iOSVoiceOver

VoiceOver on iOS is a built-in screen reader that provides spoken, audible, and haptic feedback to help blind and visually impaired users interact with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch screens. It announces the content of on-screen elements, including buttons, icons, controls, and text, and can read entire screens, web pages, and app interfaces. VoiceOver is controlled primarily through gesture-based navigation and a rotor feature that changes the behavior of gestures, allowing users to switch between navigation, actions, and text reading modes.

VoiceOver supports multiple languages and works with braille displays via Bluetooth, enabling silent, tactile output for users who rely on braille. It also provides item descriptions, dynamically updated punctuation and formatting cues, and configurable verbosity so users can tailor feedback. Developers can make apps accessible by adding accessibility labels, traits, and hints that VoiceOver uses to describe UI elements.

To enable VoiceOver, users can access Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver or use the accessibility shortcut on devices that support it. VoiceOver is designed to be used with a range of iOS gestures, such as one-finger swipes to move through items and double-taps to activate. It interoperates with other iOS accessibility features, including Zoom, Magnifier, and Speak Selection.

VoiceOver has been a core feature of iOS accessibility since its early releases and has continued to evolve with iOS updates, improving localization, performance, and compatibility with apps and web content. It is widely used by individuals who are blind or have low vision, as well as by some users who prefer keyboard or braille-based interaction in certain contexts.