Learn about TalkBack settings

You can manage your TalkBack settings like feedback, speech rate, gestures, or braille keyboard.

Find your TalkBack version

Open the TalkBack menu.
- On devices with multi-finger gestures: Three-finger tap. Or, in one motion, swipe down then right.
- On devices without multi-finger gestures (prior to updated Android R with TalkBack 9.1): In one motion, swipe down then right.
Select TalkBack settings.
TalkBack version is shown either at the top or bottom of the screen.

Step 1: Open TalkBack settings

Open the TalkBack menu.
- On devices with multi-finger gestures: Three-finger tap. Or, in one motion, swipe down then right.
- On devices without multi-finger gestures (prior to updated Android R with TalkBack 9.1): In one motion, swipe down then right.
Select TalkBack settings.
Check or change any of the following settings.

Step 2: Check or change TalkBack settings

Settings on TalkBack 9.1 & up

When you update TalkBack, some features change from the previous versions. After your update, you’ll find these features listed on your device.

Important: Settings vary by device and TalkBack version. If your settings are different from the ones described below, refer to Settings in earlier TalkBack versions.

Audio

Setting	Description	Options
Text to speech settings	Choose your text-to-speech language, voice, speech rate, and pitch.	Learn more about text-to-speech settings.
Verbosity	Choose how much TalkBack says. To manage speech preferences, like keyboard echo or usage hints, set to Custom.	Custom, high, low
Speak passwords	Choose whether TalkBack speaks password characters without headphones.	On, off Learn more about how to Speak passwords.
Sound and vibration	Customize: Sound feedback Sound feedback volume Audio ducking Vibration feedback	On, off

Controls

Setting	Description	Options
Customize gestures	Change the function of TalkBack gestures.	Learn more about Talkback gestures.
Customize menus	Add or remove items from the TalkBack menu and reading controls.	Learn more about how to use the TalkBack menu and reading controls.
Braille keyboard	Open TalkBack braille keyboard settings.	Learn more about how to use the Talkback braille keyboard.
Cover proximity sensor to stop speech	If your device has a proximity sensor, you can silence TalkBack. Phones: Wave your finger on the proximity sensor. Tablets: Touch any application on the screen. Touch the screen again to restart TalkBack.	On, off
Tutorial and help	Open the TalkBack tutorial, practice gestures, and get help.	--

Advanced settings

Setting	Description	Options
Custom labels	Manage custom labels that you've created with the TalkBack menu, like import and export.	Import labels, export labels, revert imported, edit saved labels
Single-tap activation	To activate a focused item, tap it once instead of double-tapping.	On, off
Keyboard shortcuts	Change TalkBack keyboard shortcuts or settings.	Learn more about TalkBack keyboard shortcuts.
Developer settings	App developers can test and debug their app with TalkBack. These settings are useful to debug and troubleshoot. If you aren’t a developer, use them sparingly.	--

Settings in earlier TalkBack 8.2 & below

Automatically scroll lists: Scroll lists automatically when you use linear navigation.
- In Android Accessibility Suite 8.1 and up, this is the default setting.
Shake to start continuous reading: Have TalkBack read continuously when you shake your device.
Enhanced focus: Focus on the first focusable item when you move to a new screen. If you go to a screen that you previously visited, focus goes where you left off.
- In Android Accessibility Suite 8.1 and up, this is the default setting.
Hide screen when TalkBack is on: Lower your screen brightness when TalkBack is on.
In Android Accessibility Suite 8.1 and up, the “Dim screen” option is in the global context menu.
Hide screen shortcut: Dim your screen when you press both volume keys 3 times.
Speech volume: Set the TalkBack speech volume to be the same or less than your media volume.
Speak caller ID: Hear the identity of a caller before you answer.
TalkBack suspend and resume shortcut: Stop or resume TalkBack when you touch and hold the volume up and down keys.
Resume from suspend: Choose how TalkBack resumes after you stop it.

Get help

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