Learn VoiceOver Gestures

When VoiceOver is on, standard touchscreen gestures have different effects, and additional gestures let you move around the screen and control individual items. VoiceOver gestures include two-, three-, and four-finger taps and swipes. For best results using multi-finger gestures, relax and let your fingers touch the screen with some space between them.

You can use different techniques to enter a particular VoiceOver gesture. For example, you can perform a two-finger tap using two fingers from one hand, or one finger from each hand. You can even use your thumbs. Many use a split-tap gesture: instead of selecting an item and double-tapping, touch and hold an item with one finger, then tap the screen with another finger. Try different techniques to discover which works best for you.

If a gesture doesn't work, try a quicker movement, especially for a double-tap or swipe gesture.

In VoiceOver settings, you can enter a special area where you can practice VoiceOver gestures without affecting iPad or its settings.

Practice VoiceOver gestures. Go to Settings > General > Accessibility > VoiceOver, then tap VoiceOver Practice. When you finish practicing, tap Done. If you don't see the VoiceOver Practice button, make sure VoiceOver is turned on.

Here's a summary of key VoiceOver gestures:

Navigate and read

  • Tap: Select and speak the item.
  • Swipe right or left: Select the next or previous item.
  • Swipe up or down: Depends on the rotor setting. See Use the VoiceOver rotor on page 105.
  • Two-finger tap: Stop speaking the current item.
  • Two-finger swipe up: Read all from the top of the screen.
  • Two-finger swipe down: Read all from the current position.
  • Two-finger scrub: Move two fingers back and forth three times quickly (making a "z") to dismiss an alert or go back to the previous screen.
  • Three-finger swipe up or down: Scroll one page at a time.
  • Three-finger swipe right or left: Go to the next or previous page (such as the Home screen or Stocks).
  • Three-finger tap: Speak additional information, such as position within a list or whether text is selected.

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

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

Activate

  • Double-tap: Activate the selected item.
  • Triple-tap: Double-tap an item.
  • Split-tap: As an alternative to selecting an item and double-tapping to activate it, touch and hold an item with one finger, and then tap the screen with another.
  • Double-tap and hold (1 second) + standard gesture: Use a standard gesture. The double-tap and hold gesture tells iPad to interpret the next gesture as standard. For example, you can double-tap and hold, and then without lifting your finger to slide a switch.
  • Two-finger double-tap: Play or pause in Music, Videos, or Photos. Take a photo in Camera. Start or pause recording in Camera. Start or stop the stopwatch.
  • Two-finger double-tap and hold: Relabel the selected item.
  • Two-finger triple-tap: Open the Item Chooser.
  • Three-finger double-tap: Mute or unmute VoiceOver.
  • Three-finger triple-tap: Turn the screen curtain on or off.

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