Voice Control for iOS

With Voice Control it is possible to perform actions via your voice. You can tap specific elements on the screen by speaking the corresponding number or label. There are hundreds of commands that allow you to fully control your device. The Appt Foundation has worked them out for you.

Voice Control is available on all devices with iOS 13 or later.

Turn on voice control

The first time you use voice control you need to turn it on in the following way:

Way 1: via settings

1. Open the Settings app

2. Tap Accessibility

3. Tap Voice Control

4. Turn on the switch

Way 2: Via Siri

1. Activate Siri ( “Hey Siri” )

2. Say: “Turn on voice control”

Way 3: Via Shortcut

1. Open the Settings app

2. Tap Accessibility

3. Scroll to the bottom, tap Accessibility shortcut

4. Tap Voice Control

5. Press the side button or home button three times.

Turn off voice control

The fastest way to turn off Voice Control is with the command: “Turn off Voice Control”. In addition, you can also turn off voice control via Siri: “Turn off Voice Control”.

While voice control is activated it is still possible to navigate via touch. You can turn off voice control again via the Settings app. Tap Accessibility, tap Voice Control, and turn off the switch.

If you have set up a shortcut for Voice Control, you can also turn it off again this way.

Using Voice Control

The most useful command to learn voice control is: “Show me what to say”. This command shows which commands are available for the current screen. In this way, you learn more and more commands to operate apps.

Note: unfortunately it will often happen that you cannot fully control apps with voice control.

Customize Voice Control

You can adjust voice control to your wishes. You can enable or disable specific commands and even create custom commands.

Enable or disable commands

Open the Settings app, tap Accessibility, tap Voice Control, and tap Customize Commands.

Then select the group in which the command falls, for example, 'Basic navigation'. Then select the command, for example, 'Open App Switcher'.

Now you are on the screen where you can turn the command on or off via the switch.

Create command

Open the Settings app, tap Accessibility, tap Voice Control, tap Customize Commands, and tap Create New Command…

Enter a phrase you want to use to activate the command. For example: 'Enter first name'.

Then tap "Action" and select "Insert text." A text field will appear, in this case, enter your first name here.

Then tap 'Back' and finally 'Save' to save the command.

You can now have your first name entered in text fields to say 'Enter first name'.

Voice Control Commands

You can view all the commands out there in the tables below.

Basic Navigation

Command	Action
Open App Switcher	Switch between apps
Open Control Center	Opens the control panel
Open Notification Center	Opens the message center
Open Spotlight	Opens Spotlight
Open <app name>	Opens the app with the given name
go home	Goes to the main screen
go back	Goes back to the previous screen
Tap <element>	Taps the given item
<item>	Shows actions for the given item
show me what to say	Shows which commands are available
Show commands	Shows which commands exist
Show vocabulary	Shows glossary
Search for <phrase>	Searches for the given phrase on your device
Search Web for <phrase>	Searches for the given phrase on websites
go to sleep	Temporarily disable voice control
wake up	Turn voice control back on
Repeat <count> times	Repeats the previous command the given number of times
Make this speakable	Opens the create new command screen
Start recording commands	Starts recording a command
Stop recording commands	Stops recording a command

Overview of commands for basic navigation via voice control

Overlay

Command	Action
Show numbers	Shows numbers on all actionable elements
Show numbers continuously	Shows numbers on all actionable elements until hidden
hide numbers	Hides numbers on all elements
Show names	Shows labels on all actionable elements
Show names continuously	Shows labels on all actionable elements until hidden
Hide names	Hides labels on all elements
Show grid	Displays a numbered grid on the screen
Show grid with <count> columns	Displays a grid with the desired number of columns
Show grid with <count> rows	Displays a grid with the desired number of rows
Show grid with <count> columns and <count> rows	Displays a grid with the desired number of columns and number of rows
Show grid continuously	Displays a grid, until each item is hidden
Show grid continuously with <count> columns	Displays a grid with the desired number of columns, until each column is hidden
Show grid continuously with <count> rows	Displays a grid with the desired number of rows, until each row is hidden
Show grid continuously with <count> columns and <count> rows	Displays a grid with the desired number of columns and number of rows, until every item is hidden
Hide grid	Hides the grid
Tap <number>	Taps the item with the given number
Choose <number>	Selects the item with the given number
<number>	Taps the item with the given number
Show actions for <item>	Shows the available actions for the given item
Show actions for <number>	Shows the available actions for the given number

