The Ultimate Mobile Accessibility Checklist For Android And iOS

Mobile accessibility ensures that apps are usable by everyone, including people with disabilities. As mobile usage continues to grow, accessibility is essential for compliance, usability, and inclusion.

Mobile Accessibility Checklist

1. