Android Accessibility Guide
This guide provides a practical overview of key accessibility features in Android. Some setting names and paths may vary by Android version and device manufacturer.
Access accessibility settings
- Open Settings: Go to Settings, then Accessibility. Some option names may vary by manufacturer and Android version.
- Accessibility shortcut: You can assign a shortcut to start an assistive feature quickly, such as pressing both volume keys or using the on-screen accessibility button.
- Review permissions: Grant accessibility features only the permissions they need for the intended use.
TalkBack screen reader
- Turn it on: Go to Settings, Accessibility, TalkBack, or use the accessibility shortcut if configured.
- Navigate: Swipe right or left to move between items and double-tap to activate the selected item.
- Read: Use touch exploration to hear items under your finger and use TalkBack menus and continuous reading options as needed.
Magnification and display adjustments
- Magnification: Enable magnification in Accessibility settings and use the configured gesture or shortcut to zoom in and out.
- Font and display size: Adjust text size and display size to suit your needs.
- Color and contrast: Use color correction, color inversion, or high-contrast text where available on the device.
Voice control with Voice Access
- Turn it on: Enable Voice Access in Accessibility settings.
- Navigate: Use commands such as open an app, back, home, scroll up, and scroll down.
- Interact: Voice Access can display numbers over actionable items so you can speak the number of the item you want.
Switches and alternative input
- Switch Access: Control the device using external switches or alternative buttons where supported.
- External keyboard: Test navigation with Tab, Shift+Tab, arrow keys, Enter, and Space as appropriate for the app.
- Key assistance: Features such as sticky keys or filtering repeated presses may be available depending on the device.
Accessibility testing tips
- Test screens with TalkBack without relying on sight as much as possible to verify labels and reading order.
- Confirm that all buttons, links, and form fields can be reached and activated.
- Test magnification and large text to make sure content does not disappear or overlap.
- Rotate the device and change orientation to confirm that content and functions remain available.