VoiceOver:

Last Updated May 19th, 2025 for iOS 18.

VoiceOver is an Apple screen reader that speaks out what’s on the screen and is used to navigate the screen using gestures. Uses for VoiceOver include unlocking an iPhone or an iPad, navigating the iPhone or iPad, and listening to the text on screen. You can keep VoiceOver on all the time or only turn it on when it is needed. To change VoiceOver settings go to the Setting app, then to the Accessibility section and then select VoiceOver.

To set up VoiceOver go to the Setting app, then to the Accessibility section, and then go to the VoiceOver section. Adjust the Speaking Rate to make the voice speak slower or faster. In the Speech section, adjust the voice that is used. Pick from a variety of low pitched and high pitched voices. I recommend Evan (Enhanced). To adjust how much VoiceOver tells you, go to the Verbosity section. To change the way you use the on screen keyboard, go to Typing in VoiceOver settings. Enable the Large Cursor to make the location you are on the screen thicker.

Included on this page are the following topics:

  • Resources to Learn VoiceOver.

  • VoiceOver Information Audio Recordings.

  • Turn VoiceOver On or Off.

  • VoiceOver Gestures.

  • Basic Navigation Gestures.

  • Unlock a Device with VoiceOver.

  • Speech Gestures.

  • Reading Gestures.

  • Orientation Gestures.

  • Home Screen Gestures.

  • Miscellaneous Gestures.

  • VoiceOver Modifications.

  • Screen Curtain.

  • VoiceOver Rotor.

Resources to Learn VoiceOver:

VoiceOver Information Audio Recordings:

Audio Recording 1 About VoiceOver:

Audio Recording 2 Turn VoiceOver On or Off:

Audio Recording 3 About VoiceOver Gestures:

Audio Recording 4 Basic Navigation Gestures:

Audio Recording 5 Unlock a Device with VoiceOver:

Audio Recording 6 Speech Gestures, Reading Gestures, Orientation Gestures, Home Screen Gestures, and Miscellaneous Gestures:

Audio Recording 7 VoiceOver Modifications:

Audio Recording 8 Screen Curtain:

Audio Recording 9 VoiceOver Rotor:

Turn VoiceOver On or Off:

  • Ask Siri to turn VoiceOver on or off. Once you have turned VoiceOver on or off, press and release the power button.

  • Use the VoiceOver shortcut in the Control Center available by swiping down from the top right corner of the screen.

  • Use the Shortcuts App to create a VoiceOver home screen shortcut.

VoiceOver Gestures:

A VoiceOver gesture is a way to do something on the screen by tapping, swiping, or dragging while using one or more fingers.

  • Swiping means sliding one or more fingers over the screen and then lifting at the end of the gesture in a flicking motion.

  • Dragging means sliding one or more fingers over the screen for the whole gesture.

  • Single Tap means touching the screen one time with one or more fingers.

  • Double Tap means touching the screen two times in a row with one or more fingers.

  • Triple Tap means touching the screen three times in a row with one or more fingers.

  • Quadruple Tap means touching the screen four times in a row with one or more fingers.

Basic Navigation Gestures:

  • Move on the Screen: Swipe left or right with one finger. You can also drag one finger on the screen.

  • Select Something: Tap something once to select it. Quickly tap twice to activate something.

  • Swiping: Three fingers swipe in the direction wanted. The fingertips can be facing up or to either side.

  • To Go Back or Dismiss Something: Two fingers swipe left-right-left.

  • To Go Back to the Home Screen: slow one finger swipe from the bottom of the screen until you hear two tones then release the finger.

  • App Switcher (to go to a recently used app or close recently used apps): one finger slow swipe up to middle of screen and listen for three tones. Then three finger swipe up.

Unlock a Device with VoiceOver:

If VoiceOver is not already on, then the user must be able to use Siri from the Lock Screen.

  • Step One: Turn on the device.

  • Step Two: Ask Siri to turn on VoiceOver.

  • Step Three: Press and release the power button.

  • Step Four: Slowly slide one finger from the very bottom of the screen until you feel two vibrations or two beeps. Do not touch the screen right before starting the sliding gesture.

  • Step Five: VoiceOver will say “passcode field zero of six values entered secure text field double tap to edit”.

