Mobile apps are no longer a luxury—they’re a lifeline. For millions of users, particularly those with disabilities, mobile experiences must be not only fast and functional but also inclusive. Whether you’re developing a native app for iOS or Android or building a responsive web application, mobile accessibility should be at the forefront of your QA and UX process.
This expanded guide provides a comprehensive mobile accessibility checklist aligned with WCAG 2.2, platform-specific guidelines, and real-world usability expectations. It’s meant for developers, QA engineers, designers, and accessibility consultants alike.
Why Mobile Accessibility Matters
- User reliance: Mobile is now the primary internet access point for many users, including those with disabilities who rely on assistive tech.
- Legal pressure: Increasing ADA and Section 508 lawsuits now include mobile experiences.
- Platform expectations: Apple and Google both publish accessibility standards and expect compliance from app developers.
Accessible mobile apps:
- Improve UX for all users
- Reduce bounce rates
- Expand your customer base
- Future-proof your product from lawsuits or audits
Universal Mobile Accessibility Checklist
1. Screen Reader Compatibility
Why it matters: Screen readers are used by people with vision impairments or cognitive disabilities.
What to test:
- Ensure all elements (headings, buttons, form inputs) are read in logical order by VoiceOver (iOS) and TalkBack (Android).
- Test semantic HTML roles and ARIA roles for correctness.
- Ensure custom components (e.g., tab panels, modals) expose correct roles, names, and states.
- Ensure all images have appropriate alt text or are hidden from assistive tech if decorative.
- Avoid duplicate labels or ambiguous labels like “button123.”
Learn more:
2. Touch Target Size
Why it matters: Users with limited dexterity or motor control need tappable elements to be large and forgiving.
What to test:
- Confirm that all interactive elements (buttons, links, icons) have minimum hit area of 44×44 pixels/dp.
- Check spacing between adjacent elements to reduce accidental taps.
- Avoid relying on small toggle switches or corner icons without spacing.
- Provide accessible alternatives for gesture-based actions (e.g., a visible delete button instead of swipe-only delete).
3. Color Contrast & Visual Clarity
Why it matters: Low vision and colorblind users rely on strong contrast and multiple modes of differentiation.
What to test:
- Use tools to verify text contrast is ≥ 4.5:1 for normal text and ≥ 3:1 for large text.
- Ensure form errors, selected states, and required fields are not conveyed by color alone.
- Verify interface legibility in both light mode and dark mode.
- Avoid gray-on-gray, blue-on-black, and other low-contrast patterns.
Useful tools:
4. Zoom and Scaling Support
Why it matters: Some users zoom or increase text size to read more comfortably.
What to test:
- Verify that iOS Dynamic Type and Android font scaling are supported throughout the app.
- Ensure UI content is not truncated, overlapping, or cut off at 200% zoom.
- Test layout responsiveness in both portrait and landscape mode.
- Avoid fixed heights or widths that prevent resizing.
5. Keyboard Navigation & Focus Management
Why it matters: Users with external keyboards, switch controls, or voice commands need accessible focus and interaction.
What to test:
- Confirm that all interactive elements can be reached and activated using only a keyboard or switch device.
- Ensure logical focus order matches visual layout.
- Provide a clear visual focus indicator (e.g., outline or glow).
- Trap focus inside modals and restore it properly on close.
- Avoid auto-focusing elements unexpectedly or skipping over interactive components.
6. Dynamic Content & Announcements
Why it matters: Dynamic UI changes must be communicated to assistive tech users.
What to test:
- Use ARIA role=”alert” or platform-native announcement APIs for real-time updates (e.g., “Item deleted”).
- Ensure form error messages are announced by screen readers.
- Focus is moved appropriately when a modal or dialog appears.
- Use aria-live regions for dynamically injected content.
ARIA guidance:
7. Form Accessibility
Why it matters: Forms are critical user flows (login, signup, payment).
What to test:
- Each input has a visible label and a programmatic one (<label> or aria-label).
- Related fields (e.g., name fields) are grouped with fieldset and legend when applicable.
- Required fields are indicated both visually and programmatically (aria-required, asterisk, etc.).
- Validation errors are announced and clearly associated with the relevant field.
- Autofill and native keyboard input types are used (e.g., type=”email”).
WCAG 2.2 Forms tutorial:
W3C Forms Accessibility Tutorial
8. Device Feature Support
Why it matters: Native mobile devices offer powerful assistive features.
What to test:
- Test interaction using Voice Control (iOS) and Voice Access (Android).
- Confirm app supports navigation with switch control or external Bluetooth keyboards.
- Provide alternatives to motion-triggered actions (e.g., shake to undo should also have a button).
- Honor system settings like reduced motion or increased contrast.
Recommended Mobile Testing Tools
| Platform | Tools |
|---|---|
| iOS | VoiceOver, Accessibility Inspector, Xcode Simulator, Dynamic Type |
| Android | TalkBack, Accessibility Scanner, Layout Inspector, Switch Access |
| Web (Mobile) | Chrome DevTools (emulated mobile), axe DevTools Mobile, Lighthouse |
| Cross-platform | Appium, BrowserStack, Firebase Test Lab |
See also: Deque’s axe DevTools
Best Practices for Real-World Testing
- Test on real devices, not just emulators or screen-size emulations.
- Include users with disabilities in usability testing if possible.
- Combine manual testing and automated scans.
- Track accessibility defects in your regular issue tracker.
- Make accessibility testing part of your definition of done in sprints.
Final Thoughts
Mobile accessibility isn’t a nice-to-have — it’s essential. It improves your product’s usability, reach, and legal compliance. While automated tools are helpful, nothing replaces hands-on testing and a deep understanding of your users’ needs.
Following this checklist will help you catch the most common mobile a11y issues, but it should be the baseline—not the ceiling.
Need expert help testing or remediating your mobile app for accessibility? Book a free accessibility consultation with A11y Pros today and ensure your app works for everyone.