Overview of commands for overlays via voice control

Basic gestures

Command	Action
Scroll down	Scrolls the page down a bit
Scroll up	Scrolls the page up a bit
Scroll to bottom	Scrolls to bottom of page
Scroll to top	Scrolls to top of page
Scroll left	Scrolls a bit to the left
Scroll right	Scrolls a bit to the right
Scroll to left edge	Scrolls to the left side
Scroll to right edge	Scrolls to the right side
Zoom in	Zooms in on the page
Zoom in <item>	Zooms in towards the given item
Zoom in <number>	Zooms towards the given number
Zoom out	Zooms out on the page
Zoom out <item>	Zooms out towards the given item
Zoom out <number>	Zooms out towards the given number
Decrement <item>	Lowers the desired item by one
Decrement <item> by <count>	Decreases the desired **item **by the given number
Decrement <number>	Decreases the item with the given number by one
Decrement <number> by <count>	Decreases the item with the given number by the given number
Increment <item>	Increases the given item by one
Increment <item> by <count>	Increases the given **item **by the given number
Increment <number>	Increases the **item **with the given number by one
Increment <number> by <count>	Increases the **item **with the given number by the given number
Single tap	Taps the screen once
Double tap	Double taps the screen
Double tap <item>	Double taps the given item
Double tap <number>	Double taps the item with the given number
Long press	Long presses on the screen
Long press <item>	Long presses on the given item
Long press <number>	Long presses the item with the given number
Pan down	Slowly scrolls down
Pan down <item>	Slowly scrolls down towards the given item
Pan down <number>	Slowly scrolls down to the item with the given number
Pan up	Slowly scrolls up
Pan up <item>	Slowly scrolls up towards the given item
Pan up <number>	Slowly scrolls up to the item with the given number
Pan left	Slowly scrolls left
Pan left <item>	Slowly scrolls left towards the given item
Pan left <number>	Slowly scrolls left towards the item with the given number
Pan right	Slowly scrolls right
Pan right <item>	Slowly scrolls right towards the given item
Pan right <number>	Slowly scrolls right towards the item with the given number
Rotate left	Rotates to the left on the screen
Rotate left <item>	Rotates left on the given item
Rotate left <number>	Rotates left on the item with the given number
Rotate right	Rotates to the right on the screen
Rotate right <item>	Rotates to the right on the given item
Rotate right <number>	Rotates to the right on the item with the given number
Swipe down	Swipes down on the screen
Swipe down <item>	Swipes down on the given item
Swipe down <number>	Swipes down on the item with the given number
Swipe up	Swipes up on the screen
Swipe up <item>	Swipes up on the given item
Swipe up <number>	Swipes up on the item with the given number
Swipe left	Swipes left on the screen
Swipe left <item>	Swipes left on the given item
Swipe left <number>	Swipes left on the item with the given number
Swipe right	Swipes right on the screen
Swipe right <item>	Swipes right on the given item
Swipe right <number>	Swipes right on the item with the given number
Two finger tap	Taps the screen with two fingers
Two finger tap <item>	Taps the given item with two fingers
Two finger tap <number>	Taps the item with the given number with two fingers
Two finger double tap	Double taps the screen with two fingers
Two finger double tap <item>	Double tap the given item with two fingers
Two finger double tap <number>	Double taps on the item with the given number with two fingers
Two finger long press	Long presses on the screen with two fingers
Two finger long press <item>	Long presses on the given item with two fingers
Two finger long press <number>	Long presses on the item with the given number with two fingers
Two finger pan down	Slowly scrolls down the screen with two fingers
Two finger pan down <item>	Slowly scrolls down with two fingers towards the given item
Two finger pan down <number>	Slowly scrolls up with two fingers towards the item with the given number
Two finger pan up	Slowly scrolls up the screen with two fingers
Two finger pan up <item>	Slowly scrolls up with two fingers towards the given item
Two finger pan up <number>	Slowly scrolls up with two fingers towards the item with the given number
Two finger pan left	Slowly scrolls left on the screen with two fingers
Two finger pan left <item>	Slowly scrolls left with two fingers towards the given item
Two finger pan left <number>	Slowly scrolls left with two fingers towards the item with the given number
Two finger pan right	Slowly scrolls right on the screen with two fingers
Two finger pan right <item>	Slowly scrolls right with two fingers towards the given item
Two finger pan right <number>	Slowly scrolls right with two fingers towards the item with the given number
Two finger swipe down	Swipes down with two fingers on the screen
Two finger swipe down <item>	Swipes down with two fingers towards the given item
Two finger swipe down <number>	Swipes down with two fingers towards the item with the given number
Two finger swipe up	Swipes up on the screen with two fingers
Two finger swipe up <item>	Swipes up with two fingers towards the given item
Two finger swipe up <number>	Swipes up with two fingers towards the item with the given number
Two finger swipe left	Swipes left on the screen with two fingers
Two finger swipe left <item>	Swipes left with two fingers towards the given item
Two finger swipe left <number>	Swipes left with two fingers towards the item with the given number
Two finger swipe right	Swipes right on the screen with two fingers
Two finger swipe right <item>	Swipes right with two fingers towards the given item
Two finger swipe right <number>	Swipes right with two fingers towards the item with the given number

