While it is possible to scroll content using VoiceOver on macOS, I was not able to find any NSAccessibility APIs related to it (such as accessibilityScroll: on iOS).
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AVPlayer has 3 visual accessibility issues with videos out of the box:
The contrast fails for the current time in the video
The contrast fails for the remaining time in the video
The hit area is too small for the time slider. The WCAG AA requirement is a minimum hit size of 24 x 24. The height of the hit area of the offending region is 8.
Is there a known fix for any of these?
This can be reproduced with this code in an app playground:
import SwiftUI
import AVKit
import UIKit
struct ContentView: View {
private let video = URL(string: "https://server15700.contentdm.oclc.org/dmwebservices/index.php?q=dmGetStreamingFile/p15700coll2/15.mp4/byte/json")!
@State private var player: AVPlayer?
var body: some View {
VStack {
VideoPlayerView(player: player)
.frame(maxWidth: .infinity, maxHeight: 200)
}
.task {
player = try? await loadPlayer(video: video)
}
}
}
private struct VideoPlayerView: UIViewControllerRepresentable {
let player: AVPlayer?
func makeUIViewController(context: Context) -> AVPlayerViewController {
let controller = AVPlayerViewController()
controller.player = player
controller.modalPresentationStyle = .overFullScreen
return controller
}
func updateUIViewController(_ uiViewController: AVPlayerViewController, context: Context) {
uiViewController.player = player
}
}
private func loadPlayer(video: URL) async throws -> AVPlayer {
let videoAsset = AVURLAsset(url: video)
let videoPlusSubtitles = AVMutableComposition()
try await videoPlusSubtitles.add(videoAsset, withMediaType: .video)
try await videoPlusSubtitles.add(videoAsset, withMediaType: .audio)
return await AVPlayer(playerItem: AVPlayerItem(asset: videoPlusSubtitles))
}
private extension AVMutableComposition {
func add(_ asset: AVAsset, withMediaType mediaType: AVMediaType) async throws {
let duration = try await asset.load(.duration)
try await asset.loadTracks(withMediaType: mediaType).first.map { track in
let newTrack = self.addMutableTrack(withMediaType: mediaType, preferredTrackID: kCMPersistentTrackID_Invalid)
let range = CMTimeRangeMake(start: .zero, duration: duration)
try newTrack?.insertTimeRange(range, of: track, at: .zero)
}
}
}
How can I force VoiceOver to read parentheses for math expressions like this:
Text("(2+3)×4") // VoiceOver: Two plus three, times four
I’m looking for a way to have VoiceOver announce parentheses (e.g. “left paren”, “right paren”) without relying on NumberFormatter.Style.spellOut or .speechAlwaysIncludesPunctuation(), as both have drawbacks.
Using .spellOut breaks braille output and Rotor › Characters menu by turning numbers and symbols into words. And .speechAlwaysIncludesPunctuation() makes VoiceOver overly verbose—for example, it reads “21” as “twenty hyphen one.”
Is there a better way to selectively announce specific punctuation like parentheses while keeping numbers and symbols intact for braille and Rotor use?
Hello,
In our app we provide a button that initiates a phone call using tel://.
For normal numbers, tapping the button presents the standard iOS confirmation sheet with Call and Cancel.
If RTT is enabled on the device, the sheet instead shows three options: Call, Cancel, and RTT Call.
However, when dialing a national emergency number, this confirmation dialog does not appear at all — the call is placed immediately, without giving the user the choice between voice or RTT.
Is this the expected system behavior for emergency numbers on iOS?
And if so, how does RTT get applied in the emergency-call flow — is it managed entirely by the OS rather than exposed as a user-facing option?
Thanks in advance for clarifying.
Description
When calling AppStore.showManageSubscriptions(in:), the system modal for managing subscriptions appears visually. However, it is not automatically focused by VoiceOver, and in some cases, VoiceOver still allows interaction with elements in the underlying view controller, such as buttons and labels. This creates confusion and violates accessibility expectations.
Steps to Reproduce
1. In a UIKit app, present the system subscription sheet via AppStore.showManageSubscriptions(in:).
2. Ensure VoiceOver is enabled on the device.
3. Observe the focus behavior when the modal appears.
4. Try swiping right/left — VoiceOver continues to announce items in the presenting view controller.
Expected Result
The modal should automatically take VoiceOver focus, and all elements behind it should be non-accessible until dismissed.
Actual Result
VoiceOver continues to focus and interact with elements behind the presented modal.
