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♿ FREE ACCESSIBILITY TOOL

The helpers hiding in your phone.

Phones come with free tools for people who find it hard to see, hear, speak, read or use their hands. Most people never find them. Tell us who it's for and what's hard, and we'll show you exactly where to tap, on that phone.

Find helpers for someone → Browse every helper
Already on the phoneNo sign-up, nothing to buySamsung, Pixel / Android and iPhone

01

Who is it for?

Optional. It changes the tips, not the list.

02

What's hard?

Pick everything that applies.

03

Which phone?

The steps are different on each, so we show the right ones.

Language they use most:
Not sure which phone it is?

Open Settings and scroll to the bottom. About phone with a line saying One UI means Samsung Galaxy. About phone without One UI means Pixel or another Android phone. General → About means iPhone. Most phones also say the brand on the back.

Why "hidden"

The help is already in people's pockets. Nobody showed them.

Most smartphones sold today can caption a conversation, read a page aloud, describe what the camera sees or be controlled by voice. These are some of the most useful things AI does for people, and they cost nothing. They sit three menus deep, so most people never find them.

1 in 10

people with disabilities used their phone's accessibility features in GSMA research in Kenya and Bangladesh. The reasons given: not knowing the features exist, and not knowing how to use them.

GSMA Mobile for Development, research presented in 2019
9 in 10

visually impaired smartphone owners in a study in Ghana didn't know about the features built into their phones.

Cited in a 2021 review of smartphone assistive technology
2.5 billion

people need at least one assistive product, like glasses, a hearing aid or a communication aid. Close to 1 billion of them can't get one.

WHO and UNICEF, Global Report on Assistive Technology, 2022

How it works

Three taps to the right helper. Then we walk you to it.

01Say what's hard

Small text, hearing conversations, speaking, shaky hands, a confusing phone, reading. Pick one or several.

02Get the helpers that fit

Only features already on that phone, or free apps from Google, Samsung or Apple. Each says honestly whether it works in Sinhala or Tamil.

03Follow the phone on screen

We redraw that phone's own Settings app and highlight every tap. Then send the steps on WhatsApp, or print a card to keep beside it.

For teams, schools and community groups

Teach a room, not just one phone.

We can run Hidden Helpers as a hands-on session. Everyone brings a phone and leaves having set up helpers for someone they care about. Along the way they learn how the AI inside each one works: speech recognition, image description, voice control.

Talk to us about a session Our accessibility work
  • HR teams making the workplace work for every colleague
  • Schools and teachers, including special-needs classrooms
  • NGOs, disability organisations and carers
  • Companies running a community or CSR day

Every helper, phone by phone

The full list, with the path to each.

Checked on 19 October 2026. Menu names can change after updates, so if a path doesn't match, search Settings for the helper's name.

