Enable Accessibility Features on Your iPad

Questions

  • How do I turn on accessibility features on my iPad?
  • How do I enable VoiceOver on my iPad?
  • How do I make the text larger on my iPad?
  • Where are the accessibility settings on an iPad?
  • How do I turn on closed captions on my iPad?
  • How do I enable zoom or magnification on my iPad?
  • How do I set up switch control or other motor accessibility features?

Environment

This article applies to all Bowdoin College students, faculty, and staff using a college-issued or personal iPad. Accessibility features are built into iPadOS and are available to all users at no additional cost.

Resolution

Find and enable accessibility features

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Scroll down and tap Accessibility.
  3. Browse the categories to find the feature you want. Features are organized into groups: Vision, Physical and Motor, Hearing, and General.
  4. Tap a feature to open its settings, then tap the toggle to turn it on (the toggle turns green when enabled).
  5. Most features include additional customization options within the same screen — adjust these to match your needs.

Commonly used accessibility features

Some of the most frequently used accessibility features on iPad include:

  • VoiceOver: Reads aloud everything on the screen. Found under Vision.
  • Zoom: Magnifies the screen by double-tapping with three fingers. Found under Vision.
  • Display & Text Size: Options to increase text size, bold text, reduce transparency, and adjust contrast. Found under Vision.
  • Subtitles & Captioning: Enables closed captions in supported media apps. Found under Hearing.
  • AssistiveTouch: Creates an on-screen menu for gestures and hardware buttons. Found under Physical and Motor.
  • Switch Control: Allows navigation using external switch hardware. Found under Physical and Motor.
  • Guided Access: Locks the iPad to a single app, useful for focused work. Found under General.
Tip: You can add a shortcut to quickly toggle the most-used accessibility feature by going to Settings > Accessibility > Accessibility Shortcut and selecting a feature. Triple-clicking the Top button (or Home button on older models) will then toggle it on or off.

Additional Help

If you need further assistance, you have several options:

  • Bowdoin Bot: Chat with Bowdoin Bot directly from any KB page for instant answers.
  • Phone: Call the Bowdoin College Service Desk at (207) 725-3030.
  • In person: Visit the Tech Hub in Smith Union during business hours.
  • Submit a ticket: Request assistance through the Service Catalog.

Additional Resources

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