Overview of basic gesture commands via voice control

Advanced gestures

Command	Action
Drag from <number> to <number>	Drags the item with the given number to the item with the given number
Start drag <item>	Starts dragging with the given item
Start drag <number>	Starts dragging the item with the given number
Drop <item>	Drops the given item
Drop <number>	Drops the item with the given number
Tap and hold <item>	Taps and holds the desired item
Tap and hold <number>	Taps and holds the desired number
3D Touch <item>	Activates 3D touch on the given item
3D Touch <number>	Activates 3D touch on the item with the given number
Cancel gesture	Cancels the current gesture

Overview of commands for advanced gestures via voice control

Dictate

Command	Action
<phrase>	Types in the desired phrase
<phrase> emoji	Inserts the desired emoji
Type <phrase>	Types in the desired phrase
Insert date	Inserts the current date
Enter that	Inserts an enter

Overview of Voice Dictation Commands

Text navigation

Command	Action
move down	Moves the cursor down one line
move up	Moves the cursor up one line
move left	Moves the cursor one line to the left
move right	Moves the cursor one line to the right
Move to beginning	Moves the cursor to the beginning of the text
move to end	Moves the cursor to the end of the text
Move to beginning of word	Moves the cursor to the beginning of the current word
Move to end of word	Moves the cursor to the end of the current word
Move to beginning of sentence	Moves the cursor to the beginning of the current sentence
Move to end of sentence	Moves the cursor to the end of the current sentence
Move to beginning of paragraph	Moves the cursor to the beginning of the current paragraph
Move to end of paragraph	Moves the cursor to the end of the current paragraph
Move to beginning of line	Moves the cursor to the beginning of the current line
Move to end of line	Moves the cursor to the end of the current line
Move to beginning of selection	Moves the cursor to the beginning of the current selection
Move to end of selection	Moves the cursor to the end of the current selection
Move forward <count> characters	Moves the cursor forward to the given number of characters
Move back <count> characters	Moves the cursor back to the given number of characters
Move forward <count> words	Moves the cursor forward to the given number of words
Move back <count> words	Moves the cursor back to the given number of words
Move forward <count> sentences	Moves the cursor forward to the given number of sentences
Move back <count> sentences	Moves the cursor back to the given number of sentences
Move forward <count> paragraphs	Moves the cursor forward the given number of paragraphs
Move back <count> paragraphs	Moves the cursor back to the given number of paragraphs
Move forward <count> lines	Moves the cursor forward the given number of lines
Move back <count> lines	Moves the cursor back to the given number of lines
Move before <phrase>	Moves the cursor in front of the selected phrase
Move after <phrase>	Moves the cursor behind the selected sentence

Overview of commands for text navigation via voice control

Text selection

Command	Action
Select all	Selects all text
Select <phrase>	Selects the desired phrase
Select <phrase> through <phrase>	Selects all text between the given sentence
Select <phrase> emoji	Selects the desired emoji
Select previous	Selects the previous sentence
Select next	Selects the next sentence
Select character	Selects the current character
Select previous character	Selects the previous character
Select next character	Selects the next character
Select word	Selects current word
Select previous word	Selects the previous word
Select next word	Selects the next word
Select sentence	Selects the current sentence
Select previous sentence	Selects the previous sentence
Select next sentence	Selects the next sentence
Select paragraph	Selects the current paragraph
Select previous paragraph	Selects the previous paragraph
Select next sentence	Selects the next paragraph
Select line	Selects the current line
Select previous line	Selects the previous line
Select next line	Selects the next line
Select previous <count> characters	Selects the chosen number of previous characters
Select next <count> characters	Selects the chosen number of following characters
Select previous <count> words	Selects the chosen number of previous words
Select next <count> words	Selects the chosen number of following words
Select previous <count> sentences	Selects the chosen number of previous sentences
Select next <count> sentences	Selects the chosen number of following sentences
Select previous <count> paragraphs	Selects the chosen number of previous paragraphs
Select next <count> paragraphs	Selects the chosen number of subsequent paragraphs
Select previous <count> lines	Selects the chosen number of previous lines
Select next <count> lines	Selects the chosen number of following lines
Extend selection <count> characters	Extends the selection by the chosen number of characters
Extend selection back <count> characters	Reduces the selection by the chosen number of characters
Extend selection <count> words	Extends the selection by the chosen number of words
Extend selection back <count> words	Reduces the selection by the chosen number of words
Extend selection <count> sentences	Extends the selection by the chosen number of sentences
Extend selection back <count> sentences	Reduces the selection by the chosen number of sentences
Extend selection <count> paragraphs	Extends the selection by the chosen number of paragraphs
Extend selection back <count> paragraphs	Reduces the selection by the chosen number of paragraphs
Extend selection <count> lines	Extends the selection by the chosen number of lines
Extend selection back <count> lines	Reduces the selection by the chosen number of lines
Deselect that	Clears the current selection