Notes
• Tested on iOS 18.5
• Reproducible on device
• Using Swift/UIKit (not SwiftUI)
Topic:
Accessibility & Inclusion
SubTopic:
General
I have reported this bug on multiple macOS version and it never gets fixed, so I am posting it here in hopes someone at Apple will see this and fix the issue. I use voice control extensively (in fact, it is THE reason I use Macs. I am an amputee, and voice control makes life much easier and there is nothing even close on Windows (or Linux, but Linux is barely usable for people with with two arms)). Voice control has a setting to have a screen overlay numbers, names, or a grid, to help indicate what item you're referring to. There is an option to have no overlay. However, even when overlay is set to None, the numbers overlay still appears on screen, even when I haven't triggered something by voice. If I right click on the desktop, for example, the numbers appear on the menu. This bug has been in macOS for as long as I can remember. I really hope someone at Apple can fix this. There are quite a few other bugs I've reported with Feedback assistant over the years that go unfixed, this is one of the more annoying ones.
Topic:
Accessibility & Inclusion
SubTopic:
General
Say I have a UI element that moves on the screen. Is it possible to update its accessibility frame as it moves while VoiceOver is focused on it? From my tests, VoiceOver ignores UIAccessibilityLayoutChangedNotification if it's sent repeatedly in a short period of time on iOS, while sending NSAccessibilityLayoutChangedNotification on macOS triggers VoiceOver to reannounce the focused element repeatedly.
My team is designing an app for retail associates that need to share managed iPads. We keep the app in Guided Access mode on our login app until an auth token is obtained. Then the iPad is opened for general use. Upon signout we need to re-enter guided access mode and we can do this via manual signout easily. But with idle signout, ie after 60 minutes of inactivity, we need to be able to make a call from the background (in a locked state even) and sign out the user, clear the pin code and enter single app mode before restarting. So that hopefully once the device restarts, we have the app in a locked state again until the next user provides credentials that can obtain a new auth token.
We are struggling to see if this is even possible. Our bosses will be displeased if we tell them it isn't. So anybody with any tips would be very appreciated.
Hello,
I’m in the process of enrolling my business (Carzo Rent A Car, Prishtine, Kosovo) in the Apple Developer Program, but I have been waiting for my D-U-N-S number to be issued.
I submitted the request to Dun & Bradstreet on July 28, 2025 (Case #9142648) and have only received a system-generated email with a tracking ID (#9086421). There has been no further update.
My questions are:
Is there a way for Apple to expedite or provisionally approve my enrollment while the D-U-N-S number is pending?
How long does Apple typically wait for D&B updates before the enrollment is affected?
Are there any alternative steps I can take to avoid further delays?
Thank you for your guidance.
Topic:
Accessibility & Inclusion
SubTopic:
General
I made a (very simple) custom tab bar in SwiftUI. It's simply an HStack containing two buttons. These buttons control the selection of a paged TabView. This works well, but in VoiceOver they don't behave like the bottom tab bar or e.g. a segmented picker. Specifically, VoiceOver does not say something like "tab one of two" when the first button is focused.
According to my research, in UIKit this can be accomplished by giving the container view the accessibility trait tabBar, hiding it as an accessibility element and give it the accessibility container type semanticGroup.
In SwiftUI, there is also the trait isTabBar, but that does not seem to have any impact for VoiceOver. I don't see an equivalent of semanticGroup in SwiftUI. I tried accessibilityElement(children: .contain) but that also does not seem to have any impact.
So, is there any way in SwiftUI to make a button behave like a tab-button in VoiceOver? And how is SwiftUI's isTabBar accessibility trait supposed to be used?
In our application we are using UIAlertViewController. When accessibility full keyboard access is enabled, and we are trying to dismiss that AlertViewController with Esc key from external keyboard that is not working. We are presenting AlertViewController as a popover. We need dismiss the AlertViewController with Esc key press from external keyboard.
Hi guys, I'm facing an issue with the native interface to add a card into the wallet - does someone have some ideas on how to fix/work around that?
STEPS TO REPRODUCE:
Disable VoiceOver (Settings → Accessibility → VoiceOver → Off).
Connect and confirm that you can navigate other iOS interfaces using an external keyboard.
In any app, present a PKAddPassesViewController with a valid .pkpass file.
When the Wallet “Add Pass” sheet appears, attempt to navigate using only the external keyboard (Tab/Arrow/Enter).
