VoiceOver

If you use VoiceOver on iPad and don’t need to see what’s on the screen, you can turn on the screen curtain to improve battery life and maintain privacy. Your iPad stays active even though the display is off.

You can turn the screen curtain on or off with a three-finger gesture, which changes slightly if Zoom is also on. You can also use VoiceOver gestures, zoom in on the iPad screen, and learn how to operate iPad when VoiceOver is on.

See also

• Zoom in on the iPad screen
• Operate iPad when VoiceOver is on
• Use VoiceOver gestures on iPad
• Accessibility features for vision on iPad

When VoiceOver is on, you need to use special gestures to unlock iPad, go to the Home Screen, open Control Center, switch apps, and more.

How you unlock depends on your model, whether it has a Home button, Touch ID in the top button, or Face ID. You can also enter your passcode silently using handwriting mode, use the Dock, switch to another app, or use the App Switcher.

Here’s how to operate iPad when VoiceOver is on.

Unlock iPad

• On an iPad with a Home button: Press the Home button using the finger you registered with Touch ID.
• On an iPad with Touch ID: Rest your finger on the top button using the finger you registered with Touch ID.
• On an iPad with Face ID: Wake iPad and glance at it, then drag up from the bottom edge of the screen until you hear two rising tones (if Face ID is enabled).

If prompted, enter your passcode. To avoid having your passcode spoken as you enter it, enter your passcode silently using handwriting mode or type onscreen braille.

Go to the Home Screen

• Drag one finger up from the bottom edge of the screen until you hear two rising tones, then lift your finger.
• On an iPad with a Home button, press the Home button.

Use the Dock

Slide one finger up from the bottom edge until you hear two rising tones, then swipe down.

Switch to another app

Swipe right or left with four fingers to cycle through the open apps.

Alternatively, you can use the App Switcher.

1. To open the App Switcher, do one of the following:
   • Drag one finger up from the bottom edge of the screen until you hear three tones, then lift your finger.
   • Double-click the Home button (on an iPad with a Home button).
2. To browse the open apps, swipe left or right until the app you want is selected.
3. Double-tap to open the app.

Open Control Center

• Drag one finger down from the top edge of the screen until you hear two rising tones.
• Tap any item in the status bar, then swipe up with three fingers.

To dismiss Control Center, do a two-finger scrub (move two fingers back and forth three times quickly, making a “z”).

View notifications

• Drag one finger down from the top edge of the screen until you hear three rising tones.
• Tap any item in the status bar, then swipe down with three fingers.

To dismiss the notifications screen, do a two-finger scrub (move two fingers back and forth three times quickly, making a “z”).

Speak status bar information

1. Tap the status bar at the top of the screen.
2. Swipe left or right to hear the time, battery state, Wi-Fi signal strength, and more.

Rearrange apps on your Home Screen

To rearrange apps on your Home Screen, do one of the following:

• Drag and drop: Tap an icon on the Home Screen, then double-tap and hold your finger on the screen until you hear three rising tones. The item’s relative location is described as you drag. Lift your finger when the icon is in its new location. Drag an icon to the edge of the screen to move it to another Home Screen.
• Move actions: Tap an app, then swipe down to hear available actions. When you hear “Edit Mode,” double-tap to start arranging apps. Find the app you want to move, then swipe down to the Move action and double-tap. Move the VoiceOver cursor to the new destination for the app, then choose from the available actions: Cancel Move, Create New Folder, Add to Folder, Move Before, or Move After.

When you’re finished, tap Done, then double-tap.

Search from the Home Screen

1. Tap anywhere on the Home Screen outside the status bar.
2. Swipe down with three fingers.

See also

• Use VoiceOver gestures on iPad
• Control VoiceOver using the rotor on iPad
• Accessibility features for vision on iPad

With VoiceOver, you can connect a Bluetooth® wireless refreshable braille display and use it to control and navigate iPad and read what’s on the screen. The braille you type on the display is automatically translated into text, and the display shows what you’re typing in context. You can read and type using contracted or uncontracted braille, with support for many international braille tables.

You can also output closed captions in braille during media playback, and use a 2D braille display.

Connect a braille display and learn commands to control iPad

1. Turn on the braille display.
2. On iPad, open Settings, tap Bluetooth, turn on Bluetooth, and then choose the display.
3. On iPad, open Settings, tap Accessibility, tap VoiceOver, tap Braille, and then choose the display.
4. To see the braille commands for controlling iPad, tap More Info. Tap Braille Commands.

