Earlier this year, Apple introduced a new tool that makes it easy to read anything on your device’s screen. Designed for people with visual impairments, the accessibility reader provides a full-screen view of any text on the screen. (It’s a little like Safari’s reader mode, only in any app.) The feature also lets you listen to your text read aloud.
Accessibility Reader is available for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Vision Pro. Your device will need to be on IOS 26, iPados 26, Macos 26 Tahoe or Vision 26.
It is a very specific experience. But since it offers several launches and customization options, here’s a quick rundown of getting started and getting it to your liking.
How to turn on and turn on the reader
Read resource settings changed on macos.
Activating this feature is the same for any Apple DECTICE. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Read and talkand turn on the available reader. (Very high.) Once you’ve done that, there are several ways to launch the tool.
Accessibility Shortcut (iOS / iPados / Visions)
Triple-click the lock button. That’s the side button on the iPhone and the top button on the iPad and Display Pro. .
If you don’t need other items in this menu, you can remove them Settings > Availability > Accessibility Shortcut. After that, using the Shortcut will immediately launch the access reader.
Control Center (iOS / iPados)
You can add a Control Center Shortcut a tool. Swipe down from the top right to launch the control center. After that, hold your finger on the inactive part of the screen. Select “Install control” (at the bottom), and find the accessibility shortcut. Now you can touch that control icon whenever you want to open it.
Keyboard shortcut (Macos)
The default accessibility shortcut for Mac Cmd-esc. Or, customize it Settings > Availability > Accessibility Tutorial By clicking on “I” next to the menu item.
Accessibility Shortcut (Macos)
The tool is available as part of the Mac accessibility shortcut. You can start this menu using the keyboard shortcut (Opt-CMD-F5), by quickly pressing the ID three times or via the center control shortcut. (However, the Escrd Shortcut above for CMD-ESC should be very easy for most people.)
How to Listen to Text in the Reader Effect
The tool also includes a text-to-speech (TTS) option. Once you’ve introduced the reader, listening is as easy as pressing the play button (▶). You can use the break (⏸) shortcut to take a break.
Other options include skipping backwards or forwards using rewind or fast symbols. There is also a speed adjustment, which you can change by selecting the 1X button.
If you want the reader to speak the text automatically when it opens, you can do that, too. That option is available below Settings > Availability > Accessibility Tutorial. (On a Mac, select the “I” symbol next to the menu entry to access this option.)
How to customize access reader
Easy to adjust font size, color, theme and more. Once you have introduced the reader, tap the customize (AA) button. There, you can change the theme, colors, font, line spacing and much more.
