TalkBack is Samsung's built-in screen reader — turn it off in Settings under Accessibility

TalkBack is a screen reader that speaks aloud what appears on your Samsung device's screen. It's designed to help people who are blind or have low vision navigate their phone or tablet. If TalkBack is on and you didn't turn it on intentionally, or if you've finished using it, you can disable it in a few steps.

The fastest way to turn off TalkBack is through your device's Settings app, in the Accessibility section. On most Samsung phones and tablets, you can also use a keyboard shortcut if you have an external keyboard connected. If TalkBack is on, the screen will read your actions aloud, which can make navigation feel slower — but the steps are the same whether you're using TalkBack or not.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, then go to Accessibility, then Vision, then TalkBack to find the on/off toggle.
  • When you turn off TalkBack, your device will ask you to confirm the action by swiping down then right — this prevents accidental disabling.
  • If you have an external keyboard, you can press Ctrl + Alt + Z to toggle TalkBack on and off without opening Settings.
  • TalkBack settings are stored per user account on your device, so if multiple people use the phone, each person's TalkBack preference is separate.

Steps to disable TalkBack through Settings

Start by opening the Settings app on your Samsung device. You can do this by swiping down from the top of the screen twice to open the quick settings panel, then tapping the Settings icon (usually a gear), or by finding Settings in your app drawer.

Once Settings is open, scroll down and tap Accessibility. On some Samsung devices, this may be labeled as "Advanced features" or "Accessibility" depending on your Android version. Look for the word "Accessibility" — it's usually near the bottom of the Settings menu.

Inside Accessibility, look for Vision or Visual (the exact name varies by device). Tap it to open the vision-related accessibility options. You should see TalkBack listed here, usually near the top of the Vision section.

Tap the TalkBack toggle to turn it off. Your device will ask you to confirm by swiping down and then to the right across the screen. This confirmation step prevents you from accidentally turning off TalkBack. Once you complete the swipe gesture, TalkBack will stop speaking and will be disabled.

Using the keyboard shortcut if you have an external keyboard

If you have a Bluetooth keyboard or USB keyboard connected to your Samsung device, you can toggle TalkBack on and off without opening Settings. Press Ctrl + Alt + Z together on the keyboard. Your device will when ready turn TalkBack off (or on, if it's currently off).

This shortcut works on most Samsung phones and tablets running Android 6.0 and later. If the shortcut doesn't work on your device, it may not be supported on your particular model or Android version — in that case, use the Settings method instead.

What to do if you can't navigate Settings with TalkBack on

If TalkBack is on and you're having trouble finding the Settings app or the Accessibility menu, try using voice commands. On Samsung devices, you can say "Open Settings" or "Open Accessibility" to your device if Google Assistant or Samsung's voice assistant is enabled. This can be faster than swiping and tapping when TalkBack is speaking.

Alternatively, if you have an external keyboard connected, use the Ctrl + Alt + Z shortcut described above — this is often the quickest way to turn off TalkBack without having to navigate menus by touch.

Preventing TalkBack from turning on accidentally

TalkBack can turn on by accident if you press certain button combinations or if a child or another person enables it. To reduce accidental set up, you can lock your accessibility settings behind a PIN or password. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Accessibility menu, then look for an option to set a PIN or password for accessibility features.

You can also disable the volume key shortcut that can set up TalkBack. In the TalkBack settings menu (Settings > Accessibility > Vision > TalkBack), look for "Manage shortcuts" or "Shortcut settings" and turn off any shortcuts you don't use. This prevents TalkBack from turning on when you accidentally press volume keys in a certain pattern.

TalkBack settings for multiple users on one device

If your Samsung device has multiple user accounts, each account has its own TalkBack setting. This means one person can have TalkBack on while another person's account has it off. When you switch user accounts, the accessibility settings switch with you.

If you're the device owner and want to manage TalkBack for other users, go to Settings > Users and accounts, select the user account, and then access that account's Accessibility settings. You can enable or disable TalkBack for each account separately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Samsung keep turning TalkBack back on?

This usually happens if a volume key shortcut is enabled. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Vision > TalkBack > Manage shortcuts and turn off the volume key shortcut. You may also have accidentally enabled a gesture or voice command that activates TalkBack.

Can I uninstall TalkBack instead of just turning it off?

TalkBack is built into Samsung devices and cannot be uninstalled like a regular app. You can only turn it off through Settings. Turning it off completely disables it, so it won't run in the background or use battery power.

Does turning off TalkBack delete my accessibility settings?

No. Your TalkBack settings and other accessibility preferences are saved even when TalkBack is off. If you turn TalkBack back on later, your previous settings will still be there.

What if the confirmation swipe doesn't work when I try to turn off TalkBack?

Make sure you're swiping down first, then when ready swiping to the right in one continuous motion. If TalkBack is reading your actions aloud, listen for it to say "Confirm" or "Disable TalkBack" — that tells you the swipe was recognized. If it still doesn't work, try the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Alt + Z instead.