15 Most Important VoiceOver Gestures

18 Most Important VoiceOver Gestures

What is VoiceOver and Who Needs It

VoiceOver is a features built into all iPhones and iPads that allow elements on the screen to be read aloud to you. The primary users of VoiceOver are those who cannot see well or see at all; visually impaired and totally blind.

When to use VoiceOver

VoiceOver can be turned on and off quickly with a Siri command. This allows it to be used when it is needed and turned off when it isn't needed. Visually Impaired users will use it for tasks that they are not able to see while Blind or more severly Visually Impaired users will keep it on all the time.

How VoiceOver Gestures Are Used

When VoiceOver is on the iPhone or iPad screen is used differently. Thus, just touching the screen or even attempting to answer the phone is done with Gestures that do not require the user to see what is on the screen. Those basic Gestures are covered on this webpage.

Some Terms Used Here

VoiceOver Gestures are indicate by the number of fingers used and then the way those fingers are used. For example if the gesture is a ONE FINGER DOUBLE TAP it means to take 1 finger and tap twice quickly anywhere on the screen. A FLICK is a short swipe on the screen in the direction indicated. For example, ONE FINGER FLICK RIGHT means take 1 one finger and make a short quick movement on the screen from right to left.

On Where to Flick and Tap

When using VoiceOver remember that it is designed to be used by anyone who has difficulty seeing the screen so there is not going to be an instruction for anything to look for on the screen when making the indicated gestures. So if the gestures says: TWO FINGER DOUBLE TAP is means to take 2 fingers and tap the screen anywhere very quickly. No need to look at your fingers to see if you tapped in a specific location, anywhere means anywhere.

A Word of Caution

If I (Sue) has worked with you one-on-one and changed any of the gestures listed here you will have been told which ones were changed and why. If you have questions you know how to reach me.

Gestures and What They Are Used For

TWO FINGER DOUBLE TAP:

ANSWER AND DISCONNECT CALLS OR PLAY MUSIC

ONE FINGER TAP:

SPEAK ITEM THAT IS TOUCHED

ONE FINGER FLICK RIGHT OR LEFT:

SELECT THE NEXT OR PREVIOUS ITEM

ONE FINGER DOUBLE TAP:

SELECT THE ITEM JUST SPOKEN

TWO FINGER SINGLE TAP:

SPEAK CURRENT ITEM

TWO FINGER FLICK UP:

READ ALL FROM THE TOP OF THE SCREEN

TWO FINGER FLICK DOWN:

READ ALL FROM THE CURRENT POSITION

TWO FINGER SCRUB:

DISMISS AN ALERT OR GO BACK TO PREVIOUS SCREEN

THREE FINGER FLICK UP:

SCROLL DOWN

THREE FINGER FLICK DOWN:

SCROLL UP

THREE FINGER SINGLE TAP:

SPEAK INFO ABOUT CURRENT ITEM

FOUR FINGER TAP AT TOP OF SCREEN:

SELECT FIRST ELEMENT ON SCREEN

FOUR FINGER TAP AT BOTTOM OF SCREEN:

SELECT LAST ELEMENT ON SCREEN

THREE FINGER DOUBLE TAP:

TURN SPEECH OFF OR ON

THREE FINGER TRIPLE TAP:

TURN SCREEN CURTAIN OFF OR ON

ONE FINGER FLICK UP:

PREVIOUS ROTOR ITEM

ONE FINGER FLICK DOWN:

NEXT ROTOR ITEM

TWO FINGER ROTATE:

ACTIVATE ROTOR