Customize your app for Assistive Access

Asked on 2025-07-01

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To customize your app for Assistive Access, you should follow several key steps and principles as outlined in the session "Customize your app for Assistive Access" from WWDC 2025.

  1. Set Up Your App: Begin by setting the UI supports Assistive Access Info Plist key to true in your app bundle. This ensures your app is listed under Optimized Apps in Assistive Access settings and launches in full screen.

  2. Create an Assistive Access Scene: Use the Assistive Access scene to create a streamlined app experience. This involves designing a new content view with a custom hierarchy tailored for Assistive Access. The scene will display native SwiftUI controls in a more prominent style, adhering to a grid or row layout configured in Assistive Access settings.

  3. Focus on Core Features: Identify the core functionality of your app and bring only the most essential features to Assistive Access. This helps reduce cognitive load by minimizing distractions and focusing on the most important tasks.

  4. Design for Clarity and Simplicity: Ensure controls are clearly visible and avoid hidden gestures or nested UI. Use prominent controls and avoid timed interactions to allow users to complete tasks at their own pace.

  5. Incremental Guided Flows: Design experiences that guide users through a selection process with incremental steps, avoiding lengthy setup processes.

  6. Visual Alternatives: Provide visual alternatives to text, such as icons alongside navigation titles, to make the app more intuitive for users with cognitive disabilities.

For more detailed guidance, you can refer to the session Customize your app for Assistive Access (04:09) which covers creating a scene, and Tailor your app (07:08) for further customization tips.