Several accessibility issues with VoiceOver for Obsidian on iOS

Note: I tried to create this issue yesterday but submitted it too early and then got an error when trying to edit it (no permissions to access resource).

The iOS mobile application has several bugs in regards to accessibility with VoiceOver. Some of these bugs also occur on Windows desktop Obsidian.

From most to least serious:

  • Setting options always appear to be set to off when using VoiceOver, irrespective of their actual setting.

  • The toggle can get toggled to what appears to be on at the time, but it may actually correspond to off.

  • This behaviour persists on Windows Desktop, too.

  • The settings button isn’t available on iOS.

  • The settings dialog can only get opened using CMD + ,.

  • Even then, focus doesn’t get moved to the dialog, and scrolling toward the dialog using right swipe gesture doesn’t work. Instead, I have to move to the last item onscreen and swipe left from there.

  • There isn’t a way to move back in the settings once a subsection of the settings was opened. Only closing the settings outright and reopening them works.

  • It’s not clear which parts in the settings dialog are headings and which are options for sub menus.

  • Jumping to the end of the text in the instant preview mode doesn’t work.

Steps to reproduce

  • Turn on VoiceOver. (Settings - Accessibility - Voiceover - on).

  • Open the Obsidian app.

  • Search for the settings button - you won’t find it.

  • Open the settings via CMD + ,.

  • You will remain in place, VO focus doesn’t move.

  • Try swiping right a few times - you’ll notice that you’re more or less stuck.

  • Tap at the bottom of the screen with four fingers to move to the end of the screen, then swipe left. You’ll notice all menu options are presented the same way.

  • Tap on a menu option.

  • You’ll notice there’s no back button, only a “multiplication symbol” (X) you can double tap to close the settings.

  • Find a toggle option (like in the editor). Notice how it’s apparently off, even when it visually looks on.

  • Double tap it to switch it to on. Visually, it may now look like it’s off.

  • Open an editor in the live preview mode.

  • Write something.

  • Double tap the screen to move the cursor to the start of the text (works).

  • Double tapping the screen again should move the cursor to the end of the file (doesn’t work).

Did you follow the troubleshooting guide? [Y/N]

Yup yup. Bugs persist across vaults.

Expected result

See above.

Environment

SYSTEM INFO:

Operating system: ios 18.0.1 (Apple iPhone12,8)

Obsidian version: 1.6.7 (149)

API version: v1.6.7

Login status: logged in

Catalyst license: none

Live preview: off

Base theme: adapt to system

Community theme: none

Snippets enabled: 0

Restricted mode: on

RECOMMENDATIONS:

none