  • Step Six: Drag one finger on the screen or swipe left and right until you hear the first number of your passcode.

  • Step Seven: Quickly tap two times anywhere on the screen to select that number.

  • Step Eight: Repeat steps six and seven for the rest of the numbers of your passcode. 

  • If you need to check how many numbers you have entered, navigate to the Passcode Field and listen for VoiceOver to say how many values have been entered.

  • If you need to delete one or more numbers, navigate to the delete button located in the bottom right corner or the last area on the screen when swiping to the right.

Speech Gestures:

  • Mute or unmute VoiceOver: Three-finger double tap. If both VoiceOver and Zoom are turned on, use the three-finger triple-tap gesture.

  • To Pause or Unpause Speech: two fingers, single tap (like a pause symbol).

Reading Gestures:

  • Read all from the top of the page: Two fingers swipe up.

  • Read all from the current position: Two fingers swipe down.

  • To copy what VoiceOver just read to clipboard: Three fingers four taps.

Orientation Gestures:

  • Item Chooser: Two fingers, three taps.

  • Select the first item on the screen: Four-finger tap near the top of the screen.

  • Select the last item on the screen: Four-finger tap near the bottom of the screen.

  • Speak additional information, such as the position within a list or whether text is selected: Three-finger tap.

Home Screen Gestures:

  • Open the Control Center: Drag one finger down from the top right corner of the screen until you feel a vibration or hear the second tone.

  • Open the Notification Center: Drag one finger down from the top of the screen until you feel the second vibration or hear the third tone.

  • Status Bar Items: Tap the very top of the screen. Swipe left and right to hear things such as the time, WIFI, and battery percentage.

  • Search the Home Screen: Tap anywhere on the Home Screen outside the status bar. Then swipe down with three fingers.

Rearrange Apps on your Home Screen:

Drag and drop method. 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.

Miscellaneous Gestures:

  • Drag a Slider: Tap the slider to select it, then swipe up or down with one finger.

  • Start or Stop the Current Action (for example, play or pause music or a video, take a photo in Camera, start or stop a recording, start or stop the stopwatch): Two-finger double tap.

  • Edit an item’s label to make it easier to find: Two-finger double tap and hold.

  • Open the VoiceOver Quick Settings: Two-finger quadruple tap.

VoiceOver Modifications:

The gestures used can be changed to accommodate users who have difficulties with quickly tapping the screen or gestures using more than one finger. For example, one finger swipe up can be used to select something instead of doing double tap with one finger. To change VoiceOver settings go to the Setting app, then to the Accessibility section and then select VoiceOver. From there go to the Commands section and then the Touch Gestures section.

Screen Curtain:

When the screen curtain is on, the screen contents are active even though the display is black and appears to be turned off.

  • To turn the Screen Curtain on or off: Three fingers, three taps. 

  • To turn the Screen Curtain on or off while in Zoom Mode: Three fingers, four taps.

VoiceOver Rotor:

The VoiceOver rotor is a way to have customizable shortcuts when using VoiceOver. You can use the onscreen VoiceOver rotor to change how VoiceOver works. 

You can adjust the VoiceOver volume or speaking rate, move from one item to the next on the screen, select special input methods such as Braille Screen Input or Handwriting, and more.

  • Choose a rotor setting: rotate two fingers on your screen as if you’re turning a dial. If you prefer to use one finger on each hand, simultaneously drag up with one finger and drag down with the other. VoiceOver speaks the rotor setting.

  • Keep rotating your fingers to hear more settings. Stop rotating your fingers when you hear the setting you want.

  • Move to the previous item or increase (depending on the rotor setting): Swipe up.

  • Move to the next item or decrease (depending on the rotor setting): Swipe down.

The available rotor settings and their effects depend on what you’re doing. For example, if you choose Headings when you’re browsing a web page, swipe down or up to move the VoiceOver cursor to the next or previous heading. To customize the VoiceOver rotor go to the VoiceOver section of Accessibility settings then go to Rotor. Have VoiceOver confirm rotor actions: Tap Verbosity, then turn on Speak Confirmation.


VoiceOver User Guide Rotor Page: support.apple.com/guide/iphone/control-voiceover-using-the-rotor-iph3e2e3a6d/ios.