Use Braille Access with a braille display on iPhone (original) (raw)

With Braille Access, you can turn your iPhone into a braille notetaker that can easily open any app by typing with a connected braille display. You can perform calculations, open Braille Ready Format (BRF) files, transcribe conversations with Live Captions, and more.

Note: Live Captions is available on iPhone 11 and later. Live Captions isn't available in all countries or regions. The accuracy of Live Captions may vary and shouldn’t be relied upon in high-risk or emergency situations.

An iPhone with the Braille Access menu open, showing the following options: Launch App, Choose Item, Braille Notes, BRF Files, Nemeth Calculator, Live Captions, and Time.

  1. Connect your braille display to your iPhone, then turn on VoiceOver.
    See connect a braille display and turn VoiceOver on or off.
  2. Press dots 7 and 8 together or use the Toggle Braille Access command on your braille display.
    If you’re using an eight-dot table, press dots 7 and 8 and the Space bar together.
    To access the Toggle Braille Access command on your iPhone, go to the Settings app > Accessibility > VoiceOver > Braille > tap the information button next to your braille display (you may need to scroll down) > Braille Commands > Braille > Toggle Braille Access.
  3. Do any of the following:
    • Next item or line:
      * Use the Next command: dot 4 + Space
      * Use the panning button on your braille display
    • Previous item or line:
      * Use the Previous command: dot 1 + Space
      * Use the panning button on your braille display
    • Go to the first item on the menu:
      * Use the First Item command: dots 1, 2, 3 + Space
    • Go to the last item on the menu:
      * Use the Last Item command: dots 4, 5, 6 + Space
    • Go to the previous screen:
      * Use the Back command: dots 1, 2, + Space
    • Select a menu item:
      * Use the Return command: dot 8
    • Open a context menu:
      * Use the Delete command: dot 7
    • Search for text:
      * Use the Search command: dots 1, 2, 4 + Space
    • Exit Braille Access:
      * Press dots 7 + 8

Use Braille Access with a braille display

  1. Connect your braille display to your iPhone and turn on VoiceOver. See connect a braille display and turn VoiceOver on or off.
  2. Press dots 7 and 8 together or use the Toggle Braille Access command on your braille display.
    If you’re using an eight-dot table, press dots 7 and 8 and the Space bar together.
    To access the Toggle Braille Access command on your iPhone, go to the Settings app > Accessibility > VoiceOver > Braille > tap the information button next to your braille display (you may need to scroll down) > Braille Commands > Braille > Toggle Braille Access.
  3. Do any of the following:
    • Launch App: Choose an app to open—such as Mail, News, or Wallet.
    • Choose Item: Choose an item to open on the screen—such as dictate, compose, or edit.
    • Braille Notes: Enter New > New Note or New Folder to create a new note or folder. You can access your notes here after you create them.
      Note: Your braille notes will sync to iCloud.
    • BRF Files: Enter New > File name or New folder name to create a new BRF file or folder. You can open your BRF files here after you create them. You can also search for text and add bookmarks that sync with iCloud.
      * To search for text, use the context menu or Text Search command (dots 1, 2, 4 + Space).
      * After you search for text or move a bookmark, use the Return command (dot 8) to keep searching or moving to other bookmarks.

    Note: Opening Braille Access creates a BRF Files folder in iCloud Drive. You can’t change the location of BRF Files in iCloud.

    • Calculator: Use Nemeth or UEB Math to type calculations.
      Note: A visual representation of the formula appears on the screen if Show Visuals is enabled.
    • Live Captions: Enter Live Captions and iPhone will listen to your surroundings and translate it in braille on your device.
      New transcriptions you haven't read appear surrounded by full cells (dots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) on your braille display.
      Note: Press any router key to bring the focus to the latest caption line.
    • Time: Check the current time on your iPhone.
    • Close: Close the Braille Access menu.
      Note: In most pages of Braille Access, you can select Close or Back at the bottom of the menu. See Exit Braille Access.

You can start typing right away if the menu item has a cursor at the end. See the Apple Support article Common braille commands for VoiceOver on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

Manage Braille Notes, BRF files, and Live Captions with Context Menus

After you create Braille Notes and BRF files in Braille Access, you can organize them with Context Menus. You can also pause and listen to audio in Live Captions. To learn how to create notes, folders, and BRF files, see Use Braille Access with a braille display.

  1. Connect your braille display to your iPhone, then turn on VoiceOver. See connect a braille display and turn VoiceOver on or off.
  2. Press dots 7 and 8 together or use the Toggle Braille Access command on your braille display.
    If you’re using an eight-dot table, press dots 7 and 8 and the Space bar together.
    To access the Toggle Braille Access command on your iPhone, go to the Settings app > Accessibility > VoiceOver > Braille > tap the information button next to your braille display (you may need to scroll down) > Braille Commands > Braille > Toggle Braille Access.
  3. Do any of the following:
    • Braille Notes: Navigate to a note or folder, then open the Context Menu by using the Delete command (dot 7). Do any of the following:
      * Move: Move the note or folder to a new location.
      * Delete: Delete the note or folder.
      * Pin: Pin the note or folder for easier access.
    • BRF Files: Navigate to a BRF file, then open the Context Menu by using the Delete command (dot 7). Do any of the following:
      * Find: Find a specific BRF file.
      * Previous Find: View your previous Find searches.
      * Add Bookmark: Add a bookmark for easier access.
      * Move: Move the file to a new location.
      * Delete: Delete the file.
      * Rename: Rename the file.
    • Live Captions: Open Live Captions, then open the Context Menu by using the Delete command (dot 7). Do any of the following:
      * Pause: Pause Live Captions.
      * Listen to audio: Listen to audio descriptions of your surroundings.
      * Type to speak: Type on your braille device to have Mac speak it aloud.
      * Summarize: If you have Apple Intelligence turned on, you can get a summary of the audio in your surroundings.

Change Braille Access settings

  1. Go to the Settings App on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Accessibility, tap VoiceOver, tap Braille, then tap Braille Access.
  3. Do any of the following:
    • Main Menu Items: To customize which menu items appear in Braille Access, tap an item. To change the order that the items appear in, tap and drag the reorder button to the desired place.
    • Open to Last Position: Turn on Open to Last Position to allow previous settings to appear when Braille Access is reopened.
    • Speak List Items: To have iPhone speak items aloud, turn on Speak List Items.
    • Show Visuals: Turn Show Visuals on or off.
    • Typing Speech Feedback: Turn Typing Speech feedback on or off.
    • Braille Notes: Sort notes by the date edited or created. You can also sort the order of notes by oldest or newest.
    • BRF Files: Turn Fit BRF Content on or off. Turn Hide BRF Page Indicators on or off.
    • Calculator: Choose Nemeth or UEB Math as the math code.
    • Live Captions: Choose Microphone or iPhone Audio as the source for Live Captions.