Change the braille display settings

1. On iPad, open Settings, tap Accessibility, tap VoiceOver, and then tap Braille.
2. Set any of the following:

   Setting	Description
   Match Input and Output Tables	Set the braille display to use the same method for both the input and read output.
   Input and Output	Choose the braille table you want to use to type braille input and output. You can choose from tables for additional languages as well as six-dot or eight-dot and contracted or uncontracted braille.
   Braille Screen Input	Choose the input method for entering braille using the screen. See Type braille directly on the iPad screen with VoiceOver.
   Braille Tables	Add tables to the braille table rotors.
   Braille Access	Quickly access braille notes, BRF files, and more using a braille display. See Change the braille display settings.
   Item Overview	Adjust the number of cells displayed per item. Press dots 6, 7, and 8 at the same time to turn Item Overview on or off.
   Automatic Translation	Turn this option on to automatically translate the braille you type into text soon after you stop typing.
   Status Cells	Turn on the general and text status cells and choose their location.
   Equations use Nemeth Code	Turn on Nemeth Code for mathematical equations.
   Show Onscreen Keyboard	Display the keyboard on the screen.
   Turn Pages when Panning	Automatically turn pages when panning.
   Word Wrap	Wrap words to the next line.
   Text Formatting	Display text formatting attributes like bold and italics.
   Use Underline Cursor	Display the cursor as an underline.
   Braille Alert Messages	When turned on, your braille display shows an alert message for the specified duration.
   Ignore Chord Duration	Adjust the amount of time required before subsequent key presses are recognized as braille chords.
   Auto Advance Duration	Adjust this setting to your preferred reading speed.
   Sound Curtain	When a braille display is connected to iPad, mute most sounds. Emergency alerts will still play sounds.
   Enable Bluetooth on Start	Automatically turn on Bluetooth when you turn on VoiceOver so that braille displays can connect to iPad.

Output closed captions in braille during media playback

1. On iPad, open Settings, tap Accessibility, tap VoiceOver, and then tap Verbosity.
2. Choose Braille or Speech and Braille.

Use a 2D braille display

If you use a supported 2D braille display, the rotor switches between different output modes, like one mode for displaying images and another for reading text on multiple lines.

1. Connect your braille display to iPad.
2. With VoiceOver turned on, use the Braille Text Mode rotor to switch between output modes. See Control VoiceOver using the rotor.

See also

• Type braille directly on the iPad screen with VoiceOver
• Write with your finger in VoiceOver on iPad
• Accessibility features for vision on iPad

VoiceOver changes how you use the onscreen keyboard when you activate an editable text field. You can enter, select, and delete text; change the keyboard language; and more.

There are a few typing styles, like standard typing and touch typing, and VoiceOver speaks each key as you select it and again when you enter the character. You can also edit text with the onscreen keyboard, and change the keyboard settings.

Enter text with the onscreen keyboard

1. Select a text field, then double-tap.

   The insertion point and the onscreen keyboard appear.

2. To enter text, do one of the following:
   • Standard typing: Select a key by swiping left or right on the keyboard and then double-tap to enter the character. Or move your finger around the keyboard to select a key and, while continuing to touch the key with one finger, tap the screen with another finger. VoiceOver speaks the key when it’s selected, and again when the character is entered.
   • Touch typing: Touch a key on the keyboard to select it and then lift your finger to enter the character. If you touch the wrong key, slide your finger to the key you want. VoiceOver speaks the character for each key as you touch it, but doesn’t enter a character until you lift your finger.
   • Direct Touch typing: VoiceOver is disabled for the keyboard only, so you can type just as you do when VoiceOver is off.
   • Dictation: Use a two-finger double tap on the keyboard to start and stop dictation.

To enter an accented character, do one of the following:

• Standard typing: Select the plain character, then double-tap and hold until you hear a tone indicating alternate characters have appeared. Drag left or right to select and hear the choices. Release your finger to enter the current selection.
• Touch typing: Touch and hold a character until the alternate characters appear.

Edit text with the onscreen keyboard

• Move the insertion point: Use the rotor to choose whether you want to move the insertion point by character, by word, or by line. Swipe up or down to move the insertion point forward or backward in the text. To jump to the beginning or end, double-tap the text.

