Apple puts the A in Accessibility: Check out these great features

Here’s a recap of the most important new accessibility tools from Apple that span every platform in its ecosystem.

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Accessibility Nutrition Labels on the App Store

Apple introduced Accessibility Nutrition Labels on App Store product pages. These labels will give users clear information about what assistive features an app supports.

These labels will also help developers better showcase the inclusive elements of their apps, creating a more transparent and user-friendly App Store experience.

A new Braille Access

Apple is also launching Braille Access, which is a unified and powerful tool set for braille users on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro.

Braille Access functions as a note-taker, supports typing using Braille Screen Input or hardware displays, and enables users to read and annotate BRF files.

Arguably the most standout feature is the integration of Live Captions directly into Braille displays, allowing real-time conversation transcription in braille.

Accessibility Reader: Apple’s new systemwide reading mode

Designed for users who have dyslexia, low vision, or cognitive disabilities, Accessibility Reader transforms the way text is displayed on Apple devices. It is available on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro, and it lets you customize font style, color, spacing, and more.It also supports Spoken Content, and can be launched from anywhere — including from the Magnifier app, enabling interaction with physical text like books or menus.

Share Accessibility Settings: Use your settings on someone else’s device

Apple introduced Share Accessibility Settings, a new feature that lets users temporarily apply their personalized accessibility settings — like VoiceOver, Zoom, or larger text — on another Apple device.

This feature can be utilized when borrowing someone’s iPhone or using a shared iPad in a classroom. It enables a consistent experience without the hassle of reconfiguring every option manually. Once you’re done, the settings go away, keeping the host’s device unchanged.

Live Listen now works with Apple Watch

Apple is making it easier to follow conversations in real time with Live Listen controls, which are now available on Apple Watch.

When your iPhone is acting as a remote microphone, your watch will display Live Captions, allowing you to both hear and read what’s being said from across the room.

With Live listen, you can pause, resume, or scroll through recent transcripts with an Apple Watch.

Apple Vision Pro gains hands-free accessibility

visionOS is getting major upgrades to help users navigate the world more independently. With Zoom enhancements, users can magnify their entire view through the Vision Pro’s main camera.

Meanwhile, Live Recognition can describe surroundings, read text, and identify people or objects. Apple is also opening up the camera to approved apps like Be My Eyes, allowing real-time assistance directly within the headset.

Magnifier Comes to Mac

Magnifier is a key accessibility tool on iPhones and iPads, and it is now coming to macOS too. The new Magnifier app for Mac uses a connected camera — including the iPhone’s via Continuity Camera — to zoom in on documents, whiteboards, and objects in the real world.It’s customizable too, allowing users to adjust brightness, contrast, color filters, and to capture views for later reference. When paired with the new Accessibility Reader, Magnifier can help users with low vision interact with both physical and digital text.

More updates across the board

Here are some of the other standout additions:

• Background Sounds now include EQ settings and new automation options in Shortcuts.
• Personal Voice can now be created in under a minute using just 10 phrases — and it supports Spanish (Mexico).
• Vehicle Motion Cues are coming to Mac, helping reduce motion sickness while in transit.
• Eye Tracking and Head Tracking get more powerful, letting users control iPhones and iPads with simple movements or dwell gestures.
• A new protocol is coming for Brain-Computer Interfaces, expanding support for users with severe mobility impairments.
• Assistive Access now supports simplified media playback on Apple TV.
• Music Haptics become more customizable, allowing users to feel vocals or full songs through iPhone vibrations.
• Name Recognition debuts in Sound Recognition, letting users who are hard of hearing know when someone is calling their name.
• Voice Control adds a new programming mode in Xcode and expands to more languages, including Korean, Arabic (Saudi Arabia), Turkish, and more.
• CarPlay gains support for Large Text and additional sound notifications like crying babies and sirens.