Observe that focus does not move to the Cancel or Add buttons, and no elements receive keyboard focus.
EXPECTED RESULT:
All interactive elements in PKAddPassesViewController (e.g., Cancel and Add) should be fully keyboard accessible without requiring VoiceOver. Users should be able to navigate, select, and complete actions using only a hardware keyboard.
ACTUAL RESULT:
Keyboard navigation is not possible.
No elements receive focus.
Users cannot activate Cancel or Add buttons using keyboard input.
The only way to interact is by touch or enabling VoiceOver, which does not satisfy keyboard accessibility requirements.
IMPACT:
Violates WCAG 2.1 Success Criterion 2.1.1 (Keyboard Accessible).
Prevents keyboard-only users (including users with motor disabilities) from adding passes to Wallet.
Affects users of external keyboards who rely on tab/arrow navigation.
Creates an inconsistent accessibility experience compared to other iOS system modals.
Even though navigationBarBackButtonHidden is set, the back button appears when you swipe slightly.
Topic:
Accessibility & Inclusion
SubTopic:
General
I'm working on a ble connected device that use ancs and system clock to receive alarm notification events for earing impaired people. It used to work until iPhone 13 with latest iOS 18.x. Starting with iPhone 14 onward (iOS 18.x), system clock alarm notification is not sent anymore.
Is There any reason for this to happening?.
Is anyone aware of this behaviour?
Any suggestion would be really appreciated.
Cheers
I have a UIImageView as the background of a custom UIView subclass. The image itself does not contain any text. On top of this image view, I have added two UILabels.
To improve accessibility, I converted the entire view into a single accessibility element and set a proper accessibilityLabel. Additionally, I disabled accessibility for the UIImageView and the labels by setting isAccessibilityElement = false.
However, when VoiceOver's Accessibility Recognition's Text Recognition feature is enabled, VoiceOver still detects and announces the text inside the UILabels at the end after reading my custom accessibility properties. This text should not be announced.
It seems that VoiceOver treats the UILabel content as part of the UIImageView. Additionally, when using the Explore Image rotor action, the entire subview is recognized as a single image.
Is this the expected behavior? If so, is there a way to disable VoiceOver’s text recognition for this view while keeping custom accessibility intact?
class BackgroundLabelView: UIView {
private let backgroundImageView = UIImageView()
private let backgroundImageView2 = UIImageView()
private let titleLabel = UILabel()
private let subtitleLabel = UILabel()
override init(frame: CGRect) {
super.init(frame: frame)
setupView()
}
required init?(coder: NSCoder) {
super.init(coder: coder)
setupView()
configureAceesibility()
}
private func configureAceesibility() {
backgroundImageView.isAccessibilityElement = false
backgroundImageView2.isAccessibilityElement = false
titleLabel.isAccessibilityElement = false
subtitleLabel.isAccessibilityElement = false
isAccessibilityElement = true
accessibilityTraits = .button
}
func configure(backgroundImage: UIImage?, title: String, subtitle: String) {
backgroundImageView.image = backgroundImage
titleLabel.text = title
subtitleLabel.text = subtitle
accessibilityLabel = "Holiday Offer ," + title + "," + subtitle
}
private func setupView() {
backgroundImageView2.contentMode = .scaleAspectFill
backgroundImageView2.clipsToBounds = true
backgroundImageView2.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false
backgroundImageView2.image = UIImage(resource: .bannerfestival)
addSubview(backgroundImageView2)
backgroundImageView.contentMode = .scaleAspectFit
backgroundImageView.clipsToBounds = true
backgroundImageView.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false
addSubview(backgroundImageView)
titleLabel.font = UIFont.systemFont(ofSize: 18, weight: .bold)
titleLabel.textColor = .white
titleLabel.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false
titleLabel.numberOfLines = 0
addSubview(titleLabel)
subtitleLabel.font = UIFont.systemFont(ofSize: 14, weight: .regular)
subtitleLabel.textColor = .white.withAlphaComponent(0.8)
subtitleLabel.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false
subtitleLabel.numberOfLines = 0
addSubview(subtitleLabel)
NSLayoutConstraint.activate([
backgroundImageView2.leadingAnchor.constraint(equalTo: leadingAnchor),
backgroundImageView2.trailingAnchor.constraint(equalTo: trailingAnchor),
backgroundImageView2.heightAnchor.constraint(equalToConstant: 200),
backgroundImageView.centerYAnchor.constraint(equalTo: centerYAnchor),
backgroundImageView.topAnchor.constraint(equalTo: topAnchor),
backgroundImageView.leadingAnchor.constraint(greaterThanOrEqualTo: leadingAnchor),
backgroundImageView.trailingAnchor.constraint(equalTo: trailingAnchor),
backgroundImageView.bottomAnchor.constraint(equalTo: bottomAnchor),
titleLabel.leadingAnchor.constraint(equalTo: leadingAnchor, constant: 16),
titleLabel.trailingAnchor.constraint(lessThanOrEqualTo: centerXAnchor),
titleLabel.bottomAnchor.constraint(equalTo: centerYAnchor, constant: -4),
subtitleLabel.leadingAnchor.constraint(equalTo: leadingAnchor, constant: 16),
subtitleLabel.trailingAnchor.constraint(lessThanOrEqualTo: centerXAnchor),
subtitleLabel.topAnchor.constraint(equalTo: centerYAnchor, constant: 4)
])
}
override func layoutSubviews() {
super.layoutSubviews()
backgroundImageView.layer.cornerRadius = layer.cornerRadius
}
}
We use an embedded WKWebView for several screens in our app.
