VoiceOver Gestures on iOS
VoiceOver Gestures on iOS
Screen Reader Keyboard Shortcuts and Gestures > VoiceOver for iOS
On this page:
VoiceOver is a screen reader program that comes on new Mac computers, iPhones, iPads, and iPod touches. VoiceOver was first introduced in Mac OS X 10.4 in 2005.
Also available in a single-page printer-friendly PDF version.
Also available in a PDF with images depicting the gesture shortcuts.
Note:
VoiceOver works best with Safari. If you try to use it with any other browser, it may work for some things, but not as consistently as with Safari.
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Getting Started
The shortcut for turning VoiceOver on and off is triple-pressing the home or side button. To turn on the VoiceOver shortcut, go to Settings > General > Accessibility > Accessibility Shortcut.
To move between page elements in VoiceOver, swipe left or right. To navigate by specific elements, select a navigation setting in the rotor (next section) and then swipe up or down.
The Rotor
Choose navigation options in VoiceOver using the Rotor. To use the rotor, twist two fingers in a circle on the screen, as if you are turning a knob. Select a navigation option from the rotor, then swipe up or down to move between the selected element type. Navigation options are extensive, but include Headings, Links, Tables, and Form Controls. You can choose which of the navigation options you would like to appear in the rotor by going to VoiceOver Settings > Rotor.
The Basics
| Topic | Task | Command |
|---|---|---|
| On/Off: | Turn VO on/off | (When setting is enabled) Triple-press home button or side button (iPhone X +) |
| Reading: | Pause or resume reading | Two-finger tap |
| Start reading continuously from this point on | Two-finger swipe down | |
| Read entire page | Two-finger swipe up | |
| Read next item | Swipe right | |
| Activate: | Link | Double-tap |
| Button | Double-tap | |
| Close/Cancel: | Close popup, cancel last action | Two-finger scrub |
| Headings: | Go to next heading | Rotor, swipe down |
| Landmarks: | Go to next landmark/region | Rotor, swipe down |
| Item Chooser: | Choose from a complete list of items on page | Two-finger triple-tap |
| Tables: | Go to next table | Rotor, swipe down |
| Navigate table cells | Swipe left or right | |
| Navigate table rows | Rotor: rows, swipe up or down | |
| Lists: | Go to next list | Rotor, swipe down |
| Go to next list item | Swipe right | |
| Images: | Go to next image | Rotor, swipe right |
| Links: | Go to next link | Rotor, swipe down |
| Navigate: | Go to first (last) item on page | 4-finger tap upper (lower) half of screen |
| Scroll (vertically or horizontally) | 3-finger swipe up, down, left, or right | |
| Go backward: | To previous heading, landmark, table, focusable item, etc. | Swipe up |
Reading text
| Topic | Task | Command |
|---|---|---|
| Line: | Say prior line | Rotor, swipe up |
| Say next line | Rotor, swipe down | |
| Character: | Say prior character | Rotor, swipe up |
| Say next character | Rotor, swipe down | |
| Say character phonetically | Settings > VO > Phonetic feedback | |
| Word: | Say prior word | Rotor, swipe up |
| Say next word | Rotor, swipe down | |
| Speech: | Toggle speech on/off (good for braille use) |
Three-finger double-tap Note: When Zoom is on, 3-finger double-tap zooms, and 3-finger double-tap and drag changes zoom. |
Tables
| Topic | Task | Command |
|---|---|---|
| Table: | Go to next table | Rotor, swipe down |
| Cell: | Cell to right | Swipe right |
| Cell to left | Swipe left | |
| Row below | Rotor: rows, swipe down | |
| Row above | Rotor: rows, swipe up |
Forms
| Topic | Task | Command |
|---|---|---|
| Navigate: | Next form | Rotor, swipe down |
| Next focusable item | Swipe right | |
| Next button | Rotor, swipe down | |
| Checkboxes: | Select and deselect | Double-tap |
| Next checkbox | Rotor (Same item or form controls), swipe down | |
| Combo boxes (<select>): | Open combo box | Double-tap |
| Browse options | Drag finger to hear options | |
| Select options | Double-tap desired option(s) | |
| Next combo box | Rotor (Same item or form controls), swipe down | |
| Radio buttons: | Toggle selection | Double-tap |
| Next radio button | Rotor (Form controls or same item), swipe down |
Text editing
The virtual keyboard appears when you enter a text field. Use the rotor to navigate through and edit the text you type.
Default typing: explore keyboard with one finger, tap with a second finger to select.
Touch typing: touch a key on the keyboard, lift finger to select.
Direct touch: interact with the keyboard as if VoiceOver is off.
| Task | Command |
|---|---|
| Select/deselect text | Pinch out/in |
| Copy the last spoken text to the clipboard | Three-finger quadruple-tap |
| Backspace | Select the delete button |
| Dictate Text | Two-finger double tap |
| Change keyboard mode | Rotor > Keyboard mode, swipe up or down |
Handwriting mode
| Task | Command |
|---|---|
| Change case, punctuation, numbers | 3-finger swipe up or down |
| Insert space | Two-finger swipe right |
| Backspace | Two-finger swipe left |
| Write letters, numbers, punctation | Draw on screen using finger |
Other commands
| Task | Command |
|---|---|
| Gesture help | 4-finger double-tap |
| Help with current element | Rotor (Hints) swipe up/down to enable hints |
| Toggle screen curtain on/off (VO works but screen is off) | Three-finger triple-tap |
| Split tap quick-activation | Select and hold with one finger, tap with another |
| Double-press button | Triple-tap |
| Speak words/characters typed | Settings > General > VoiceOver > Typing Feedback |
| Access control center (Notifications) |
Bring focus to status bar, 3-finger swipe up (down) |
| Next/Previous App | 4-finger swipe Right/Left |
| Drag mode | Tap twice and hold |