  VoiceOver makes a sound when the insertion point moves, and speaks the character, word, or line that the insertion point moves across. When moving forward by words, the insertion point is placed at the end of each word, after the space or punctuation that follows. When moving backward, the insertion point is placed before the first character of the word.

• Move the insertion point past the punctuation at the end of a word or sentence: Use the rotor to switch back to character mode.

  When moving the insertion point by line, VoiceOver speaks each line as you move across it. When moving forward, the insertion point is placed at the end of the next line. When moving backward, the insertion point is placed at the beginning of the line that’s spoken.

• Delete a character: Use the Delete key.
• Select text: Do any of the following:
  • Set the rotor to Text Selection, swipe up or down to choose Character, Word, Line, or Sentence, then swipe left or right to move backward or forward. (You may need to enable Text Selection—go to Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver > Rotor.)
  • Set the rotor to Edit, swipe up or down to choose Select or Select All, then double-tap. If you choose Select, the word closest to the insertion point is selected when you double-tap. To increase or decrease the selection, do a two-finger scrub (move two fingers back and forth three times quickly, making a “z”) to dismiss the pop-up menu, then pinch.
• Cut, copy, or paste: Set the rotor to Edit, select the text, swipe up or down to choose Cut, Copy, or Paste, then double-tap.
• Fix misspelled words: Set the rotor to Misspelled Words, then swipe up or down to jump to the previous or next misspelled word. Swipe left or right to choose a suggested replacement, then double-tap to use the replacement.
• Undo: Shake iPad, swipe left or right to choose the action to undo, then double-tap.

Change the keyboard settings

1. Open Settings, tap Accessibility, and then tap VoiceOver.
2. Tap any of the following:
   • Typing Style: You can choose a new style. Or, set the rotor to Typing Mode and then swipe up or down.
   • Phonetic Feedback: Speak text character by character. VoiceOver first speaks the character, then its phonetic equivalent—for example, “f” and then “foxtrot.”
   • Typing Feedback: Choose to speak characters, words, both, or nothing.
   • Verbosity: Tap Deleting Text. To have VoiceOver speak deleted characters in a lower pitch, tap Change Pitch.

See also

• Control VoiceOver using the rotor on iPad
• Use VoiceOver on iPad with an Apple external keyboard
• Use VoiceOver on iPad with a pointer device
• Accessibility features for vision on iPad

You can use VoiceOver in all the built-in apps that come with your iPad—such as Safari, Maps, and more. And VoiceOver Recognition can describe images and screen elements on webpages and in apps, even ones that don’t provide accessibility information.

You can browse the web in Safari, read PDFs, take photos and videos, and trim voice memo recordings. VoiceOver can also let you hear visual Weather data as sound and read math equations.

Browse the web in Safari

1. With VoiceOver on, go to the Safari app on your iPad.
2. Do any of the following:
   • Search the web: Select the address field, double-tap to show the keyboard. Then enter a search term, phrase, or URL. Double-tap Go, or select a search suggestion, then double-tap.
   • Skip to the next element on a webpage: Set the rotor to the element type—such as headings, links, and form controls—then swipe up or down.
   • Set the rotor settings for web browsing: Open Settings, tap Accessibility, tap VoiceOver, and then tap Rotor. Select or deselect items, or drag the Reorder button up or down to reposition an item.
   • Skip images while navigating: Open Settings, tap Accessibility, tap VoiceOver, and then tap Navigate Images. You can choose to skip all images or only those without descriptions.
   • Reduce page clutter for easier reading and navigation: In the Safari address field, select the Format Options button, double-tap, select Show Reader View (not available for all webpages), and then double-tap.

Quick tip: When you use an Apple external keyboard with iPad, it’s possible to use single-key Quick Nav for web browsing.

