power button.
Using the volume buttons, go down to Wipe Data or Factory Reset. Confirm your selection with the Power button. Next, select Wipe All Data and confirm the action. Once the process is complete, select Reboot to reboot. The phone will turn on like new.
⚠️ Attention: Before performing a reset, make sure that you remember the data from your Google account and Mi account, since after switching on you will need to enter them to check the owner's rights (FRP lock).
Hard Reset is a last resort. Use it only if other methods have been exhausted, since data recovery without a backup copy will be impossible.
Prevention of accidental activation
After successfully disabling the function, it is recommended to change the settings to prevent the situation from reoccurring. Most often, TalkBack is turned on due to the active shortcut on the volume buttons, which is easy to touch in a pocket or case.
Go to Settings → Advanced settings → Special. Features → TalkBack. Find "TalkBack Shortcut" and turn it off. Now holding the volume buttons will not activate voice acting. This is the most important action for interface security.
It's also worth checking other features in the accessibility section, such as Zoom or Invert Colors, and disabling their shortcuts if you don't use them. This will make control of the phone more predictable and protect against accidental changes to the system configuration.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why did the phone turn on TalkBack?
Most often this happens due to an accidental long press of both volume buttons. In the default settings, this combination is a hotkey for quickly enabling the accessibility feature.
Is it possible to disable TalkBack if the screen is broken?
If the sensor does not respond or does not work correctly, it is impossible to disable the function through the menu. In this case, only connecting a USB mouse via an OTG cable to control the cursor or a full reset using buttons will help.
Will my photos disappear after turning off TalkBack?
No, simply disabling the function through settings or buttons does not affect your personal data. Photos, contacts and applications will remain in place. Data is deleted only when performing a full reset (Hard Reset).
What to do if the phone asks for a password after a reset?
This is FRP (Factory Reset Protection) protection. You need to enter the login and password for the Google account that was synchronized with the phone before the reset. Without this data, you will not be able to activate the device.