Stadia accessibility options

You can adjust the accessibility settings to customize your Stadia experience.

Accessibility options on your phone or computer

The Stadia app is compatible with some accessibility features on your Android phone, iPhone or computer. To use a feature within the Stadia app, first enable it in your device’s accessibility settings. To access Stadia on your computer, you will need the Chrome browser, which also lets you use Chrome’s accessibility extensions.

You can use your device’s screen reader to do the following: 

At this time, you can’t use the screen reader for gameplay or for social features like chatting with other players. However, we are looking to add additional functionality in the future. 

Each game has its own accessibility features. To find out which accessibility features your game has, check the game’s detail page in the Stadia store. 

Stadia’s Chromecast screen reader

Stadia’s Chromecast screen reader works on the Stadia Chromecast app. 

Turn the screen reader on or off from your Stadia controller or from the Stadia menu on your TV. 

  • Stadia controller shortcut: On your controller, hold down the Options Stadia options button  and Menu Stadia menu button  buttons for 5 seconds. Stadia will tell you when the screen reader is switched on or off. 

    Menu and option buttons, highlighted on the Stadia Controller

    The Options and Menu buttons are the small, oval buttons at the top of the controller.

    The controller shortcut will work only when your controller is connected to Stadia on TV, and you are not in gameplay mode. 

  • Stadia menu: Tap the Stadia button on your controller to open the Stadia menu. At the top right of the panel, select Audio and then scroll to the bottom of the screen and turn on Stadia Chromecast screen reader.

Once you turn on the screen reader, it will stay on until you turn it off, as long as you continue to use the same Chromecast. 

You can use the Stadia Chromecast screen reader to do the following:

  • Start and exit a game
  • Read Stadia pop-up system notifications 

At this time, you can’t yet use the screen reader to read other notifications or the Stadia menu. However, we are looking to add additional features to the screen reader in the future. 

Each game has its own accessibility features. To find out which features your game has, check the game’s detail page in the Stadia store. 

Important: The screen reader works only within the Stadia app. It does not work with the Chromecast backdrop screen. We do not have screen reader support to read the linking code that is on the backdrop screen and that would enable you to connect your controller to the Chromecast. If you need help reading the linking code, you can contact a Google Disability Support Specialist through the Be My Eyes app. 

The linking code is a sequence of 4 controller buttons to press. You’ll use the same code every time you link your controller to your Chromecast, so you might want to record the sequence.  

Game accessibility options

Each game in the Stadia store has its own accessibility options that you can use while playing. 

To find out which accessibility features a game has, open the game in the Stadia store and scroll down to Details. 

Possible game accessibility features:

  • Adjustable game interface: Ability to resize elements of the game interface, such as menus or HUDs
  • Alternative communication options: Provides ability to communicate with other players without using text or voice, using methods such as a ping system 
  • Brightness/contrast/gamma adjustment: Ability to adjust display intensity, the ratio of light to dark, and image brightness
  • Button remapping: Ability to customize the buttons on your controller and keyboard 
  • Captions for sound: Ability to see text captions on your screen for dialogue and other sounds
  • Caption size control: Ability to adjust the text size of all in-game captions
  • Dialogue subtitle size control: Ability to adjust the text size of in-game dialogue subtitles
  • Color blind support: Ability to adjust settings to accommodate color vision impairment
  • Co-pilot mode: Allows using two controllers to play as a single player
  • Difficulty levels: Ability to play an easier or harder version of the game
  • Motion sickness options: Ability to adjust settings that may cause motion sickness, such as motion blur, camera shake and weapon bob
  • Separate volume controls: Ability to adjust the volume of music, sound effects, and dialogues independently of each other
  • Skip challenges: Ability to skip puzzles, decisions, and/or other challenges that may prevent game progress
  • Skip repeated button presses: Allows alternatives to repeated button presses in order to progress through the game
  • Subtitles for dialogue: Ability to see on-screen text for dialogue
  • Subtitle speed controls: Ability to customize speed for subtitles and read subtitles at your own pace
  • Training mode: Includes a mode to practice your in-game skills with no negative consequences

Other Stadia devices

All Made by Google Stadia devices offer the same accessibility options. You can also use Stadia with other controllers that offer accessibility options, like the Xbox Adaptive Controller.

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