Navigate in Maps

1. With VoiceOver on, go to the Maps app on your iPad.
2. Do any of the following:
   • Control how the map tracks your current location: Select the Tracking button and then double-tap until you hear the tracking option you want.
     • Tracking on: The map automatically centers on your current location.
     • Tracking on with heading: The map automatically centers on your current location and rotates so that the heading you’re facing is at the top of the screen. In this mode, iPad speaks street names and points of interest as you approach them.
     • Tracking off: The map doesn’t automatically center on your current location.
   • Explore the map: Drag your finger around the screen, or swipe left or right to move to another item.
   • Zoom in or out: Select the map, set the rotor to Zoom. Swipe up or down with one finger.
   • Pan the map: Select the map, then swipe with three fingers.
   • Browse locations and pins on the map: Select the map, set the rotor to Points of Interest and then swipe up or down with one finger.
   • Follow a road: Hold your finger down on the road, wait until you hear “pause to follow” and then move your finger along the road.
   • Get information about a location: Select the location (for example, a business, landmark, or pin). Then double-tap to open the information card. Swipe left or right to hear information such as directions, street address, phone number, business hours, and customer reviews.
   • Get guidance to the starting point: When you start walking directions in Maps, iPad guides you in the direction of the starting point using sound.
   • Get a description of the map: Tap the screen with three fingers to get information about nearby places, including directions and distances.

Read PDFs

VoiceOver reads PDFs in the Books and Files apps, even describing detailed information such as forms, tables, and lists.

Take photos and videos

1. With VoiceOver on, go to the Camera app on your iPad. VoiceOver describes objects in the viewfinder.
2. Select Camera Mode and swipe up or down with one finger to switch between modes, like Photo or Video.
3. To take a photo or start or stop recording a video, double-tap the screen with two fingers.

Trim voice memo recordings

In the Voice Memos app, you can use VoiceOver to edit recordings.

1. With VoiceOver on, open the Voice Memos app on your iPad.
2. Select the recording you want to trim, then double-tap.
3. Select Edit at the top right and then double-tap.
4. Select the Edit button, then double-tap.
5. Select the Trim button, then double-tap.
6. In the Waveform Overview, select Trim Beginning or Trim End, double-tap and hold. Then swipe up or down to adjust the start or end time.
7. Select Trim, then double-tap.
8. Select Save and then double-tap.
9. Select Done, then double-tap.

Hear visual Weather data as sound

In the Weather app, some maps are encoded so you can hear the data as a changing tone or pitch. As the intensity of a weather condition changes in a visual animation on screen, for example, variations in sound can describe those changes.

1. With VoiceOver on, open the Weather app on your iPad.
2. Open a location page with a precipitation, wind, or air quality map.
3. Double-tap and hold the map until you hear a tone or the words “Weather Map Snapshot.” If you hear spoken instructions, follow them.

   As you run your finger or pointer over a sonified map, the pitch shifts to represent the changing values.

Read math equations

Math equations are readable by VoiceOver in supported Apple apps such as Keynote and Numbers, and on the web when they’re encoded using MathML.

• Hear an equation: Have VoiceOver read the text as usual. VoiceOver says “math” before it starts reading an equation.
• Explore the equation: Double-tap the selected equation to display it in full screen and move through it one element at a time. Swipe left or right to read elements of the equation. Use the rotor to select Symbols, Small Expressions, Medium Expressions, or Large Expressions, then swipe up or down to hear the next element of that size. To drill down into the selected element, double-tap it, then swipe left or right to read one part of the element at a time.

VoiceOver can also output the equations it speaks to a braille device, using Nemeth Code or the codes for Unified English Braille, British English, French, and Greek. Read our guide, Use a braille display with VoiceOver.

Use VoiceOver Recognition

Images and screen elements on webpages and in apps get descriptions from VoiceOver Recognition, even if they don’t provide accessibility information.

Important: VoiceOver Recognition should not be relied upon in circumstances where you could be harmed or injured, in high-risk situations, for navigation, or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition.

1. Open Settings, tap Accessibility, tap VoiceOver, and then tap VoiceOver Recognition.
2. Turn on any of the following:
   • Image Descriptions: Get descriptions of images in apps and on the web.
   • Screen Recognition: Get descriptions of screen elements in apps.
   • Text Recognition: Get descriptions of text found in images.
3. Tap Feedback Style. Choose Speak, Play Sound, or Do Nothing.

See also

• Turn on and practice VoiceOver on iPad
• Customize visual accessibility settings for specific apps on iPad
• Accessibility features for vision on iPad

You can set up a shortcut to quickly start Live Recognition when VoiceOver is on. If VoiceOver is off, the same shortcut opens the Magnifier app in Detection Mode instead.

You can use a VoiceOver gesture or the Accessibility Shortcut, and you can even assign a different gesture. It’s one of many accessibility features for vision on iPad.

