A Massive iPhone Accessibility Update You Don’t Want to Ignore

While it’s usually not the first thing everyone notices after installing a new iOS software update, I would prioritize the new accessibility features on your iPhone with iOS 16 because there are some very valuable tools that even non-disabled users can use.

Of course, Apple has created new accessibility features for people with disabilities, but more and more users are using them because they can greatly improve the user experience. What started as a project to make the iPhone accessible to all users has become one of the biggest advantages the iPhone has over other smartphones.

Accessibility features let you customize iPhone and get the most out of it. You can have your iPhone read for you, detect sounds, respond to voice commands, or take hands-free photos. And now you can do even more with the new iOS 16 assistive features.

1. Loupe door detection

Magnifier has a new door detection option that helps blind and visually impaired users find entrances when they arrive at their destination. The tool can tell you how far the door is, whether the door is open or closed, how to open it (push, turn the knob, pull the knob, etc.), what any signs say (like room numbers), what any symbols mean (for example, people icons for toilets) and much more.

Door Detection uses a lidar scanner to detect light and measure distance, which is only available on iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max, iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max, iPad Pro 11-inch 2nd and 3rd generation, and iPad Pro 12.9-inch 4 th and 3rd generations. 5th generation users.

Image via Apple

2. Description of the image in the magnifier

Another new feature in the Magnifier app is image descriptions. When you point the camera at something, it shows (or reads) detailed descriptions of what it sees. Unlike door detection, this feature is available to all iOS 16 users. It’s not always accurate, but it should improve as development continues.

3. Loupe detection mode

Now that the Loupe has two more detection tools, a new Detection Mode menu is available which houses Detect Doors, Detect People, and Image Descriptions.

If you don’t have one of the iPhone or iPad models that support door detection (see above), which are also the same models that support people detection, you can only add image descriptions to your controls, not the detection mode menu.

Image via Apple

4. Actions in the loop

Magnifier also supports actions that allow you to save your current Magnifier configuration, including control panel, camera, brightness, contrast, filters, and detection modes. Thus, you can use specialized settings for a specific recurring task or situation. To save the current layout, use “Save New Activity”from the “Settings”gear. You can also switch between layouts using the gear. In the “Actions”settings, you can remove or duplicate custom options.

5. Live subtitles for audio, video and calls

One of the biggest new accessibility features is Live Captions, which are useful for people with hearing problems and anyone who can’t hear audio on their iPhone for whatever reason. It will work on phone and FaceTime calls, video calls on social media apps, streaming shows and other media, and even teleconferencing apps.

Image via Apple

You can also adjust the font size, color, and background color for easier reading. You can even move captions around like with the Picture-in-Picture player and set its standby opacity. And if you use your Mac for calls, you can answer the conversation by typing and reading your words out loud in real time.

Live Captions is currently available in the US and Canada for iPhone 11 and later, iPad with A12 Bionic and later, and Mac computers with Apple Silicon. If you’re concerned about privacy, Apple promises that user information will remain private because Live Captions are generated directly on the device. You cannot record them when you take a screenshot.

6. Mirroring Apple Watch

If you have an Apple Watch, you can use most of the accessibility features of a paired iPhone to control it remotely thanks to Apple Watch Mirroring.

With Apple Watch Mirroring, users can control Apple Watch with iPhone assistive features such as voice control and switch control, and use inputs including voice commands, sound actions, head tracking, or Made for iPhone external switches as an alternative to touching the Apple display watch. Apple Watch Mirroring uses hardware and software integration, including AirPlay-based enhancements, to help users who rely on these mobile features experience unique Apple Watch apps like Blood Oxygen, Heart Rate, Mindfulness, and more.

Apple Watch mirroring is available on Apple Watch Series 6 and later. To turn it on, go to Settings -> Accessibility -> Apple Watch Mirroring, then turn on the toggle. Once connected, you can fully control your watch through your iPhone.

Image via Apple

7. Additional Languages ​​for VoiceOver and Speak Tools

Now you can enable even more languages ​​for VoiceOver, Speak Selection and Speak Screen. Supported languages ​​include:

• Arabic (worldwide)
• Basque (Spain)
• Bengali or Bangla (India)
• Bhojpuri (India)
• Bulgarian (Bulgaria)
• Catalan (Spain)
• Croatian (Croatia)
• Farsi or Persian (Iran)
• French (Belgium)
• Galician (Spain)
• Kannada (India)
• Malay (Malaysia)
• Mandarin (Liaoning, Shaanxi, Sichuan)
• Marathi (India)
• Shanghai (China)
• Spanish (Chile)
• Slovenian (Slovenia)
• Tamil (India)
• Telugu (India)
• Ukrainian (Ukraine)
• Valencia (Spain)
• Vietnamese (Vietnam)

8. More voices for VoiceOver and Speak Tools

Dozens of new voices are also available for VoiceOver, Speak Selection and Speak Screen – all optimized assistive features and languages. For English, new voices include Agnes, Bruce, Eloquence, Evan, Joel, Junior, Cathy, Nathan, Noel, Ralph, Vicki and Zoe.

There are also new voices including Albert, Bad News, Bahh, Bells, Boing, Bubbles, Cellos, Good News, Jester, Organ, Superstar, Trinoids, Whisper, Wobble and Zarvox.