Overview of text selection commands via voice control

Text editing

Command	Action
Replace <phrase> with <phrase>	Replaces the given sentence with the given sentence
Insert <phrase> before <phrase>	Inserts the given sentence before the given sentence
Insert <phrase> after <phrase>	Inserts the given sentence after the given sentence
correct that	Corrects the current selection
Correct <phrase>	Corrects the selected sentence
Undo that	Undoes the last action
Redo that	Repeats the last undo action
cut that	Cuts the current selection
copy that	Copies the current selection
Paste that	Pastes the contents of the clipboard
capitalize that	Capitalizes the current selection
Capitalize <phrase>	Lets the given sentence start with a capital letter
Lower case that	Makes the current selection lowercase
Lowercase <phrase>	Lowercases the given sentence
Upper case that	Capitalizes the current selection
Uppercase <phrase>	Capitalizes the given sentence
Bold that	Makes the current selection bold
Bold <phrase>	Makes the given sentence bold
Italianize that	Makes the current selection italic
Italicize <phrase>	Italicizes the given sentence
Underline that	Underlines the current selection
Underline <phrase>	Underlines the given sentence

Overview of text editing commands via voice control

Text deletion

Command	Action
Delete that	Deletes the current selection
Delete all	Deletes all text
Delete <phrase>	Deletes the given sentence
Delete character	Deletes the current character
Delete previous character	Deletes the previous character
Delete next character	Deletes the next character
Delete word	Deletes the current word
Delete previous word	Deletes the previous word
Delete next word	Deletes the next word
Delete sentence	Deletes the current sentence
Delete previous sentence	Deletes the previous sentence
Delete next sentence	Deletes the following sentence
Delete paragraph	Deletes the current paragraph
Delete previous paragraph	Deletes the previous paragraph
Delete next sentence	Deletes the next paragraph
Delete line	Deletes the current line
Delete previous line	Deletes the previous line
Delete next line	Deletes the next line
Delete previous <count> characters	Deletes the previous number of characters
Delete next <count> characters	Deletes the following number of characters
Delete previous <count> words	Deletes the previous word count
Delete next <count> words	Deletes the next number of words
Delete previous <count> sentences	Deletes the previous number of sentences
Delete next <count> sentences	Deletes the next number of sentences
Delete previous <count> paragraphs	Deletes the previous number of paragraphs
Delete next <count> paragraphs	Deletes the next number of paragraphs
Delete previous <count> lines	Deletes the previous number of lines
Delete next <count> lines	Deletes the following number of characters

Overview of text deletion commands via voice control

Device

Command	Action
Turn down volume	Turn the volume down a notch
Turn up volume	Turn the volume up a notch
mute sound	Mutes the sound
Unmute sound	Unmutes the sound
Rotate to landscape	Rotates to landscape orientation, if possible
Rotate to portrait	Rotates to portrait position, if possible
Lock screen	Locks the device
Make emergency call	Makes an emergency call
Shake device	Shake the device
Triple press home button	Press the home button three times, if available
Triple press side button	Press the side button three times, if available
Take screenshot	Takes a screenshot of the current screen
Reboot device	Restart the device

Overview of commands for your device via voice control

Accessibility

Command	Action
Turn off Voice Control	Disables 'Voice Control'
Turn on AssistiveTouch	Enables 'AssistiveTouch'
Turn off AssistiveTouch	Disables 'AssistiveTouch' it
Turn on Classic Invert Colors	Enables 'Classic Reverse Colors'
Turn off Classic Invert Colors	Disables 'Classic Reverse Colors'
Turn on Smart Invert Colors	Enables 'Smart Reverse Colors'
Turn off Smart Invert Colors	Disables "Smart Reverse Colors"
Turn on Color Filters	Enables 'Color Filters'
Turn off Color Filters	Enables 'Color Filters'
Turn on Reduce White Point	Enables 'Reduce White Point'
Turn off Reduce White Point	Enables 'Reduce White Point'
Turn on Switch Control	Enables 'Switch Control'
Turn off Switch Control	Disables 'Switch Control'
Turn on VoiceOver	Enables VoiceOver
Turn off VoiceOver	Disables VoiceOver
Turn on Zoom	Enables 'Zoom'
Turn off Zoom	Disables 'Zoom'
Turn on VoiceOver	Enables 'VoiceOver'
Turn off VoiceOver	Disables 'VoiceOver'
Turn on Full Keyboard Access	Enables 'Full Keyboard Access'
Turn off Full Keyboard Access	Disables 'Full Keyboard Access'

Overview of Voice Access Access Commands

Voice Control Manuals

Want to learn even more about voice control? Apple has written several guides:

• Using Voice Control Guide

• Voice Control Commands Manual