• Use a VoiceOver gesture: When VoiceOver is on, triple-tap the screen with four fingers to turn Live Recognition on or off. To assign a different gesture, go to Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver > Commands > Touch Gestures.
• Triple-click the top button or Home button: Go to Settings > Accessibility > Accessibility Shortcut, then select Live Recognition. See Quickly turn accessibility features on or off.

See also

• Accessibility features for vision on iPad

You can use VoiceOver Recognition on iPad to scan your surroundings and get live descriptions of the scenes detected in the camera view. With Apple Intelligence, you can also get information and ask questions about onscreen images and interface elements, even in apps and on webpages that don’t provide accessibility information.

With Live Recognition, you choose the kinds of visual information you want VoiceOver to describe.

Here’s how to hear what’s on your screen and around you with VoiceOver on iPad.

Important: VoiceOver Recognition should not be relied upon in circumstances where you could be harmed or injured, in high-risk situations, for navigation, or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition.

Get descriptions and ask questions about your surroundings with Live Recognition

1. With VoiceOver on, triple-tap the screen with four fingers to start Live Recognition.
2. Do any of the following:
   • Ask questions and get information about your surroundings: Double-tap when you hear Ask to turn it on or off. The default question “What is this?” is asked automatically unless you Customize Live Recognition settings.
   • Get descriptions about your surroundings: Choose the kinds of visual information you want VoiceOver to describe, like scenes, people, doors, furniture, or text. Select a category and then double-tap to turn it on or off. If you turn on Point and Speak, you can point your finger at text and have VoiceOver read it aloud.

     Note: Detection of people, doors, and furniture is available only on supported iPad models.

   • Get information about a document: Double-tap when you hear Document Capture to turn it on or off.
3. Position iPad so the rear camera can detect what’s around you. VoiceOver describes what the camera detects.

   To interrupt VoiceOver speech and move to the next detected item, tap the screen with two fingers.

To turn off Live Recognition, triple-tap the screen with four fingers. Or if the VoiceOver cursor is focused on an interface element for Live Recognition, do a two-finger scrub (move two fingers back and forth three times quickly, making a “z”).

Quick tip: You can set up a shortcut that quickly starts and stops Live Recognition. See our guide, Set up shortcuts for Live Recognition.

Detection Mode in the Magnifier app can also detect and describe scenes, people, and more. Check out our article, Get live descriptions of visual information around you with Magnifier.

Customize Live Recognition settings

1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
2. Tap Accessibility, tap VoiceOver, tap VoiceOver Recognition, and tap Live Recognition.
3. Do any of the following:
   • Set a default question that’s asked automatically: Turn on Default Question which is “What is this?” by default. You can also enter your own default question.
   • Choose whether to speak or type by default: Tap Speak or Type.
   • Use the volume buttons to take a picture: Turn on Use Volume Buttons to Recapture.
   • Select what options appear in the rotor: Tap Live Recognition Rotor, then tap an option, like People, Doors, Scenes, or Ask. You can also drag each option up or down to rearrange the order in the rotor.

   Note: Detection of people, doors, and furniture is available only on supported iPad models.

   • Create a custom activity that you can quickly turn on: Tap Activities, tap the Add button, and then enter an activity name. Select the detection modes that are on by default in the activity. You can also turn on Speech, Braille, Sounds, and Haptics for different detection modes.

Get descriptions and ask questions about images

VoiceOver Recognition describes the people, objects, and text in images, even in apps and on webpages that don’t provide accessibility information. And with Apple Intelligence, you can also ask questions about images and get enhanced descriptions.

Note: Apple Intelligence on iPadOS 27 or later is available on an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPad mini (A17 Pro) and iPad models with M1 or later. Apple Intelligence is not available in all languages or regions. Usage limits may apply.*

1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
2. Tap Accessibility, tap VoiceOver and tap VoiceOver Recognition. Do any of the following:
   • Explore content in an image, get descriptions, and ask questions: Turn on Explore Image.
   • Ask questions and get information about images: Turn on Ask About Image.
   • Get detailed descriptions of images: Turn on Intelligent Image Description.
3. To get descriptions of text found in images, turn on Text Recognition.
4. Go to an app such as Photos or Safari and select an image.
5. Swipe down to hear more options and then double-tap when you hear Intelligent Image Description, Explore Image, or Ask About Image.
6. Move your finger around the image to find out the position of each object.

   Note: Image descriptions aren’t available in all languages.