9. Advanced VoiceOver Programming Settings

There are several new options to work with in Settings -> Accessibility -> VoiceOver -> Actions -> Programming, which allows you to create groups of settings for specific purposes.

The first is the typing style, which allows you to choose between Default, Standard, Touch, and Direct Touch. The second is “Navigation Style”with the options “Default”, “Checkbox”and “Grouped”. And the third one is “Braille Warning Messages”where you can select “Default”, “On”or “Off”. These options were available before, but not for programming activities.

10. VoiceOver Start Point Detection on Maps

When you use VoiceOver in Apple Maps, you’ll get automatic audio and haptic feedback to help you determine the starting point of your walking route.

11. Buddy Controller for games

If you’re having trouble using your game controller, the new Buddy Controller feature allows a friend or healthcare professional to help you play the game. It works by combining two game controllers into one so you can effectively play together as a single player. If this sounds familiar, it’s because the Xbox consoles offer a similar feature called Co-pilot.

12. Siri pause time

In Settings -> Accessibility -> Siri, you’ll find a new section called Siri Pause Time, where you can set how long Siri waits for you to finish speaking. You can leave the default setting or choose Longer or Longest. This tool is perfect for you if Siri always seems like an impatient interrupter.

13. Custom sounds for sound recognition

Sound recognition has been available since iOS 14, but in iOS 16 you can teach your iPhone to recognize specific sounds in your environment. Go to Settings -> Accessibility -> Sound Recognition -> Sounds and select Custom Alarm or Custom Device or Doorbell.

To remove custom alarms and sounds, swipe left on them in the Sounds menu. You can also click Edit, then the delete icon (a red circle with a white line in the middle) and confirm by clicking Delete.

14. Voice control spell check mode

You’re probably already used to the iPhone’s dictation feature, but now you can use Voice Control’s spell check mode to pronounce the word letter by letter so there’s no misunderstanding. Use it to dictate names, addresses, abbreviations and more. This feature is currently only available in English (US).

15. Additional voice commands

Apart from the spelling mode, voice control also has new commands for:

• Open Application Library
• Show keyboard
• Hide keyboard
• Press key <key name>
• hang up
• Turn on Apple Watch mirroring
• Disable Apple Watch Mirroring
• Turn on your Apple Watch remote control.
• Disable Apple Watch Remote Control
• Turn on full keyboard access
• Disable full keyboard access
• VoiceOver activate
• Magic Touch VoiceOver
• VoiceOver select <number>
• VoiceOver read all
• VoiceOver select <item name>
• VoiceOver select first item
• VoiceOver select last item
• VoiceOver select next app
• VoiceOver select previous app
• VoiceOver select next item
• VoiceOver select previous item
• VoiceOver select next rotor
• VoiceOver select previous rotor
• VoiceOver select next rotor option
• VoiceOver select previous rotor option
• VoiceOver selects the status bar
• VoiceOver Object Picker
• VoiceOver Speech Summary
• VoiceOver will stop talking
• VoiceOver Screen Shutter
• zoom in
• zoom out
• zoom in
• zoom out
• Decrease
• Increase
• Zoom left
• Zoom right

16. Personalize Apple Books

In iOS 16, the Apple Books app comes with new themes and accessibility features. The app has been redesigned and the new interface has been simplified, which also helps make it more accessible. You can make text bold and adjust spacing for easier reading. And there are some new themes you can use to make the app more pleasing to the eye.

• Read More: 20 Big New Features and Changes in Apple Books on Your iPhone

17. Hey Siri, hang up

It wasn’t possible to ask Siri to end a phone call or FaceTime call for you, but now you can do it by saying “Hey Siri, hang up”while you’re talking to someone. The downside is that the person you’re talking to will hear you say the command, but this is great for ending a call hands-free for whatever reason. You can turn it on in Siri & Search settings or Siri accessibility settings.

Apple’s website says this feature is available on iPhones with A12 Bionic and later, but accessibility settings says it works on iPhone 11 and later. The first may be true, since we can end a call on our iPhone XR with the A12 Bionic chip. Settings also says it’s available on older iPhones when using AirPods or Beats with Siri.

18. Automatically answer calls, switch with Hey Siri

The option to automatically answer calls is very helpful for some users with disabilities. However, there was one catch – it had to be turned on manually through Settings -> Accessibility -> Touch Screen -> Audio Call Routing -> Auto Answer Calls. Now you can say: “Hey Siri, turn on auto-responder”or “Hey Siri, turn off auto-responder.”Apart from iOS 16, it is also available for watchOS 9.

19. Announce notifications without headphones

Your iPhone can read incoming messages and notifications, but this feature only works when paired with AirPods or Beats headphones. In iOS 16, it also works with your iPhone speaker and Made for iPhone hearing aids. This is an essential tool for those who can’t take their iPhone to read the latest text or notification.

Let Siri read notifications. Siri won’t interrupt you and will listen after you read notifications so you can reply or take action without saying “Hey Siri”. Siri will report notifications from new apps that send time-sensitive notifications or direct messages.

You can also set Siri to send a response in supported apps without asking you if you’re sure you want to send it.

20. Add audiograms to health

If you’re using the Health app, you can now import your audiograms to it on your iPhone. Go to Overview -> Hearing -> Audiogram, then click Add Data. You can use the camera to take a picture of an audiogram, select an audiogram image in the Photos app, or load an audiogram document from Files.