Using VoiceOver to Learn What You Can Do in an App, from Tech Vision, Friday, February 13, 2026, received 2026 02 16

[Colin Howard]

Greetings,

I have Android hence use VoiceOver, but admit to hardly exploring it's
features and functions, looking at the below, may encourage me to be more
adventurous!

Using VoiceOver to Learn What You Can Do in an App using rotor with 2
fingersUsing VoiceOver to Learn What You Can Do in an App-using rotor action

Lesson:
Objective
Learners will understand how to use VoiceOver's built-in help features -
including the four-finger double-tap - to explore gestures, discover
available actions, and learn what options exist inside any app.


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1. What the Four-Finger Double-Tap Does
VoiceOver Help Mode
A four-finger double-tap turns VoiceOver Help on or off.

When Help Mode is ON:

VoiceOver explains every gesture you perform
Nothing on the screen activates
It is a safe space to practice
You can explore without fear of opening apps or changing settings
To exit Help Mode, simply four-finger double-tap again.

This gesture does not give information about the app itself - it teaches
VoiceOver gestures.


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2. How to Learn What You Can Do in an App
VoiceOver offers several ways to discover menus, actions, and options inside
any app.

A. Explore by Touch
Gently lay finger on screen and Move your finger around the screen-top left
to right and down
VoiceOver announces buttons, tabs, menus, and controls
This helps you build a mental map of the app layout
Example:
"Home, tab, 1 of 4."
"Settings, button."
"More Options, button."


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B. Use the Rotor to Find Hidden Actions
The Rotor is a powerful tool for discovering what's possible.

To use it:
Place two fingers on the screen with 1 hand to "turn knob"; or some find it
easier with pointer finger from each hand mimicking a circle
Twist like turning a dial
Stop when you hear Actions, More Options, or similar choices
Swipe up or down to explore available actions
Common rotor actions include:

"More Info"
"Details"
"Menu"
"Help"
"Show Options"
"Edit"
"Delete"
"Open Settings"
This is often where apps hide extra features.

You can add features in Settings just ask Siri to "open Accessibility and
flick to Voice Over and when you open-pay attention to every detail her then
open rotor settings"


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C. Turn On VoiceOver Hints
Hints tell the learner what they can do on each item.

To enable:
Settings ? Accessibility ? VoiceOver ? Hints

When hints are on, VoiceOver may say:

"Double-tap to activate."
"Swipe up or down to adjust."
"Double-tap and hold to open menu."
Hints help learners understand available actions without guessing.


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Many apps include:

A Help button
A Menu or More tab
A Settings area
VoiceOver will announce these when the learner explores the screen.


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3. Practice Activity Steps
Have the learner:

1 - Enter Help Mode
Perform a four-finger double-tap
Try gestures: flicks, taps, rotor turns
Listen to VoiceOver explain each one
2 - Explore an App
Touch around the screen to hear what's available
Find tabs, buttons, and menus
3 - Use the Rotor
Turn the rotor to Actions
Swipe up/down to hear what actions are available
4 - Turn on Hints
Listen for instructions VoiceOver provides

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4. Key Takeaways
Four-finger double-tap = VoiceOver Help Mode, not app information
To learn what you can do in an app, use:
Explore by Touch
Rotor ? Actions
VoiceOver Hints
App menus and help sections

https://yourtechvision.com/2026/02/13/using-voiceover-to-learn-what-you-can-do-in-an-app/

David Goldfield,

Blindness Assistive Technology Specialist

http://www.DavidGoldfield.com

Director of Marketing,

Blazie Technologies

http://www.BlazieTech.com

JAWS Certified, 2022

NVDA Certified Expert

Subscribe to the Tech-VI announcement list to receive blindness technology
news, events and information.

Email: tech-vi+...@groups.io

http://www.DavidGoldfield.com

Colin Howard, living in Southern England.

[mj.ba...@gmail.com]

Thanks, Colin.

I've copied most of this inhto a Word document.

Mike

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[Colin Howard]

Mike,

Glad you find the content posts of use, how about the rest of you?

Colin Howard, living in Southern England.

> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/avipworld/003401dc9ff4%246d46b7e0%2447d427a0%24%40gmail.com.