VoiceOver for iOS
VoiceOver on iOS is touch based and comes bundled with iOS.
Install
VoiceOver is built in to iOS and you can enable it from your Settings app.
How to find your version
- Open the Settings app
- Search for "About"
- Click the "About" result
- Use the "Software Version" number that is listed
Guides, Documentation, and resources
Modes
VoiceOver does not have the same concept of modes that many other screen readers have.
Commands
The following are some common commands.
Common
| Task | Command |
|---|---|
| Next item | Swipe Right |
| Previous item (as set by the rotor) | Swipe up |
| Next item (as set by the rotor) | Swipe down |
| Previous item | Swipe Left |
General
| Task | Command |
|---|---|
| Activate Button | Double tap |
| Activate Link | Double tap |
| Double tap the current item | triple tap |
| Activate Form Control | two-finger + twist |
| Turn Off | Triple press home (if setting is enabled) |
| Turn On | Triple press home (if setting is enabled) |
Reading
| Task | Command |
|---|---|
| Read additional information about the current position | three-finger tap |
| Dismisses an alert or returns to the previous screen. | Two-finger scrub (move two fingers back and forth three times quickly, making a “z”) |
| Next item | Swipe Right |
| Previous item (as set by the rotor) | Swipe up |
| Next item (as set by the rotor) | Swipe down |
| Pause or stop reading | two-finger tap |
| Previous item | Swipe Left |
| Read all from the top of the screen | two-finger + swipe up |
| Start reading from current position | two-finger + swipe down |
| next container (correct item type must be selected) | Swipe down |
| previous container (correct item type must be selected) | Swipe up |
| next heading (correct item type must be selected) | Swipe down |
| previous heading (correct item type must be selected) | Swipe up |
| select and speak an item | Tap or touch the item |
| next landmark (correct item type must be selected) | Swipe down |
| previous landmark (correct item type must be selected) | Swipe up |
| next link (correct item type must be selected) | Swipe down |
| previous link (correct item type must be selected) | Swipe up |
| next table (correct item type must be selected) | Swipe down |
| previous table (correct item type must be selected) | Swipe up |
| next list (correct item type must be selected) | Swipe down |
| previous list (correct item type must be selected) | Swipe up |
| next button (correct item type must be selected) | Swipe down |
| previous button (correct item type must be selected) | Swipe up |
| next form control (correct item type must be selected) | Swipe down |
| previous form control (correct item type must be selected) | Swipe up |
| next text field (correct item type must be selected) | Swipe down |
| previous text field (correct item type must be selected) | Swipe up |
| next search (correct item type must be selected) | Swipe down |
| previous search (correct item type must be selected) | Swipe up |
| next image (correct item type must be selected) | Swipe down |
| previous image (correct item type must be selected) | Swipe up |
Forms
| Task | Command | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Activate Button | Double tap | |
| Activate Form Control | Double tap | |
| select an option | Double tap | must be in a listbox context, and this is native browser behavior. |
| enter text | <enter text> | must be in a form or application context, and this is native browser behavior. |
| touch type with virtual keyboard | Explore the keyboard by single press + move (explore), then release on a key | virtual keyboard must be open |
| select next option | Swipe down | |
| select previous option | Swipe up | |
| increment value (must be on a role that supports the command) | swipe up | |
| decrement value (must be on a role that supports the command) | swipe down |