Use TalkBack keyboard shortcuts

You can use keyboard shortcuts to have TalkBack read, navigate your screen, or manage your settings.

Step 1: Set up your device & keyboard

To use keyboard shortcuts with TalkBack, connect an external keyboard to your Android device.

Learn how to connect through Bluetooth on your device.

Step 2: Use keyboard shortcuts

TalkBack offers 2 sets of keyboard shortcuts, called keymaps. Most devices use the default keymap, which includes more shortcuts. To switch keymaps, learn how to change keyboard shortcut settings.

Default keymap

Navigation

Navigate to the next item In continuous reading mode, this shortcut fast-forwards the text.	Alt + right arrow
Navigate to the previous item In continuous reading mode, this shortcut rewinds the text.	Alt + left arrow
Navigate to the item above	Alt + up arrow
Navigate to the item below	Alt + down arrow
Navigate to the first item	Alt + ctrl + left arrow
Navigate to the last item	Alt + ctrl + right arrow
Navigate to the next window	Alt + ctrl + down arrow
Navigate to the previous window In split screen view, this shortcut moves your focus between 2 open apps. Otherwise, it moves focus between the navigation bar, main screen, and status bar.	Alt + ctrl + up arrow
Navigate to the next word	Alt + shift + ctrl + right arrow
Navigate to the previous word	Alt + shift + ctrl + left arrow
Navigate to the next character	Alt + shift + right arrow
Navigate to the previous character	Alt + shift + left arrow
Click the focused element	Alt + enter
Touch and hold the focused element	Alt + shift + enter
Read from top	Alt + ctrl + enter
Read from next item	Alt + ctrl + shift + enter

Global actions

Back	Alt + ctrl + backspace Alt + delete
Home	Alt + ctrl + h
Recent apps	Alt + ctrl + r
Notifications	Alt + ctrl + n
Play or pause media	Alt + shift + space
Next reading control	Alt + shift + ctrl + down arrow
Previous reading control	Alt + shift + ctrl + up arrow
Move navigation focus forward or adjust reading control down	Alt + shift + down arrow
Move navigation focus backward or adjust reading control up	Alt + shift + up arrow
Search the screen	Alt + ctrl + /
Open TalkBack menu	Alt + space
Pause or resume TalkBack	Alt + ctrl + z
Open list of actions	Alt + ctrl + space
Show installed languages	Alt + ctrl + l

Text navigation

Move to the next word	Alt + shift + ctrl + right arrow
Move to the previous word	Alt + shift + ctrl + left arrow
Move to the next character	Alt + shift+ right arrow
Move to the previous character	Alt + shift+ left arrow

Chrome web page navigation

Use these shortcuts to move to the next or previous element on a page.

ARIA landmark	Next: Alt + d Previous: Alt + shift + d
Button	Next: Alt + b Previous: Alt + shift + b
Checkbox	Next: Alt + x Previous: Alt + shift + x
Combo box	Next: Alt + z Previous: Alt + shift + z
ctrl	Next: Alt + c Previous: Alt + shift + c
Editable field	Next: Alt + e Previous: Alt + shift + e
Focusable item	Next: Alt + f Previous: Alt + shift + f
Graphic	Next: Alt + g Previous: Alt + shift + g
Heading	Next: Alt + h Previous: Alt + shift + h
Heading level 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6	Next: Alt + [1-6] Previous: Alt + shift + [1-6]
Link	Next: Alt + l Previous: Alt + shift + l
List	Next: Alt + o Previous: Alt + shift + o
List item	Next: Alt + i Previous: Alt + shift + i
Table	Next: Alt + t Previous: Alt + shift + t

Tip: You can choose a key other than Alt for your shortcuts. To choose a different modifier key, open TalkBack settings. Then, select Advanced settings Keyboard shortcuts Choose modifier key.

Classic keymap

Navigation

Move to the next item	Alt + shift + right arrow
Move to the previous item	Alt + shift + left arrow
Move to the first item	Alt + shift + up arrow
Move to the last item	Alt + shift + down arrow
Click the focused element	Alt + shift + enter

Global actions

Back	Alt + shift + backspace
Home	Alt + shift + h
Recent apps	Alt + shift + r
Notifications	Alt + shift + n
Search the screen	Alt + shift + /
Next navigation setting	Alt + shift + =
Previous navigation setting	Alt + shift + -
Open TalkBack menu	Alt + shift + g
Stop TalkBack speech	Ctrl
Pause or resume TalkBack	Alt + shift + z

Change your keyboard shortcut settings

To switch between the default and classic keymaps:

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 Advanced settings Keyboard shortcuts.
Under “Keymap,” select Choose a keymap.
Choose a keymap:
- Classic keymap: Includes basic shortcuts.
- Default keymap: Includes more shortcuts, like shortcuts to navigate pages in Chrome.

Tip: You can reassign keyboard shortcuts. On the settings screen, select the shortcut. Then, follow the on-screen instructions.

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