Android’s TalkBack: The One Time It’s Okay to Talk Back!

When I was a kid, I didn’t really care much about how I dressed. Come to think of it, I still don’t, but anyhoo…

One day, when I was around 11, I was ready to go to school in a particularly mismatched choice of clothes.

My mom, usually tolerant of my wardrobe choices, wasn’t having it. She told me to go change into something more appropriate.

Not happy with her command, I quipped back, “It’s called fashion, mom. You wouldn’t understand.”

She was not amused. In a threatening voice, she told me, “Don’t you dare talk to me like that, young man!” I knew I’d crossed the line.

Let’s just say that, over the years, I learned talking back to your mom (and others) usually isn’t a great idea.

Unless, of course, we’re talking about Android’s TalkBack feature. This is one situation where talking back is not only acceptable but downright useful!

What is TalkBack?

Simply put, TalkBack is an accessibility service that helps visually impaired users interact with their Android devices. Think of it as your phone’s way of talking back to you, guiding you through its interface with spoken feedback, vibrations, and other audible cues.

Essentially, it turns your smartphone into a chatterbox that helps you navigate apps, settings, and everything in between.

How is TalkBack Helpful?

TalkBack is like a personal assistant for your phone. It reads out loud whatever you touch or select on the screen, making it much easier for those with vision impairments to use their device independently.

Need to send a text, check an email, or browse the web? TalkBack has got your, well, back.

It even lets you know what’s under your finger as you swipe across the screen, ensuring you never miss a beat—or a button.

How to Set Up TalkBack

(Note: Tech companies love rearranging things. If the instructions below aren’t exact, the tech fairies have probably moved things around. Try searching for the setting on your device. If that doesn’t work, ask a trusted friend or family member for help, or do a quick web search for instructions using your device model and software version.)

Now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of setting up TalkBack. Here are three ways to turn on this handy feature:

Option 1: Use Device Settings

1. Open Settings on your device.
2. Tap Accessibility.

3. Tap TalkBack.

4. Click the button next to “Off” to turn TalkBack on.

Option 2: Use Accessibility Shortcuts

1. Open Settings on your device.
2. Tap Accessibility.
3. Tap TalkBack.
4. Tap TalkBack shortcut.
5. Turn on the TalkBack shortcut.
6. Follow the on-screen instructions to set up the shortcut preference for your device model.

Option 3: Use Google Assistant

1. If you have Google Assistant set up, say “Hey Google.”
2. Say “Turn on TalkBack” or “Turn off TalkBack.”

How to Use TalkBack

After setting up TalkBack, you can control your device with various gestures. Here’s a rundown of some basic gestures to get you started:

• To select an item: Touch it with one finger, then double-tap to activate.
• To scroll up or down: Place two fingers on the screen and drag up or down.
• To navigate with gesture navigation: Use two fingers for gestures like home, back, or recent apps.

Navigating with TalkBack

TalkBack comes with a built-in tutorial that kicks in the first time you turn it on. But if you want a refresher, here’s how to revisit the tutorial:

1. Open the TalkBack menu.
2. On devices with multi-finger gestures (updated Android R on Pixel 3 or higher and other OEM devices like Samsung Galaxy): Three-finger tap or single-finger swipe down then right.
3. On devices with single-finger gestures (prior to updated Android R with TalkBack 9.1): Swipe down then right.
4. Select TalkBack settings.
5. Select Tutorial and Help.
6. Select Tutorial.

Basic Gestures and Shortcuts

Here are some helpful TalkBack gestures:

• Move to the next item: Swipe right.
• Move to the previous item: Swipe left.
• Activate screen search: Swipe left, then swipe down.
• Scroll down: Swipe down with two fingers.
• Scroll up: Swipe up with two fingers.
• Start selection mode: Double press and hold with two fingers.
• End selection mode: Double press and hold with two fingers.
• Copy selected text: Double tap with two fingers.
• Paste selected text: Triple tap with three fingers.

Remember, one-finger gestures usually turn into two-finger or three-finger gestures in TalkBack 9.1 and newer. For example, scrolling with one finger becomes a two-finger scroll when TalkBack is activated.

Navigating Text

TalkBack allows you to navigate text within emails, messages, apps, and web pages. You can move line by line, letter by letter, or word by word. Here’s how:

1. Swipe down or up using one finger.
2. TalkBack will announce the available navigation elements.
3. Swipe right or left to choose your preferred navigation method.

For capturing word spellings, phone numbers, and email addresses, the letter-by-letter method is particularly useful.

So there you have it—everything you need to know about TalkBack, the one time talking back is not only allowed but encouraged!

Now go ahead and let your Android talk back to you, guiding you through the digital world with ease.