TalkBack:

For Android devices running Android 9.1 and up. Last Updated August 18th, 2025.

TalkBack is an Android screen reader that speaks out what’s on the screen and is used to navigate the screen using gestures. You can keep TalkBack on all the time or only turn it on when it is needed. To change TalkBack settings go to the Setting app, then to the Accessibility section and then select TalkBack. TalkBack functions differently depending on the type of Android device you have and what version of Android it’s running.

Table of Contents:

  • TalkBack Audio Recordings.

  • Resources to Learn TalkBack.

  • Uses for TalkBack.

  • Turn TalkBack On or Off.

  • TalkBack Tutorial.

  • Practice Mode.

  • TalkBack Gestures.

  • TalkBack Navigation Gestures.

  • Additional Gestures.

  • Unlock a Device with TalkBack.

  • Speech Gestures.

  • Edit Text Gestures.

TalkBack Audio Recordings:

Resources to Learn TalkBack:

Uses for TalkBack:

  • Unlock an Android phone or an Android tablet.

  • Navigate the Android phone or Android tablet.

  • Listen to the text on screen.

Turn TalkBack On or Off:

  • Ask a voice assistant.

  • Tap the TalkBack button on the Accessibility Button menu.

  • Press and hold both volume buttons for a few seconds.

TalkBack Tutorial:

The TalkBack Tutorial is automatically started the first time you use TalkBack. It can also be accessed in TalkBack settings.

TalkBack Practice Mode:

The Practice Mode can be used to practice gestures on a blank screen. The gestures used will be announced. Practice Mode can be accessed in TalkBack settings under Customize Gestures.

TalkBack Gestures:

A TalkBack gesture is a way to do something on the screen by tapping, swiping, or dragging while using one or more fingers.

  • Swiping means sliding one or more fingers over the screen and then lifting at the end of the gesture in a flicking motion.

  • Dragging means sliding one or more fingers over the screen for the whole gesture.

  • Single Tap means touching the screen one time with one or more fingers.

  • Double Tap means touching the screen two times in a row with one or more fingers.

  • Triple Tap means touching the screen three times in a row with one or more fingers.

  • Quadruple Tap means touching the screen four times in a row with one or more fingers.

TalkBack Navigation Gestures:

  • Move on the screen gesture. Swipe left or right with one finger. You can also drag one finger on the screen.

  • Select something gesture. Tap something once to select it. Quickly tap twice anywhere on the screen to activate something. Double tapping can be changed to a single tap under Advanced Settings in TalkBack Settings but must be tapped on the select item.

  • Swiping gesture. Drag with two fingers in the direction wanted. The fingertips can be facing up or to either side.

  • Go back or dismiss something gesture. Drag down and then left with one finger.

  • Go back to the home screen gesture. Drag up and then left with one finger.

  • Recent apps gesture. Drag left and then up with one finger.

  • Long press the focused item gesture. One finger double tap and hold.

  • Move up the slider gesture. One finger up, or right then left.

  • Move down the slider gesture. One finger down, or left then right.

  • Show quick settings gesture. While a notification is open, two finger swipe down.

  • Open notifications menu gesture. Drag right and then down with one finger. Or, from the top of the screen, two finger swipe down.

  • Dismiss notifications gesture. One finger down then left.

  • Open the app section gesture. In the Home screen, two finger swipe up.

  • Move to the next reading control gesture. One finger up then down or three finger swipe down.

  • Move to the previous reading control gesture. One finger down then up or three finger swipe up.

  • Change the value for an item selected in reading control gesture. One finger up or down.

  • Jump to the next item gesture. One finger down.

  • Jump to the previous item gesture. One finger up.

  • Read from next gesture. Two finger triple tap.

  • Activate screen search gesture. One finger left then down. 

  • Magnification settings gesture. One finger triple tap.

Additional TalkBack Gestures:

  • TalkBack Menu gesture. Drag down and then right with one finger or three finger tap.

  • Start voice command gesture. Drag right and then left with one finger.

  • Answer or hang up a call gesture. Two finger double tap.

  • Practice gestures gesture. Four finger tap.

  • TalkBack help gesture. Four finger double tap.

  • Show or hide the Accessibility menu, if you’ve turned it on gesture. When Gesture navigation is on, two finger swipe up from the bottom or three finger swipe up from bottom.

  • Pass-through gesture. When you use the pass-through gesture, the system interprets the next gesture like TalkBack is off. For example, if you single-finger swipe from the top of the screen, you get the notification shade. Four finger double tap and hold.

Unlock a Device with TalkBack:

  • Step One. Turn on the device.

  • Step Two. Swipe up with two fingers from the bottom middle of the screen.

  • Step Three. Listen for TalkBack to say “edit box”. 

  • Step Four. Drag one finger on the screen until you hear the first number of your pin or password.

  • Step Five. Raise your finger off of the screen to enter that number or letter.

  • Step Six. Repeat steps four and five for the rest of the pin or password.

  • Step Seven. Navigate to the ok button or the done then raise your finger off the screen.

  • If you need to check how many numbers you have entered, navigate to the edit box and listen for TalkBack to say what has been entered.

  • If you need to delete one or more numbers, navigate to the delete button located near the bottom of the screen.

TalkBack Speech Gestures:

  • Pause or resume speech gesture. Two finger single tap.

  • Start or stop media gesture. Two finger double tap.

TalkBack Edit Text Gestures:

  • Start or end selection mode gesture. Two finger double tap and hold.

  • Copy selected text gesture. Three finger double tap.

  • Cut, while in selection mode gesture. Three finger double tap and hold.

  • Paste gesture. Three finger triple tap.