Use accessibility features on Wear OS

You can customise your Wear OS device with accessibility settings and apps.

Important: Features may vary by device capability and software version. Additional features may be available from your device manufacturer. Get device help here.

As you navigate your device, TalkBack gives you audio feedback so that you don't have to look at your screen when you use your watch.

Turn on TalkBack when you first set up your watch

Important: TalkBack setup is only available in English. After you finish turning it on, you can choose from other languages.

1. Press the Power button on the side of your watch to wake it up. 
2. Press two fingers onto your watch’s screen until you hear a sound. The sound means that TalkBack has been turned on.
   • If you don't hear a tone, your watch doesn't have a speaker or you have a different version of the watch. Learn more about audio feedback.
3. Follow the instructions to finish setup.

Turn on TalkBack after you set up your watch

Important: The following steps require sighted assistance.

1. Press the Power button on the side of your watch to wake it up.
2. Swipe down from the top of the screen.
3. Tap Settings  Accessibility  TalkBack.
4. Tap the toggle switch to turn Talkback on.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions and agree to any permissions.

After you turn on TalkBack, text-to-speech will take a moment to start up. You’ll know that TalkBack is turned on when you hear text-to-speech feedback.

If TalkBack is already on

If your watch highlights items on screen and speaks to you, TalkBack is on.

Important: The following steps require sighted assistance. Depending on your device, from your device’s app, you can turn off TalkBack.

Navigate your watch with TalkBack gestures

For all gestures, use a single motion, a steady speed and even finger pressure.

Action	Gesture
Scroll up or down	Two-finger swipe up or down
Scroll left or right	Two-finger swipe left or right
Next item	One-finger swipe right
Previous item	One-finger swipe left
Back	Two-finger swipe right
Turn volume up	One-finger swipe right then up
Turn volume down	One-finger swipe right then down
Turn the screen off	Place palm over screen

Customise your gestures

Important: The following steps require sighted assistance. Depending on your device, from your device’s app, you can turn off TalkBack.

1. Tap Settings  Accessibility  TalkBack.
2. Turn 'Talkback' on.
3. Tap TalkBack settings  Customise gestures.

Gestures that you can customise:

Action	Gesture
Scroll back	Swipe left then right
Scroll forwards	Swipe right then left
Home	Swipe up then left
Back	Swipe down then left
Back	Two-finger swipe right
Pause/Resume speech	Two-finger tap

Turn off TalkBack

Important: The following steps require sighted assistance. Depending on your device, from your device’s app, you can turn off TalkBack.

For devices with Wear 3 and up, press the physical button above the crown three times.

If the physical button doesn't work:

1. To wake up your watch, press the power button on the side.
2. Press the crown.
3. Use two fingers to scroll down through the list of apps.
4. Tap Settings  Accessibility  TalkBack.
   • When TalkBack is on, you must double-tap each item to select it.
   • When TalkBack is on, you must scroll with two fingers.
5. To turn off TalkBack, double-tap the toggle switch.

Colour correction and greyscale

Wear 3

Important: The following steps require sighted assistance.

For a wider range of vision preferences, colour correction and greyscale modes help optimise the display.

To enable colour correction modes or greyscale:

1. To wake up your watch, press the power button on the side.
2. From the top of the screen, swipe down.
3. Tap Settings  Accessibility  Colour correction.
4. Turn Use colour correction on.
5. Select your colour correction mode.

Mono audio

Wear 3

Important: The following steps require sighted assistance.

You can ensure the audio is balanced on both left and right earbuds or speakers. To enable mono audio: 

1. To wake up your watch, tap the screen.
2. From the top of the screen, swipe down.
3. Tap Settings  Sound  Mono audio.
4. Turn mono audio on.

Font size

Wear 3

Important: The following steps require sighted assistance.

To make your font size smaller or larger:

1. Press the Power button on the side of your watch to wake it up.
2. Swipe down from the top of the screen.
3. Tap Settings  Accessibility  Display settings  Font size.

Select your preferred font size: Small, normal (default), medium, large, larger, largest

Magnification

Important: The following steps require sighted assistance.

To zoom or magnify to see your Wear OS device’s screen better:

Wear 3

1. Press the Power button on the side of your watch to wake it up.
2. Swipe down from the top of the screen.
3. Tap Settings  Accessibility  Magnification.

Zoom in or out

1. Triple tap the screen.
2. Drag with two fingers to pan across the screen.

Zoom temporarily

1. Triple tap the screen and hold on the third tap. 
2. Drag your finger to pan across the screen.
3. Lift your finger to exit zoom.

Wear 2.x

1. If the screen is dim, tap it to wake up the watch.
2. Swipe down from the top of the screen.
3. Tap Settings.

• Tip: If you don't immediately see the settings icon, swipe left to find it.

4. Tap Accessibility.
5. Tap Magnification gestures to turn on or off.
6. Tap the tick to confirm.

Zoom in or out

1. Triple tap the screen.
2. Pinch to adjust the zoom.
3. Drag with two fingers to pan across the screen.

Zoom temporarily

1. Triple tap the screen and hold on the third tap.
2. Drag your finger to pan across the screen.
3. Lift your finger to exit zoom.

Learn more

There's more that you can do with your device after you set up TalkBack. Learn how to get started with TalkBack.