Samsung Galaxy: 24 helpers, checked on One UI 8.5
  • Bigger text: Makes all the writing on the phone bigger, and bolder if you like.
    Settings › Display › Font size and style › Font size Show me
  • Large display (one tap): One tap makes text bigger and bolder, zooms the whole screen and outlines the buttons.
    Settings › Accessibility › Vision enhancements › Large display Show me
  • Bigger buttons and icons: Makes everything on the screen bigger, not just the text: buttons, icons and pictures too.
    Settings › Display › Screen zoom › Screen zoom Show me
  • Easy mode: Switches to a simpler home screen with bigger icons, bigger text and fewer things to get lost in.
    Settings › Display › Easy mode › Easy mode Show me
  • Magnification: Zoom in on any part of the screen, like holding a magnifying glass over it.
    Settings › Accessibility › Vision enhancements › Magnification › Magnification shortcut Show me
  • Magnifier: Turns the camera into a magnifying glass for small print: medicine boxes, bills, price tags.
    Settings › Accessibility › Vision enhancements › Magnifier › Magnifier shortcut Show me
  • Colour correction: Adjusts the screen's colours for colour blindness, so reds and greens (or blues and yellows) are easier to tell apart.
    Settings › Accessibility › Vision enhancements › Colour correction › Colour correction Show me
  • TalkBack screen reader: The phone reads out everything you touch, so it can be used without seeing the screen.
    Settings › Accessibility › TalkBack › TalkBack shortcut Show me
  • Select to Speak: Tap the little person button, then tap any words on the screen and the phone reads them out loud.
    Settings › Accessibility › Installed apps › Select to Speak › Select to Speak shortcut Show me
  • Live Transcribe: Turns what people say near the phone into words on the screen, as they speak. You can type back too.
    Settings › Accessibility › Hearing enhancements › Live Transcribe › Open Live Transcribe Show me
  • Live Caption: Puts automatic subtitles on videos, voice notes and podcasts playing on the phone, even without internet.
    Settings › Accessibility › Hearing enhancements › Live Caption › Use Live Caption Show me
  • Sound Notifications: Listens for the doorbell, a baby crying, a smoke alarm or running water, and alerts you with vibration and a message.
    Settings › Accessibility › Hearing enhancements › Sound Notifications › Open Sound Notifications Show me
  • Flash notification: Flashes the camera light or the screen when a call, message or alarm comes in.
    Settings › Accessibility › Hearing enhancements › Flash notification › Camera flash notification Show me
  • Adapt sound: Tunes calls and music to how someone hears: pick an age group, or take a short beep test with earphones.
    Settings › Accessibility › Hearing enhancements › Adapt sound › Adapt sound Show me
  • Amplify ambient sound: Uses the phone's microphone to make voices around you louder in your earphones.
    Settings › Accessibility › Hearing enhancements › Amplify ambient sound › Amplify ambient sound shortcut Show me
  • Mono audio: Plays the same sound in both ears, so nothing is missed by someone who hears better on one side.
    Settings › Accessibility › Hearing enhancements › Mono audio › Hearing enhancements Show me
  • Text call: Answer or make a phone call by typing. The phone speaks your words to the caller and shows what they say as text.
    Phone › Settings › Text call › Text call Show me
  • Assistant menu: Puts a floating button on the screen with big shortcuts for volume, Home, Back and screenshots, so no fiddly side buttons are needed.
    Settings › Accessibility › Interaction and dexterity › Assistant menu › Assistant menu Show me
  • Voice Access: Control the whole phone by speaking: say "open WhatsApp", "scroll down" or "tap 3".
    Settings › Accessibility › Interaction and dexterity › Voice Access › Voice Access Show me
  • Ignore repeated touches: For shaky hands: the phone ignores accidental double taps, so one tap counts as one.
    Settings › Accessibility › Interaction and dexterity › Ignore repeated touches › Ignore repeated touches Show me
  • Answer calls with a button: Answer calls with the Volume up button and hang up with the Side button, instead of swiping on the screen.
    Settings › Accessibility › Interaction and dexterity › Answering and ending calls › Press Volume up to answer calls Show me
  • Medical info: Stores allergies, medicines and other notes so ambulance staff can see them, even when the phone is locked.
    Settings › Safety and emergency › Medical info › Medical info Show me
  • Emergency SOS: Press the Side button quickly five times to call for help. It can also text your location to your emergency contacts.
    Settings › Safety and emergency › Emergency SOS › Emergency SOS Show me
  • Call captions: Shows what the other person says as text during a phone call.
    Phone › Settings › Call captions › Call captions Show me
Pixel or Android phone: 25 helpers, checked on Android 17
  • Bigger text: Makes all the writing on the phone bigger, up to twice the normal size, and bolder if you like.
    Settings › Accessibility › Display size & text › Font size Show me
  • Bigger buttons and icons: Makes everything on the screen bigger, not just the text: buttons, icons and pictures too.
    Settings › Accessibility › Display size & text › Display size Show me
  • Simple View: One switch makes a Pixel easier: bigger text and icons, a simpler home screen, and Back and Home buttons at the bottom.
    Settings › Accessibility › Simple View › Use Simple View Show me
  • Magnification: Zoom in on any part of the screen, up to 8 times, like holding a magnifying glass over it.
    Settings › Accessibility › Magnification › Magnification shortcut Show me
  • Magnifier: Turns the camera into a magnifying glass for small print, with zoom, a light, and a button to freeze the picture.
    Magnifier › Magnifier Show me
  • Color correction: Adjusts the screen's colours for colour blindness, or turns the screen grey.
    Settings › Accessibility › Color & motion › Color correction › Use color correction Show me
  • Outline text: Puts a solid black or white box behind text, so words stand out on any background.
    Settings › Accessibility › Display size & text › Display size & text Show me
  • TalkBack screen reader: The phone reads out everything on the screen, so it can be used without seeing it.
    Settings › Accessibility › TalkBack › TalkBack shortcut Show me
  • Sinhala and Tamil voices: Downloads a Sinhala or Tamil voice, so TalkBack, Select to Speak and other reading tools can speak those languages.
    Settings › Accessibility › Text-to-speech output › Text-to-speech output Show me
  • Select to Speak: Tap the little person button, then tap any words on the screen, and the phone reads them out loud.
    Settings › Accessibility › Select to Speak › Select to Speak shortcut Show me
  • Lookout: Point the camera and it reads text, documents and food labels aloud, and describes what's in front of it.
    Install Lookout - Assisted vision › Lookout › Lookout Show me
  • Gemini Live with camera: Talk to Google's AI out loud while showing it things through the camera. It says what it sees and answers questions.
    Gemini › Live Show me
