Keyboard Shortcuts for Voice Over
The list below contains all of the keyboard commands that are available when using Voice Over on the iPhone. This list has been checked using the current version of the iOS, version 10.0.2. It is meant as a reference guide for those who have learned to use Voice Over with the Bluetooth keyboard on their iPhone or iPad, but cannot the keystroke for a feature that isn't often used.
When reading the list the VoiceOver Key will be referred to as VO. The VoiceOver Key is accomplished by pressing and holding down the Control and Option keys which are the second and third keys to the left of the spacebar on a typical Apple keyboard. If you are using a more generic Bluetooth keyboard be sure to find out which keys to the left of the spacebar are designated as Control and Option.
Note that the word Element and Item are used interchangeably here to correspond to how they are announced in the VoiceOver Help. Also, t his list does not cover text editing or specific techniques for navigation of web pages in Safari. Look for new items in your Resources section for that information in the near future.
| Command Name | Keystroke | Description |
| Home | VO + H | Returns to the Home Screen from the current app. Same has pressing the actual Home button on the iPhone or iPad |
| Voice Over Help | VO + K | Causes all keys pressed to have their function announced rather than preforming those functions. To get out of Help Mode, press the ESCAPE key. |
| Swipe Forward | VO + RIGHT ARROW | Moves to the next Item on the current screen |
| Swipe Backward | VO + LEFT ARROW | Moves to the previous Item on the current screen |
| Activate / Double Tap Current Item | VO + SPACEBAR | Activates the current item. Is the same as doing a one finger double tap anywhere on the screen |
| Move to First Element | CONTROL + UP ARROW | Moves to the first Element on the current screen |
| Move to the Last Element | CONTROL + DOWN ARROW | Moves to the last Element on the current screen |
| Move to Next Container | CONTROL + RIGHT ARROW | Moves to the next Container in an app that uses Containers in its layout. |
| Move to Previous Container | CONTROL + LEFT ARROW | Moves to the next Container in an app that uses Containers in its layout. |
| Move to Top Status Bar | VO + M | This is where you find information about such things as wifi signal strength and percentage of battery life remaining. Use ESCAPE to move off the Top Status Bar and back to the current app |
| Stop Speaking | CONTROL Key | This is stops the speaking of the last command issued |
| Volume Up | VO + F12 | Used just as the volume up button on the side of the device itself is used |
| Volume Down | VO + F11 | Used just as the volume down button on the side of the device itself is used |
| Activate App Switcher | VO + H Press Twice quickly | Used for switching between running apps. Apps can be exited when the App Switcher is active with a Two Finger Swipe Up |
| Quick Nav On / Off | LEFT and RIGHT ARROW Keys pressed at the same time | Quick Nav Off Mode is used when typing or editing any text. Quick Nav should be on for all other tasks on the device |
| Rotor Selection | UP ARROW and RIGHT ARROW Keys pressed at the same time or VO + COMMAND + RIGHT ARROW | Used to affect special actions that can be performed by Voice Over. After making a selection, the UP and DOWN ARROW Keys control the selection chosen |
| Item Chooser | VO + I | Puts a list on the screen of all Items / Elements found on the current screen. The Search field found in the Item Chooser is used to get directly to known items on the current screen |
| Say Current Item / Element | VO + W | Reads the current Item / Element without moving off of it and then back onto it |
| Say All from Top of Screen | VO + B | Moves the focus back to the top of the current screen and begins reading everything on it in the same order as Swiping Forward. To stop it from reading any farther, press the CONTROL key. |
| Say From Current Item / Element | VO + A | Begins reading at the position of the current Item / Element. To stop it from reading any farther, press the CONTROL key. |
| Label Element | VO + / | Allows you to assign a Label to an Item / Element in an app where one does not exist. It can also be used to change a label that is unclear or inaccurate. This is often helpful in apps that were not created by Apple and thus were not created with Voice Over users in mind. |
| Spotlight Search | OPTION + UP ARROW | Searches the entire device for a specific word or phrase. Can be used to find Contacts, Calendar Items and even phrases within a Reminder or Text Message |
| Move to Next Page of Apps | OPTION + RIGHT ARROW | Switches to the next page of available apps on the device. Use VO + H to get back to the first page, the Home Screen |
| Move to Previous Page of Apps | OPTION + LEFT ARROW | Switches to the previous page of available apps on the device. Use VO + H to get back to the first page, the Home Screen |
| Voice Over Find | VO + F | Searches for text on the current screen only. |
| Voice Over Off | VO + H Pressed Three Times Quickly | |
| Scroll Down | OPTION + DOWN ARROW | Scrolls Down one page in an app or screen where the information is displayed on multiple pages, such as a web page or long email |
| Scroll Up | OPTION + UP ARROW | Scrolls Up one page in an app or screen where the information is displayed on multiple pages, such as a web page or long email |
| Activate Back Button | VO + ESCAPE | Activates the Back button at the top of an app if one exists. This is used in apps that are standard to the iOS device such as: Messages, Mail, Music, Safari etc. |
| Start and Stop the Current Action | VO + DASH | This is specific to the current app. For example, you can use this to start and stop playing the last audio file you were listening to. This will also answer and disconnect from phone calls and even take a picture when in the Camera app. |
| Move to Left Most Item / Element on the Dock | CONTROL + SHIFT + RIGHT ARROW | When on the Home Screen the focus will move to the Dock and position it on the Item / Element on the left. On a screen that contains Tabs at the bottom, this keystroke will move to the left most Item / Element of that group. Works in Mail, Apps, Safari, BARD Mobile and the like. |
| Move to the Bottom Most Item / Element on the Dock | CONTROL + SHIFT + LEFT ARROW | When on the Home Screen the focus will move to the Dock and position it on last Item / Element. Within some apps this keystroke will move back to the top left most Item / Element on the screen. |
| Move to Previous Item using Rotor Setting | UP ARROW | Once the Rotor is set to a particular choice, this keystroke will navigate through those available choices. For example, if the Rotor is set to Words, then pressing UP or DOWN ARROW alone move to the previous and next words respectively. |
| Single Letter Quick Nav Toggle | VO + Q | Toggles the use of the Single Letter Quick Nav for moving, generally through web pages, to the next or previous element that has single letter navigation available. For example, in Safari with Single Letter Quick Nav on you can press B to move from Button to Button. |
| Speech On / Off Toggle | VO + S | Turn the speech off. This does not turn Voice Over off, just makes it not speak aloud your keyboard commands or gestures until it is turned back on |
| Search Text | VO + F | Puts the device in Find mode so that you can search the current screen for a specific word or phrase. Type the word or phrase you are looking for and then press ENTER. If found, Voice Over will move the focus to it. Use Escape if you want to cancel it if you press this commands unintentionally. |
| Move to next Graphic | VO + G | If there are graphics on a screen then Voice Over moves you to the next one. This keystroke also performs, on some screens as if it were a forward swipe. |
| Modifier Keys Lock | VO + Semi ColonTo keep the VO keys pressed down, requiring you to only press the key for the action you need. For example, if Modifier Keys Lock is on and you press H you will be moved to the Home screen. You need to press this command again to turn Modifier Keys Lock off. | |
| Click Back Button When Available | ESCAPE | On a screen with a back button, pressing the ESCAPE key will click that button, returning you to the previous screen. This will be most useful in apps such as Mail, Messages and Safari. |