Accessibility for Google Docs, Sheets, Slides & Drawings

Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drawings are designed to work with screen readers, braille devices, screen magnification, and more.

You can use Android accessibility features with Docs editors, including the TalkBack screen reader, screen magnification, and more.

Use the TalkBack screen reader

If TalkBack isn't already turned on for your Android device, learn how to turn on TalkBack. After you turn on TalkBack, use the tips below.

Docs app

Find a document

1. Open the Docs app.
2. Explore the app to find the document you want to read or edit.
   • New document menu: Use this menu to create a blank document or use a template.
   • Navigation drawer: At the top left, you'll find the navigation drawer. Open to explore options such as Recent and Shared with me.
   • Search: Search for a document.
   • Open document: Open from Google Drive or from your device storage.
   • More options: Explore options such as Sort by, Add new, or Refresh.

Read a document

1. Open the Docs app.
2. Move focus to the document, then double-tap to select.
3. Swipe right to start reading the document.
4. Optional: Change the granularity of your navigation within the document.
   • To navigate by characters, words, or paragraphs, swipe up or down. Then swipe right to continue moving in your document.
   • To navigate by lines, go to More options and select Print layout. Move your focus back to the document text, then swipe up or down until you hear the option to navigate by line. Then swipe right to continue moving in your document.
5. To stop reading, tap the screen.

Edit a document

1. Open the Docs app.
2. Move focus to the document, then double-tap to select.
3. Move focus to the Edit button, then double-tap to activate.
4. Explore the app to use the following edit controls: 
   • Explore buttons and menus: Swipe right, left, up or down. 
   • Adjust the granularity or control the cursor: Move focus to the document text, then swipe up then right to open the local context menu.
   • Use the on-screen keyboard: Drag your finger over the keyboard, and lift your finger to enter a key.

Select and act on text

1. Go to More options, then Selection control.
2. From the menu, choose options such as Select, Select all, Copy, Cut, Paste, Comment, or Speak selection formatting. Options in the menu depend on what you've selected.

Turn off collaborator announcements

You can turn off the screen reader announcements about other people entering or leaving your document.

1. Go to More options.
2. Select Mute entries and exits.

Sheets app

Find a spreadsheet

1. Open the Sheets app.
2. Explore the app to find the spreadsheet you want to read or edit.
   • New spreadsheet menu: Use this menu to create a blank spreadsheet or use a template.
   • Navigation drawer: At the top left, you'll find the navigation drawer. Open to explore options such as Recent and Shared with me.
   • Search: Search for a spreadsheet.
   • Open spreadsheet: Open from Google Drive or from your device storage.
   • More options: Explore options such as Sort by, Add new, or Refresh.

Edit a spreadsheet

1. Open the Sheets app.
2. Move focus to the spreadsheet, then double-tap to select.
3. Move focus to a cell to read it, then double-tap to edit.

Select a cell or range

1. Open the Sheets app.
2. Move focus to the spreadsheet, then double-tap to select.
3. Go to More options, then Select cell or range. 
4. Double-tap to activate the edit field.
5. Enter a cell (C3) or a range separated by a colon (R4:R10) .
6. Select OK.

Change announcements

1. Open the Sheets app.
2. Move focus to the spreadsheet, then double-tap to select.
3. Go to More options, then Accessibility settings. 
4. To choose which properties are announced, turn on Read formatting properties. 
   • Optional: Turn on or off verbalization of text formatting, cell formatting, number formatting, and fonts.
5. To hear collaborator changes, turn on Read collaborator changes.

Change cell formatting

1. Open the Sheets app.
2. Move focus to the spreadsheet, then double-tap to select.
3. Move focus to the cell, then double-tap to select. 
4. Explore by touch to use the formatting buttons in the toolbar.

Slides app

Find a presentation

1. Open the Slides app.
2. Explore the app to find the presentation you want to read or edit.
   • New presentation menu: Use this menu to create a blank presentation or use a template.
   • Navigation drawer: At the top left, you'll find the navigation drawer. Open to explore options such as Recent and Shared with me.
   • Search: Search for a presentation.
   • Open presentation: Open from Google Drive or from your device storage.
   • More options: Explore options such as Sort by, Add new, or Refresh.

Read a presentation

1. Open the Slides app.
2. Move focus to the presentation, then double-tap to select.
3. Swipe right to start reading the presentation.
4. Use these tips to navigate:
   • Move focus: Swipe right or left.
   • Move to next or previous slide: Two-finger swipe left or right.
   • Zoom in or out: Two-finger pinch.
   • Pan the canvas: Drag two fingers across the screen.

Select, edit, and deselect shapes 

1. Open the Slides app.
2. Move focus to the presentation, then double-tap to select.
3. Move focus to the shape or group, then double-tap to select.
4. To edit the selected shape, double-tap again.
5. To deselect all shapes, move focus to the canvas, then double-tap.

Move a shape

1. Open the Slides app.
2. Move focus to the presentation, then double-tap to select.
3. Move focus to the shape.
4. Double-tap and hold until you hear "Drag to move shapes." 
5. Drag your finger to move the shape.

Rotate a shape

1. Open the Slides app.
2. Move focus to the presentation, then double-tap to select.
3. Move focus to the shape, then double-tap to select.
4. Swipe right until focus reaches the rotation handle.
5. Double-tap and hold until you hear "Drag to rotate shapes." 
6. Drag your finger to rotate the shape.

Turn off collaborator announcements

You can turn off the screen reader announcements about other people entering or leaving your presentation.

1. Go to More options.
2. Select Mute entries and exits.

Use keyboard shortcuts

If you use an attached keyboard with your device, you can use keyboard shortcuts with the Docs, Sheets, and Slides apps. For a list of Android shortcuts, refer to Docs shortcuts, Sheets shortcuts, and Slides shortcuts.

Use a braille display

In the Docs and Slides apps, you can use a braille display to read and enter text. Learn about braille support.