TalkBack
TalkBack is a free screen reader for Android devices and uses touch gestures.
Install
The Android Accessibility Suite can be found on the Google Play Store.
How to find your version
- Open settings
- Tap "accessibility"
- Tap "TalkBack"
- Tap "Settings"
- Scroll to the bottom, and the current TalkBack version will be listed
Guides, Documentation, and resources
Modes
TalkBack does not have the same concept of modes that many other screen readers have.
Commands
The following are some common commands.
Common
Task | Command | Notes |
---|
Read next item | Swipe right (or alt+right arrow) | |
Select next option | Swipe right | |
Select previous option | Swipe left | |
Next reading control | swipe down, then up | This command changes the type of control is found with the swipe up or swipe down gestures. You can customize the controls found in this menu by going to customize menus > customize reading controls. |
Next reading control | swipe up, then down | This command changes the type of control is found with the swipe up or swipe down gestures. You can customize the controls found in this menu by going to customize menus > customize reading controls. |
Read previous item | Swipe left (or alt+left arrow) | |
General
Task | Command | Notes |
---|
Activate button | double tap (or alt+enter) | |
Activate link | double tap | |
Go back | Swipe down, then left (or alt+del) | |
Go to home screen | Swipe up, then left (or alt+ctrl+h) | |
Show talkback menu | Swipe up then right (or alt+space) | Available as of Talkback 9.1 |
Next reading control | swipe down, then up | This command changes the type of control is found with the swipe up or swipe down gestures. You can customize the controls found in this menu by going to customize menus > customize reading controls. |
Next reading control | swipe up, then down | This command changes the type of control is found with the swipe up or swipe down gestures. You can customize the controls found in this menu by going to customize menus > customize reading controls. |
Next landmark | swipe down after changing the reading control to 'landmarks' (alt+D) | this reading control is not in the reading controls menu by default. You can enable it by going to customize menus > customize reading controls. |
Turn Off | In settings (no shortcut) | |
Turn On | Power button, then hold two fingers | when setting is enabled |
Reading
Task | Command |
---|
Read from current position | swipe up then right, select 'read from next item' |
Read next item | Swipe right (or alt+right arrow) |
Read previous item | Swipe left (or alt+left arrow) |
Stop reading | Single tap |
scroll back | Swipe left then right |
scroll forward | Swipe right then left |
next heading (correct reading control must be selected) | Swipe down (alt+H) |
previous heading (correct reading control must be selected) | Swipe up |
next link (correct reading control must be selected) | Swipe down (alt+L) |
previous link (correct reading control must be selected) | Swipe up (alt+shift+L) |
next control (correct reading control must be selected) | Swipe down (alt+c) |
previous control (correct reading control must be selected) | Swipe up (alt+shift+c) |
Forms
Task | Command | Notes |
---|
Activate button | double tap (or alt+enter) | |
Activate form control | double tap | |
select an option | Double tap | must be in a listbox context, and this is native browser behavior. |
enter text | <enter text> | must be in a form or application context, and this is native browser behavior. |
increment value (must be on a role that supports the command) | volume up button | |
decrement value (must be on a role that supports the command) | volume down button | |
Elements
Task | Command | Notes |
---|
Next reading control | swipe down, then up | This command changes the type of control is found with the swipe up or swipe down gestures. You can customize the controls found in this menu by going to customize menus > customize reading controls. |
Next reading control | swipe up, then down | This command changes the type of control is found with the swipe up or swipe down gestures. You can customize the controls found in this menu by going to customize menus > customize reading controls. |
Next landmark | swipe down after changing the reading control to 'landmarks' (alt+D) | this reading control is not in the reading controls menu by default. You can enable it by going to customize menus > customize reading controls. |