Accessibility Testing using VoiceOver

What is VoiceOver?

VoiceOver is a screen reader (which speaks aloud), and is included in the iOS operating system (used by iPad, iPhone, and iPod).

How to Enable VoiceOver?

Go to Settings > General > Accessibility and enable the option.

How to capture iPAD Screen?

Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button on the top or side of your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, then immediately press and release the Home button.

You can find the screenshot in your Photos app.

VoiceOver Basic Gestures:

  • stop reading: tap anywhere with two fingers
  • read through page elements, one at a time: swipe right (to go forwards) or left (to go backwards)
  • select an item: swipe left/right to reach the item
  • activate an item: select the item, and double-tap anywhere
  • read from current location: swipe downward with two fingers
  • read the entire page: swipe upward with two fingers

Advanced Gestures:

  • jump up one page: swipe downward with three fingers
  • jump down one page: swipe upward with three fingers
  • Item Chooser (list all items on the page): two-finger triple-tap
  • screen curtain on or off (turns the screen black): three-finger triple-tap
  • 2 fingers swipe up will read from the top of the screen to the bottom.
  • 2 fingers swipe down will read from wherever you last left off or from the last selected object.

 Entering and Editing Text

To begin, tap on a text field, then double tap to bring up the onscreen keyboard

  1. To type, select a key on the keyboard by flicking left or right, then double-tap to enter the character.
    or…Drag you finger around the keyboard to select a key, and, while holding the key with one finger, tap the screen with another finger to enter the character
  2. VoiceOver speaks the key when it’s selected, and again when it’s entered.