How to Test Accessibility with Android TalkBack
Get Started
Testing mobile accessibility is an essential step in reviewing your content. TalkBack is a screen reader built into Android devices that reads aloud page content and relevant semantic info. Use the following guidance to get started testing with TalkBack, and to get a more comprehensive picture of accessibility.
Turn on TalkBack
Go to Settings > Accessibility > TalkBack > Use Service
There is a toggle to turn TalkBack on/off at the top of the TalkBack menu. When you turn TalkBack on the gestures that you use to navigate your phone will change.
Read more about options for turning on/off TalkBack, including how to setup shortcuts to access
Orient to TalkBack
Change How Fast TalkBack Talks
Go to Settings > Accessibility > TalkBack> Settings > Text-to-Speech Settings > Speech rate
Choosing a slower speaking rate can help with comprehension as you listen during testing.
Try TalkBack Practice
Android phones have a tutorial mode where you can practice using the different gestures needed to use TalkBack.
Turn on TalkBack. Then Go to Settings > Accessibility > TalkBack> Settings > Tutorial and help
Follow the instruction provided in the practice mode.
Basic Testing Gestures
- Use swipe gestures to move forward or backward through all page elements.
- Screen reader should announce each element and relevant text on the page.
- Double tap to activate links or buttons
LEFT
to move backward
RIGHT
to move forward
Track Issues Found
Download the template
Accessibility Issues Tracker Template
The Accessibility Issues Tracker spreadsheet is a framework for capturing accessibility issues on a website and providing the information needed to remediate them. Start by recording results from Siteimprove or other automated tools in this spreadsheet. Then, as you manually test your site with the keyboard, screen reader, and content review, add any issues to the sheet. Collecting all issues in one place may help identify patterns based on sorting by different columns. Additionally, each row in the spreadsheet (representing an issue) could be entered into a bug tracking system.
Use the Menu to Test Specific Elements
Open the Reading Menu
- Turn on Talkback
- Navigate to your preferred browser (Chrome/Firefox/etc).
- Swipe down and then back up without lifting your finger (like drawing a lowercase "l") to open the reading menu.
- The element option currently selected will be read aloud and displayed on screen.
- To select a different option (headings, paragraphs, controls, links), swipe down and then up without lifting your finger.
Set Menu Options
Go to Settings > Accessibility > TalkBack> Settings > Customize Menus
Select “Customize Reading Controls" to show a list of elements that may be included in the menu. Make sure the elements you plan to test are all selected. We recommend selecting: “Headings”, “Links”, “Landmarks” and “Controls”.
Gestures to Navigate by Element
- Use swipe gestures to move forward or backward through your chosen page element.
- The screen reader should announce each element and relevant text on the page.
- Double tap to activate links or buttons
UP
move to previous instance
DOWN
move to next instance
Now, Let's Test!
- Choose the element type.
-
Use up or down swipe gestures to move forward and backward through that particular element type.
-
Double tap to activate links or buttons
The screen reader should announce all the elements of the selected type present on the page and their relevant text.