BASIC CHEAT SHEET
VoiceOver ยท iPad
Multitasking and multiple windows are advanced topics. The basic path stays inside one app.
Touch
| Task | Command | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Previous or next item | Swipe left / swipe right | Moves sequentially. |
| Explore by position | Drag one finger | Speaks the item beneath the finger. |
| Activate selected item | Double-tap | Performs the default action. |
| Pause or continue speech | Two-finger tap | Controls speech. |
| Choose a rotor option | Rotate two fingers | Then use up or down swipes. |
| Go back or dismiss | Two-finger scrub | Draw a quick Z shape. |
External keyboard
| Task | Command | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Open VoiceOver Help | VO-K | Use this before relying on remembered commands. |
| Previous or next item | VO-Left Arrow / VO-Right Arrow | Moves VoiceOver selection. |
| Activate item | VO-Space | Performs the default action. |
| Read from current position | VO-A | Begins continuous reading. |
| Pause or resume reading | Control | Controls current reading. |
| Return to previous screen | Escape | Returns when supported by the current context. |
Practical notes for this platform
- Record iPad model, iPadOS version, orientation, and window size.
- Run the basic task with one input method at a time.
- Check sidebars and detail regions as separate navigation contexts.
- Multitasking claims require a separate advanced test.
Platform-neutral testing pointers
Before testing
- Record device, operating system, browser or app, screen reader, and versions.
- Use a combination relevant to the product's supported environments.
- Learn the basic commands before judging the interface.
Test a representative task
- Identify where you are and the purpose of the current view.
- Discover content and controls through the screen reader.
- Check names, roles, states, values, order, and relationships.
- Operate controls and trigger a meaningful change.
- Cause or locate an error, then recover.
- Complete the task and find a route back.
Document
- Exact starting point and actions used
- Expected announcement or behaviour
- Actual announcement or behaviour
- Impact on the user's task
- Whether the result was reproduced
A beginner completing this check does not prove efficiency for regular users, compatibility across every combination, or that user research is unnecessary.
Primary sources
Editorial model reviewed 18 July 2026. Command sheets must be rechecked when Apple changes platform guidance.