  • Live Transcribe: Turns what people say near the phone into big words on the screen, as they speak. You can type back too.
    Settings › Accessibility › Live Transcribe › Open Live Transcribe Show me
  • Sound Notifications: Listens for smoke alarms, a baby crying, the doorbell, knocking or a dog barking, and alerts you with a buzz or flash.
    Settings › Accessibility › Sound Notifications › Open Sound Notifications Show me
  • Live Caption: Puts automatic subtitles on videos, voice notes, podcasts and calls on the phone, even without internet.
    Settings › Accessibility › Live Caption › Use Live Caption Show me
  • Type during calls: During a phone call you type, the phone speaks your words, and the other person's reply appears as captions.
    Settings › Accessibility › Live Caption › Type responses during calls Show me
  • Sound Amplifier: Turns the phone and earphones into a simple hearing booster: louder voices, less background noise.
    Settings › Accessibility › Sound Amplifier › Open Sound Amplifier Show me
  • Hearing aids: Pairs Bluetooth hearing aids, so calls, music and alerts go straight into them.
    Settings › Accessibility › Hearing devices › Pair new device Show me
  • Flash notifications: Flashes the camera light or the screen when a call, message or alarm comes in.
    Settings › Accessibility › Flash notifications › Camera flash Show me
  • Mono audio: Plays the same sound in both ears, or moves the sound towards the better ear.
    Settings › Accessibility › Audio adjustment › Mono audio Show me
  • Voice Access: Control the whole phone by talking: say "open WhatsApp", "scroll down" or "tap 3".
    Settings › Accessibility › Voice Access › Voice Access shortcut Show me
  • Accessibility Menu: A big-button menu on the screen for volume, brightness, lock, screenshots and more, so fewer tiny buttons and gestures are needed.
    Settings › Accessibility › Accessibility Menu › Accessibility Menu shortcut Show me
  • Slower touch and hold: For shaky or slow hands: the phone waits longer before a press counts as touch and hold, so menus don't pop up by mistake.
    Settings › Accessibility › Timing controls › Touch & hold delay › Touch & hold delay Show me
  • Medical information: Stores blood type, allergies and medicines so a paramedic or passer-by can see them from the locked screen.
    Settings › Safety & emergency › Medical information › Medical information Show me
  • Emergency SOS: Press the power button five times to call for help, share your location with chosen contacts and record video.
    Settings › Safety & emergency › Emergency SOS › Start setup Show me
iPhone: 23 helpers, checked on iOS 27
  • Larger Text: Makes the words in Settings, Messages, Mail and most apps bigger, well past the normal maximum.
    Settings › Accessibility › Display & Text Size › Larger Text › Larger Accessibility Sizes Show me
  • Show Borders and Reduce Transparency: Puts outlines around buttons and makes the see-through glass panels solid, so the new iPhone look is easier to see.
    Settings › Accessibility › Display & Text Size › Display & Text Size Show me
  • Zoom: Magnifies the whole screen, or a window over part of it, with a three-finger double-tap.
    Settings › Accessibility › Zoom › Zoom Show me
  • Magnifier: Turns the camera into a magnifying glass for menus, medicine labels and small print, with a light and a button to freeze the picture.
    Magnifier › Magnifier Show me
  • VoiceOver screen reader: The iPhone reads out everything on the screen, so it can be used without seeing it.
    Settings › Accessibility › Accessibility Shortcut › Accessibility Shortcut Show me
  • Accessibility Reader: Opens any article or document as clean, large, high-contrast text, and can read it aloud.
    Settings › Accessibility › Read & Speak › Accessibility Reader › Accessibility Reader Show me
  • Speak Screen: Swipe down with two fingers from the top of the screen and the iPhone reads the whole page aloud.
    Settings › Accessibility › Read & Speak › Speak Screen › Speak Screen Show me
  • Live Captions: Turns speech from calls, FaceTime, videos and people nearby into captions on the screen.
    Settings › Accessibility › Live Captions › Live Captions Show me
  • Sound Recognition: Listens for the doorbell, a baby crying, alarms, sirens or running water, and shows an alert.
    Settings › Accessibility › Sound & Name Recognition › Sound Recognition › Sound Recognition Show me
  • Flash for Alerts: Flashes the camera light, the screen, or both, when a call, message or alarm comes in.
    Settings › Accessibility › Audio & Visual › Flash for Alerts › Flash for Alerts Show me
  • Mono Audio: Plays the same sound in both ears, so nothing is missed by someone who hears better on one side.
    Settings › Accessibility › Audio & Visual › Audio & Visual Show me
  • Live Listen: Uses the iPhone as a microphone and sends the sound to AirPods or hearing aids, so a speaker across the room is easier to hear.
    Settings › Accessibility › Audio & Visual › Live Listen › Start Live Listen Show me
  • Live Speech: Type, and the iPhone speaks your words out loud, in person or during a phone or FaceTime call.
    Settings › Accessibility › Live Speech › Live Speech Show me
  • Personal Voice: For someone who may lose their voice: record phrases now, and the iPhone makes a voice that sounds like them for Live Speech.
    Settings › Accessibility › Personal Voice › Create a Personal Voice Show me
  • Vocal Shortcuts: Teach the iPhone a word or sound that can be said reliably, and it does an action: open an app, call someone, or start a shortcut.
    Settings › Accessibility › Vocal Shortcuts › Set Up Show me
  • Voice Control: Control the whole iPhone by speaking: "open WhatsApp", "scroll down", "tap Send".
    Settings › Accessibility › Voice Control › Set Up Voice Control Show me
  • AssistiveTouch: Puts a floating button on the screen for Home, volume, screenshots and locking, so the side buttons and hard gestures aren't needed.
    Settings › Accessibility › Touch › AssistiveTouch › AssistiveTouch Show me
  • Touch Accommodations: For shaky hands: the iPhone ignores repeated or accidental touches, and can wait longer before a touch counts.
    Settings › Accessibility › Touch › Touch Accommodations › Set Up Touch Accommodations Show me
  • Eye Tracking: Control the iPhone by looking: hold your gaze on a button to tap it.
    Settings › Accessibility › Eye Tracking › Eye Tracking Show me
  • Assistive Access: A much simpler iPhone: big buttons, only the apps you choose, and calls and messages made easy. Made for people with memory or learning difficulties, and older relatives.
    Settings › Accessibility › Assistive Access › Set Up Assistive Access Show me
  • Guided Access: Locks the iPhone into one app, like a video call or a game, so a child or relative can't wander off or press the wrong thing.
    Settings › Accessibility › Guided Access › Guided Access Show me
  • Medical ID: Lets paramedics and passers-by see allergies, medicines, blood type and emergency contacts without unlocking the iPhone.
    Health › Medical ID Show me
  • Emergency SOS: Hold the side button and a volume button, or press the side button five times, to call for help and text your location to emergency contacts.
    Settings › Emergency SOS › Call with 5 Button Presses Show me

