How to Enable and Use TalkBack or Voice Assistant on Samsung Galaxy Phones

Discover how to activate TalkBack or Voice Assistant on your Samsung Galaxy device for enhanced accessibility. Learn setup steps, shortcut methods, and troubleshooting tips for Galaxy S24, Galaxy Z Fold, and more.

TalkBack (or Voice Assistant on older models) is a built-in screen reader feature designed to help users with visual impairments navigate their Samsung Galaxy devices using spoken feedback. This guide explains how to enable, use, and disable the feature across different software versions.

1. What Is TalkBack or Voice Assistant?

TalkBack and Voice Assistant are screen reader features that provide spoken feedback to assist users with visual impairments. The functionality remains consistent across devices, but the name varies depending on the software version:

- On devices running One UI 3.1 or later, the feature is called TalkBack.

- On devices running earlier software versions, the feature is called Voice Assistant.

2. How to Enable TalkBack or Voice Assistant

Follow these steps to activate the screen reader feature on your Samsung Galaxy device:

1. Open the Settings app on your device.
2. Scroll down and tap Accessibility.
3. Select TalkBack (for One UI 3.1 and later) or Screen reader (for earlier versions).
4. Toggle the switch to enable the feature and follow the on-screen instructions.

3. How to Enable During Initial Setup

If you're setting up your device for the first time, you can enable the screen reader during the initial setup process:

1. On the first setup screen, tap Accessibility.
2. Select either TalkBack or Screen reader, depending on your device's software version.
3. Follow the prompts to enable the feature.

4. How to Disable TalkBack or Voice Assistant

You can turn off the screen reader using a shortcut or by navigating to the Accessibility menu:

- Using a Shortcut: Press and hold the Volume Up and Volume Down buttons simultaneously for at least 3 seconds. If prompted, tap Use to activate the shortcut.

- Manually in Settings: Open Settings, navigate to Accessibility, and toggle off the feature.

5. Supported Samsung Galaxy Devices

The TalkBack or Voice Assistant feature is available on most Samsung Galaxy devices, including:

- Galaxy S24, Galaxy S25, Galaxy S26 series

- Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy Z Flip series

- Galaxy A series devices

6. Additional Things to Check

If you encounter issues with TalkBack or Voice Assistant, consider the following:

- Ensure your device is running the latest software version.

- Check for any pending system updates that might improve accessibility features.

- Verify that the shortcut keys are properly configured if you're using the volume button method.

Related Samsung Support Topics

- How to Free Storage Space on Samsung Galaxy Devices

- How to Use Smart Switch on Samsung Galaxy Phones

- How to Clear Cache Files on Samsung Galaxy Devices