Add custom descriptions of images in Photos

1. Open the Photos app on your iPad.
2. Double-tap the image you want to add a custom description to.
3. Double-tap the Edit button, then double-tap the Markup button.
4. Double-tap the Add button and then double-tap Image Description.
5. Enter your image description.
6. Double-tap the Done button, then double-tap the Done button again.

After you add a custom description to a photo in the Photos app, you’ll hear the description when you select the photo in the photo picker, and when you double-tap it.

Get descriptions of interface elements

When apps and webpages don’t provide accessibility information, VoiceOver Recognition still describes interface elements.

1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
2. Tap Accessibility, tap VoiceOver, and then tap VoiceOver Recognition.
3. Tap Screen Recognition and turn on Screen Recognition.
4. Tap Apply to Apps and select an app from the list to improve the accessibility of a specific app.

*Apple Intelligence is available with Siri and device language set to Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, or Vietnamese. Some features may not be available in all regions or languages. Some devices may not be available in all regions. Siri AI is available in beta in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27 and requires an Apple Intelligence–enabled device set to a supported language. Available in English to start. Siri AI will not be initially available in the EU on iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS. Certain Apple Intelligence features that rely on server-side models are subject to daily usage limits, including but not limited to Siri AI, Intelligent Photo Editing Tools, Image Playground, and AFM 3 Cloud models in Shortcuts. Daily limits may vary by feature, request complexity, system demand, system policies, and other factors. Expanded access to such features will be available for a fee in the future. Use of these features is subject to the Apple Intelligence Terms and Conditions.

See also

• Get live descriptions of your surroundings
• Find and name people and pets in Photos on iPad
• Accessibility features for vision on iPad

With Braille Screen Input in VoiceOver, you can use your fingers to type braille directly on the iPad screen, without a physical braille keyboard. You can also use Braille Screen Input to enter braille commands for navigating and controlling your iPad.

You can use it in tabletop mode, with iPad flat in front of you, or in screen away mode, with the screen facing away from you. Gestures let you enter a space, delete the previous character, move to a new line, or cycle through spelling suggestions.

Enter braille on the screen

1. With VoiceOver turned on, do one of the following to start Braille Screen Input:
   • Use a gesture: Place one finger from each hand at the top and bottom edges of the screen and double-tap. If the gesture doesn’t work, open Settings, tap Accessibility, tap VoiceOver, and then tap Braille. Tap Braille Screen Input and turn on Use Activation Gestures.
   • Use the rotor: When you’re in a text input area, set the rotor to Braille Screen Input. If Braille Screen Input isn’t in the rotor, open Settings, tap Accessibility, tap VoiceOver, and then tap Rotor. Tap Rotor Items, then select Braille Screen Input.
2. Place iPad in one of the following positions:
   • Tabletop mode: Lay iPad flat in front of you.
   • Screen away mode: Hold iPad in landscape orientation with the screen facing away from you. Your fingers wrap around the sides of iPad to tap the screen.
3. Enter braille characters by tapping the screen with one or more fingers at the same time.

   Tip: To hear where each dot is located, touch and hold, then drag your finger around the screen. To move the entry dots to match your natural finger positions, double-tap all six typing fingers at the same time (your right three fingers for dots 4, 5, and 6, and your left three fingers for dots 1, 2, and 3).

   You can also use gestures to perform actions such as the following:

   Action	Gesture
   Enter a space	Swipe right with one finger; in screen away mode, swipe to your right
   Delete the previous character	Swipe left with one finger
   Move to a new line	Swipe right with two fingers
   Cycle through spelling suggestions	Swipe up or down with one finger
   Enter a carriage return, or send a message (in Messages)	Swipe up with three fingers
   Cycle through modes (like Braille Entry Mode and Command Mode)	Swipe left or right with three fingers
   Translate immediately (if you’re typing contracted braille)	Swipe down with two fingers
   Switch to the next braille table	Swipe up with two fingers

4. To exit Braille Screen Input, slide two fingers in opposite directions, or do a two-finger scrub (draw the letter “z” by quickly moving two fingers back and forth three times).

Quick tip: Go to Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver > Commands > Braille Screen Input, and you can view and edit the commands and gestures you can use when Braille Screen Input is turned on.

Type on the screen to enter braille commands

Braille Screen Input Command Mode means you can control iPad by typing braille commands on the screen, using the same commands you use with a refreshable braille display.

