Android accessibility overview

You can customise your Android device with accessibility settings and apps.

Content

Use a screen reader with TalkBack

To interact with your device with touch and spoken feedback, you can turn on the TalkBack screen reader. TalkBack describes your actions and tells you about alerts and notifications.

You can use the TalkBack braille keyboard to enter six-dot braille on your screen. TalkBack braille keyboard is available in Unified English Braille, Spanish and Arabic.

Change your display

• Display size and font size: To change the size of items on your screen, adjust the display size or font size.
• Magnification: To temporarily zoom or magnify your screen, use magnification.
• Contrast and colour options: To adjust contrast or colours, use high-contrast text, dark theme, colour inversion or colour correction.
• Select to Speak: If you want spoken feedback at certain times, you can turn on Select to Speak. Select items on your screen, or point your camera at something to hear it read or described aloud.

Interaction controls

• Lookout uses computer vision to give people who are visually impaired or have low vision information about their surroundings. 
• Voice Access lets you control your device with spoken commands. Use your voice to open apps, navigate and edit text. 
• Switch Access lets you interact with your Android device with one or more switches instead of the touchscreen. You can use a switch or keyboard to control your device. 
• Action Blocks let you use customisable buttons for routine actions on your Android home screen.
• Time to take action lets you choose how long to show messages that ask you to take action. 

Use a braille display

Important: BrailleBack is no longer required to connect to a braille display.

With the TalkBack braille keyboard, you can use six fingers on your screen to enter six-dot braille. TalkBack braille keyboard is available in Unified English Braille, Spanish and Arabic.

Use Pixel's Magnifier

Important:

• To use the Magnifier app, you can download it from the Google Play Store.
• The Magnifier app is only available on Pixel 5 and later phones.

Magnifier lets you use your phone to read fine text or get an up-close view of craft projects. With the Magnifier app, you can take photos and zoom in on distant objects.

You can use Magnifier to view things at a distance like street signs or view the stage at a concert or event. Learn more about Pixel's Magnifier.

Captions

You can choose caption preferences (language, text and style) for your device.

• Live Caption automatically captions speech on your device.
• Live Transcribe captures speech and sound, displaying them as text on your screen.
• Sound Notifications help you to know what is happening in your home, like when a smoke alarm beeps or a doorbell rings.
• Real-Time Text (RTT) lets you use text to communicate on phone calls.

Audio

• Sound Amplifier lets you use wired or Bluetooth headphones to filter, augment and amplify the sounds in your environment or on your Android device. 
• Hearing aid support lets you pair hearing aids with your Android device to hear more clearly.
• The 'Audio description' toggle on Android TV and Android phones plays audio descriptions of on-screen visuals for videos that you play on Android devices with Android 13 and above. You can find the 'Audio description' toggle in the Accessibility settings for your Android TV or Android phone. Audio description availability may vary by video and provider. 

Explore Android accessibility apps and services

• Download Android Accessibility Suite, which includes the Accessibility menu, Select to Speak, Switch Access and TalkBack. You can find Android Accessibility Suite on devices with Android 9 and higher.
• Review Android device settings for ways to customise your device. Open your device's Settings app, then choose Accessibility.
• Explore Google Play for accessibility apps and services for Android.

Design and develop more accessible apps

If you design or develop an app, Accessibility Scanner can help you identify opportunities to improve your app for users. You can also refer to Android accessibility developer resources.

Get help

For more help with Android accessibility, contact the Google Disability Support team.