Apple has announced a sweeping range of new accessibility features that will roll out later this year across its product lineup, aiming to improve usability for users with disabilities. Among the headline updates are Accessibility Nutrition Labels for the App Store, an all-new Magnifier app for Mac, a revamped braille experience, and a new Accessibility Reader designed for users with reading challenges.
The company says these innovations reflect its longstanding commitment to inclusion, supported by advances in Apple silicon, on-device machine learning, and artificial intelligence.
“At Apple, accessibility is part of our DNA,” said CEO Tim Cook. “Making technology for everyone is a priority for all of us, and we’re proud of the innovations we’re sharing this year.”
Sarah Herrlinger, Apple’s senior director of Global Accessibility Policy and Initiatives, added, “Powered by the Apple ecosystem, these features work seamlessly together to bring users new ways to engage with the things they care about most.”
Accessibility Nutrition Labels Launch on the App Store
A new section will appear on App Store product pages highlighting the accessibility features of apps and games. These Accessibility Nutrition Labels will enable users to determine whether an app supports tools like VoiceOver, Voice Control, Larger Text, sufficient contrast, and more — before downloading.
Eric Bridges, President and CEO of the American Foundation for the Blind, praised the move: “Consumers deserve to know if a product or service will be accessible to them from the very start. These labels give people with disabilities a new way to make more informed decisions.”
Magnifier App Arrives on Mac
The popular Magnifier app — previously available on iPhone and iPad — is now coming to Mac. It allows users with low vision to zoom in on their surroundings using a built-in or external camera. The app supports Continuity Camera from iPhone and USB-connected webcams, making it easier to read documents or view distant objects like whiteboards.
Users can open multiple sessions at once, apply customized visual settings, and even save views for future reference. Integrated with the new Accessibility Reader, the app also helps transform real-world text into a more readable format.
Braille Access: A Comprehensive Braille Experience
Apple is launching Braille Access, a new suite of tools that turns iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro into fully functional braille note-taking devices. With features like a built-in app launcher, support for Braille Ready Format (BRF) files, and Nemeth Braille for math and science notation, the new system empowers braille users to interact more deeply with their devices.
A built-in version of Live Captions will also provide real-time transcription on braille displays, helping users engage in conversations more independently.
Accessibility Reader Offers New Text Experience
The Accessibility Reader provides a systemwide reading mode across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro, allowing users to customize text appearance, adjust spacing, and enable spoken content. It supports individuals with dyslexia, low vision, and other reading challenges.
This feature can be launched from any app and is also integrated into the Magnifier app to help users interact with printed materials like menus or books.
Live Captions Extend to Apple Watch
Apple Watch is receiving new Live Listen controls, including real-time Live Captions for users who are deaf or hard of hearing. When paired with an iPhone, the Apple Watch displays captions of nearby speech captured by the phone’s microphone. Users can start or stop sessions remotely or rewind to catch missed dialogue, enhancing communication in group settings like meetings or classrooms.
Enhanced Capabilities with Apple Vision Pro
Apple Vision Pro will offer upgraded accessibility through enhancements to visionOS. The headset’s advanced camera system will allow users to magnify their surroundings using Zoom and receive live descriptions via on-device machine learning.
A new developer API will enable approved apps to access the main camera, facilitating real-time visual assistance from services like Be My Eyes, empowering users with greater independence.
Additional Updates Across the Ecosystem
Apple also announced a variety of other accessibility updates:
- Background Sounds now feature personalized EQ settings, automatic shutoff, and integration with Shortcuts to support users managing focus or symptoms of tinnitus.
- Personal Voice becomes faster and more natural using only 10 spoken phrases and will now support Spanish (Mexico).
- Vehicle Motion Cues, designed to reduce motion sickness, will be available on Mac, with enhanced customization across devices.
- Eye Tracking improvements allow users to use dwell or switch controls more effectively, and typing via Eye Tracking is now more efficient across all platforms.
- Head Tracking enables users to control devices using head movements, adding another input method for those with severe mobility impairments.
- Brain Computer Interface (BCI) support expands Switch Control capabilities, opening new access pathways for users with profound physical disabilities.
- Assistive Access introduces a simplified Apple TV app and new APIs to help developers design apps for users with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
- Music Haptics now allow customization for vibration intensity and specific parts of a song (e.g., vocals only).
- Sound Recognition adds Name Recognition to alert users when their name is called, benefiting those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
- Voice Control gains a new programming mode in Xcode for developers with limited mobility, device sync for vocabulary, and expanded language support including Arabic, Russian, and Korean.
- Live Captions extend to additional regions and languages including Japanese, Spanish, French, and Mandarin Chinese.
- CarPlay adds support for Large Text and enhancements to Sound Recognition, alerting users to sounds like sirens or a crying baby.
- Share Accessibility Settings allows users to temporarily apply their personalized accessibility settings to another iPhone or iPad — ideal for shared or public devices.
With this comprehensive rollout, Apple reinforces its leadership in accessible technology, aiming to ensure that every user — regardless of ability — has equal access to tools that enrich their daily lives. These updates are expected to become available later this year across Apple’s platforms.