1. With VoiceOver turned on, place one finger from each hand at the top and bottom edges of the screen and double-tap to start Braille Screen Input.
2. Switch to Command Mode by swiping left or right with three fingers.
3. Type braille commands directly on the screen.

Change Braille Screen Input settings

1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
2. Tap Accessibility, then tap VoiceOver.
3. Tap Braille, then tap Braille Screen Input.
4. Set any of the following:
   • Use Activation Gestures: To start Braille Screen Input, place one finger from each hand at the top and bottom edges of the screen and double-tap. If this option is off, use the rotor to start Braille Screen Input.
   • Start Automatically when Editing Text: Have Braille Screen Input start automatically when you enter a text input area.
   • Keep Active until Dismissed: After you launch an app or choose an item in Braille Entry Mode, automatically switch to Command Mode and keep it active.
   • Customize Commands: Go to the command you want to customize and tap Assign New Braille Keys.
   • Learn Dot Positions: Have Braille Screen Input calibrate the positions of dots as you enter them.
   • Reverse Dot Positions: For six-dot braille, swap the positions of dots 1 and 3, and dots 4 and 6.
   • Visual Text Feedback: As you type in braille, display a text translation of what you’re typing.
   • Typing Feedback: Get sound feedback as you enter text with Braille Screen Input.
   • Mode announcements: When you switch Braille Screen Input modes, have VoiceOver speak, play sounds, or both.
   • Choose a Braille table: Select a braille format.

See also

• Use a braille display with VoiceOver on iPad
• Customize VoiceOver gestures and keyboard shortcuts on iPad
• Accessibility features for vision on iPad

You can customize VoiceOver gestures and keyboard shortcuts on iPad. You can list the gestures and the associated commands, including the gestures for handwriting and Braille Screen Input, and assign new braille keys. You can also clear your custom gestures and keyboard shortcuts, and turn on Magic Tap to pause or play media.

1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
2. Tap Accessibility and tap VoiceOver. Then tap Commands.
3. Tap any of the following:
   • All Commands: Go to the command you want to customize. Then tap Edit, Add Gesture, or Add Keyboard Shortcut.
   • Touch Gestures: List the gestures and the associated commands.
   • Keyboard Shortcuts: Go to the shortcut you want to customize and then enter the key combination.
   • Magic Tap: Turn on Magic Tap to pause or play media when no other action is available.
   • Handwriting: List the gestures for handwriting and the associated commands.
   • Braille Screen Input: List the gestures for Braille Screen Input and the associated commands.
   • Braille Screen & Braille Keyboard Input: Go to the command you want to customize and tap Assign New Braille Keys.

To clear your custom gestures and keyboard shortcuts, tap Reset VoiceOver Commands.

See also

• Use VoiceOver on iPad with an Apple external keyboard
• Use the onscreen keyboard with VoiceOver on iPad
• Accessibility features for vision on iPad

If you use an Apple external keyboard with iPad, you can use keyboard shortcuts to activate VoiceOver commands.

VoiceOver Help can teach you the keyboard layout and the actions associated with various key combinations, since it speaks keys and keyboard commands as you type them without performing the action. You can set the VoiceOver modifier to Caps Lock, or to Control and Option together. Then you control VoiceOver with key combinations, like VO-K to turn on VoiceOver Help.

Choose the VoiceOver modifier

The modifier is a key or set of keys you press with one or more other keys to enter VoiceOver commands. You can set the modifier to be the Caps Lock key or the Control and Option keys pressed at the same time.

1. Open Settings, tap Accessibility, tap VoiceOver, tap Typing, and then tap Modifier Keys.
2. Choose the modifier for VoiceOver commands: the Caps Lock key or the Control and Option keys.

   This modifier is abbreviated as “VO” below.

VoiceOver keyboard commands

You can control VoiceOver using key combinations.

(VO = modifier keys)

Quick Nav using the arrow keys

Turn on Quick Nav to control VoiceOver using the arrow keys.

Single-key Quick Nav for web browsing

To navigate a webpage quickly, turn on Quick Nav (VO-Q), then press keys on the keyboard to navigate to specific item types, such as headings or links. To move to the previous item, hold the Shift key as you press a key for the item type.

Text editing

Use these commands (with Quick Nav turned off) to work with text. VoiceOver reads the text as you move the insertion point.

See also

• Use VoiceOver gestures on iPad
• Use VoiceOver on iPad with a pointer device
• Use Voice Control to interact with iPad
• Accessibility features for vision on iPad