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Holy $#@#$ ! TalkBack feature activated !

Started Apr 28, 2021 | Discussions
Chris Wolfgram
Chris Wolfgram Veteran Member • Posts: 6,619
Holy $#@#$ ! TalkBack feature activated !
1

In case this ever happens to anyone here ! This was a HUGE PITA !

So my GF's phone randomly just completely freaked out ! The symptoms were, it started buzzing repeatedly, it was putting green boxes around everything you clicked on, it was using some weird digital voice, but like 10 X's normal speed, it would not reboot... Let's see, what else ? I totally thought it had some sort of virus, and after struggling with it for probably two hours, I went online (on my phone) and started researching.

Right away, I found several similar accounts, and they all said that the "TalkBack" feature had been activated ? Apparently this is some sort of accessibility thing for blind people... Like a tactile and sound thing ?

But here's the thing, it was about 4 layers deep in settings, and with each thing, I had to click once, to get a green box around the item, then double click to open it. Next, it would not scroll... So if a setting was not high enough on a page without scrolling, I had to use voice command... After the single click to put a green box around the mic, then a double click to activate it ! When I finally managed to get to the right place, sure enough, "TalkBack" was on. Clicked it once, to put the green box on it, then double clicked to slide the toggle to off !

Bam ! Fixed ! That was just rediculous. Honestly, it's not like my GF was carrying it in her pocket or purse, and accidentally just clicked a bunch of random things ? I think the phone just glitched and turned this feature on by itself.

In any case, if this ever happens to you, hopefully you will remember this post...

PS, her phone is a Pixel 3a XL, but it seems like this is not phone specific. Maybe just Android specific ?

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Edgar_in_Indy
Edgar_in_Indy Contributing Member • Posts: 616
Re: Holy $#@#$ ! TalkBack feature activated !
1

Thanks for the heads up. I wonder how the heck it got activated? A friend or family member messing with her?

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Chris Wolfgram
OP Chris Wolfgram Veteran Member • Posts: 6,619
Re: Holy $#@#$ ! TalkBack feature activated !
1

No. I’m 99% sure it was just a phone glitch, as she as just watching a video, and went to hit the back button, and Bam !

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Photos are my paintings. The camera is my brush.
Website
www.LightInEveryCorner.com
https://www.flickr.com/photos/161603079@N02/
DPreview gallery; http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/5075216809
No time or attention given for negativity or trolls.

 Chris Wolfgram's gear list:Chris Wolfgram's gear list
Canon EOS R7 Canon EF 16-35mm F2.8L II USM Canon EF 24-70mm F2.8L II USM Canon RF 600mm F11 IS STM Canon RF 800mm F11 IS STM +1 more
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