5 Accessibility Features For Android Worth Knowing About In 2024
In an effort to be inclusive and make it easier for people with disabilities to use Android phones, Google has introduced a slew of accessibility features to the OS. There’s the classic TalkBack, which is essentially a screen reader that dictates the texts found on screen. You also have the magnification for zooming in on certain parts of the display, as well as the font and display size adjustments for enlarging or shrinking your text and app icons.
However, these aren’t the only accessibility features you can find in Android devices nowadays.Android has changed over the years, especially on the accessibility front, and now includes a wide range of functionalities that make navigating and controlling your mobile phone more convenient than ever. If you haven’t opened your Accessibility Suite in a while, we’ll introduce you to five Android accessibility features you should know about to make the most out of your phone.
Flash notifications
No matter how loud your phone rings or beeps, you’re still bound to miss a notification, especially when you’re in a particularly noisy location like a train station or busy restaurant. This, however, isn’t an issue with iOS devices, as they have long had an LED flash to visually alert users of any app notification.
Modern Android phones, on the other hand, aren’t as consistent in offering the feature. Some leading manufacturers integrate flash notifications in custom interfaces, while in most other Android phones, you’d have to install third-party apps likeFlash AlertandFlash Notification On Call.
Fortunately, since therelease of Android 14in October 2023, you no longer have to wait for your manufacturer to include built-in flash notifications, or turn to apps to enjoy that feature. If your device supports Android 14, you’ll likely get flash notifications right in your accessibility settings. Here’s how to turn it on for most Android phones:
Voice Access
While Google Assistant can help you with basic tasks like creating a new email in Gmail or opening Facebook, its control over your device is pretty limited. you may’t use it to interact with all the options in the currently opened app, so you won’t really get a fully hands-free experience. Some apps also don’t support the Assistant, and won’t even open with a voice command.
That’s where Voice Access comes into the picture. With just your voice, Voice Access allows you to scroll up or down the page, navigate to different screens, and even lock your device. This makes it one of the bestAndroid featuresfor those with mobility issues or who otherwise have their hands busy with other tasks. Here’s a step-by-step on how to use Voice Access:
From there, you’re able to start controlling your device. You can see all applicable commands in the Voice Access app, or theGoogle Support page.
Camera Switch
If Voice Access isn’t suitable for your situation, Android comes with another accessibility feature for controlling your device: Camera Switch. This uses your front camera to detect certain facial gestures, such as looking left or right, raising the eyebrows, and opening the mouth. Depending on your gesture, you can then navigate your device, select buttons on the screen, and even type messages. To get Camera Switches started:
You already know you may adjust your Android device’s brightness to whichever level you prefer. However sometimes, the lowest brightness can still be too uncomfortable for your liking. Even if you enable Dark Mode, it can be too bright to your eyes, or disrupting for others. That’s the last thing you want when you’re using your phone in dark settings like in your room at bedtime, or on a long-haul flight at night.
In such cases, the Extra dim feature can come in handy.Introduced in Android 12, this accessibility functionality decreases your screen’s brightness to an even lower level to help you get your preferred soft and mellow glow. Follow these steps to activate this feature:
Sound Notifications
It’s easy to miss the beeps of the washing machine, the barking of your dog, or the buzz of your doorbell when you’re too engrossed in what you’re doing or have your headphones on. Although it’s okay not to attend to those things right away, some sounds like the water running or the smoke alarm blaring require your urgent response. If you miss such important sounds more often than you’d like, you’ll be glad to know that Android can help you stay aware of them.
The Sound Notifications feature is designed to keep an ear out for the different sounds in your home. As soon as it detects these noises, it sends an alert to your phone. To activate Sound Notifications on your device:
Now, every time your phone hears one of the sounds you’ve specified, you’ll get a notification. To temporarily disable Sound Notifications, press Pause in the notification panel.