Recently, we have been testing keyboard navigation via Full Keyboard Access in our apps. On IOS 18, everything works pretty much as expected. On IOS 26, it does not.
On IOS 26, you can "tab" away from the webview and then never tab back to the webview for keyboard navigation.
Is this a known issue? Are there workarounds for this issue that anyone is aware of?
I have an app that uses nearby with a custom accessory.
works great on iPhone 11-13,
starting with iPhone 14, one must use ARkit to get angles
we have two problems
ARkit is light sensitive, and we do not control the lighting where this app would run.. the 11-13 action works great even in the dark. (our users are blind, this is an accessibility app)
ARkit wants to be foreground, but our uses cannot see it, and we have a voice oriented UI that provides navigation instructions..
IF ARkit is foreground, our app doesn't work.
with iPhone 15 ProMax, on IOS 18, I got an error, access denied. (not permission denied) now that I am on IOS 26.. bt scan doesn't happen
also fails same way on iPhone 17 on IOS26, can't callback now as release signing is no longer done
this same code works ok on iOS 17.1 on iPhone 12.
Info.plist here
info.txt
if(SearchedServices == [] ){
services = [TransferService.serviceUUID,QorvoNIService.serviceUUID]
}
logger.info(
"scannerready, starting scan for peripherals \(services) and devices \(IDs)")
filteredIDs=IDs;
scanning=true;
centralManager.scanForPeripherals(withServices: services,
options: [CBCentralManagerScanOptionAllowDuplicatesKey: true])
the calling code
dataChannel.autoConnect=autoConnect;
dataChannel.start(x,ids) // datachannel.start is above
self.scanning = true;
return "scanning started";
... log output
services from js = and devices= 5FE04CBB
services in implementation =
bluetooth ready, starting scan for peripherals [] and devices ["5FE04CBB"]
scannerready, starting scan for peripherals [6E400001-B5A3-F393-E0A9-E50E24DCCA9E, 2E938FD0-6A61-11ED-A1EB-0242AC120002] and devices ["5FE04CBB"]
⚡️ TO JS {"value":"scanning started"}
Hello everyone,
I’d like to report an issue I’ve encountered when using a Bluetooth mouse together with AssistiveTouch on iPhone running iOS 16.5.
This has also been reported via Feedback Assistant with
Feedback ID: FB17806167
Description:
When using a Bluetooth mouse together with AssistiveTouch on iPhone (iOS), the pointer behaves incorrectly in landscape orientation.
Specifically:
The pointer cannot move past the center of the screen
Horizontal and vertical (X/Y) movements appear to be swapped or misaligned
Natural movement of the pointer is not possible
It seems as if the internal coordinate mapping remains locked in portrait orientation, even when the device is physically rotated to landscape.
This issue occurs system-wide, regardless of the current app. It is observable in Settings, on the Home screen, and in third-party apps.
Steps to Reproduce:
Enable AssistiveTouch
Connect a Bluetooth mouse to the iPhone
Rotate the device to landscape orientation
Try moving the mouse pointer across the screen
→ Notice that:
Pointer cannot move past the center
Horizontal/vertical input is interpreted incorrectly (as if still in portrait)
Expected Behavior:
The mouse pointer should move across the entire screen correctly, regardless of device orientation.