Questions

Questions people ask

Yes. Every helper here is built into the phone, or is a free app from the phone's own maker. There is nothing to buy and no subscription, and none of them need a sign-up with us.
Start with three: bigger text, medical information for emergencies, and a simpler home screen (Easy mode on Samsung, Simple View on Pixel, Assistive Access on iPhone). If their hearing is going, add Live Transcribe, which turns speech into words on the screen. Sit side by side and let them do the tapping, so they know how to change it back.
Some do. Anything that changes how the screen looks or how alerts arrive (bigger text, magnification, flash alerts, hearing aids) works in any language. On Samsung and other Android phones, TalkBack and Select to Speak can speak Sinhala and Tamil once Google's Sinhala or Tamil voice is installed, and Live Transcribe should understand both with an internet connection. On iPhone, VoiceOver, Speak Screen and Live Speech have a Tamil voice but no Sinhala voice yet. Lookout and Gemini understand Tamil but not Sinhala. Live Caption, Live Captions, Voice Access and Voice Control don't support either yet, so they work in English. Pick a language in the finder and every helper shows where it stands.
Mostly, yes. Google's helpers (TalkBack, Live Transcribe, Sound Notifications, Select to Speak and Lookout) work on almost every Android phone, and any that are missing are free on the Play Store. The menus are arranged differently on those brands, so choose Pixel or Android phone, then use the search bar at the top of Settings to jump to each helper by name.
Yes. Samsung's Text call and Pixel's Type during calls let someone type during a phone call while the phone speaks for them, in English. The iPhone's Live Speech does the same, and can also speak Tamil. Live Transcribe has a keyboard for typing replies face to face. For someone who may lose their voice, the iPhone's Personal Voice can record a copy of it, in English for now.
No. Every helper can be turned off the same way it was turned on, and each walkthrough ends by saying how. The one to be careful with is the screen reader (TalkBack or VoiceOver), because it changes how every touch works. Our steps set up the volume-button shortcut first, so it can be switched off quickly.
Because most of these helpers are AI. Speech recognition turns voices into captions, image recognition reads labels and describes photos, and voice models read text aloud. Learning AI shouldn't only mean chatbots at work: for many people, this is the most useful AI they will ever use, and it's already in their pocket.

Hidden Helpers is free and independent. Samsung, Galaxy, One UI, Google, Pixel, Android, Apple and iPhone are trademarks of their owners; the screens here are simplified drawings to help you find your way, not screenshots. Spotted a menu that has changed? Tell us at ammar@mycocoon.life.