Actual Behavior:
In landscape orientation, the pointer is either restricted to part of the screen or misaligned.
It behaves as if the device is still in portrait.
Horizontal mouse movement causes vertical pointer movement, and vice versa
User experience feels broken and unintuitive
Feature Suggestion:
Please improve the synchronization between physical device orientation and AssistiveTouch pointer mapping on iOS.
I also suggest exposing AssistiveTouch orientation control via a public API, so developers can help maintain consistent pointer behavior.
Thanks in advance for any insights or suggestions.
Best regards,
Jannis
I'd like to add borders to all buttons in the iOS simulator from my Mac app. First I get the simulator window. Then I access the children of all AXGroup and if it's a button or a static text, I add a border.
But for some buttons this does not work. In the example image the NavigationBarButtons are not found. I guess the problem is, that for some AXGroup the children array access with AXChildren is empty.
Here is some relevant code:
- (NSArray<DDHOverlayElement *> *)overlayChildrenOfUIElement:(AXUIElementRef)element index:(NSInteger)index {
NSMutableArray<DDHOverlayElement *> *tempOverlayElements = [[NSMutableArray alloc] init];
NSLog(@">>> -----------------------------------------------------");
NSString *role = [UIElementUtilities roleOfUIElement:element];
NSRect frame = [UIElementUtilities frameOfUIElement:element];
NSLog(@"%@, role: %@, %@", element, role, [NSValue valueWithRect:frame]);
NSArray *lineage = [UIElementUtilities lineageOfUIElement:element];
NSLog(@"lineage: %@", lineage);
NSArray<NSValue *> *children = [UIElementUtilities childrenOfUIElement:element];
if (children.count < 1) {
NSLog(@"NO CHILDREN");
}
for (NSInteger i = 0; i < [children count]; i++) {
NSValue *child = children[i];
AXUIElementRef uiElement = (__bridge AXUIElementRef)child;
NSString *role = [UIElementUtilities roleOfUIElement:uiElement];
NSRect frame = [UIElementUtilities frameOfUIElement:uiElement];
NSLog(@"----%@, role: %@, %@", child, role, [NSValue valueWithRect:frame]);
}
NSLog(@"<<< -----------------------------------------------------");
for (NSInteger i = 0; i < [children count]; i++) {
NSValue *child = children[i];
AXUIElementRef uiElement = (__bridge AXUIElementRef)child;
NSString *role = [UIElementUtilities roleOfUIElement:uiElement];
NSRect frame = [UIElementUtilities frameOfUIElement:uiElement];
NSLog(@"%@, role: %@, %@", child, role, [NSValue valueWithRect:frame]);
if ([role isEqualToString:@"AXButton"] ||
[role isEqualToString:@"AXTextField"] ||
[role isEqualToString:@"AXStaticText"]) {
NSString *tag = [NSString stringWithFormat:@"%ld%ld", (long)index, (long)i];
NSLog(@"tag: %@", tag);
DDHOverlayElement *overlayElement = [[DDHOverlayElement alloc] initWithUIElementValue:child tag:tag];
[tempOverlayElements addObject:overlayElement];
} else if ([role isEqualToString:@"AXGroup"] ||
[role isEqualToString:@"AXToolbar"]) {
[tempOverlayElements addObjectsFromArray:[self overlayChildrenOfUIElement:uiElement index:++index]];
} else if ([role isEqualToString:@"AXWindow"]) {
[self.overlayWindowController setFrame:[UIElementUtilities frameOfUIElement:uiElement]];
[tempOverlayElements addObjectsFromArray:[self overlayChildrenOfUIElement:uiElement index:index]];
}
}
return [tempOverlayElements copy];
}
For some AXGroup the children are found. For some they are empty. I cannot figure out why.
Does anyone have an idea what I'm doing wrong?
Topic:
Accessibility & Inclusion
SubTopic:
General
I am working on capturing 48MP images using the iPhone 16 Pro Max with the Ultra-wide camera. I’ve updated the code to capture the maximum supported dimensions with the following snippet:
if #available(iOS 16.0, *) {
photoOutput.maxPhotoDimensions = device.activeFormat.supportedMaxPhotoDimensions.last!
photoSettings.maxPhotoDimensions = .init(width: 5712, height: 4284)
}
However, I’m still not getting the expected results. My goal is to capture 48MP images, and I want to confirm if the Ultra-wide camera supports this resolution or if I’m missing any other configuration.
Any guidance would be appreciated!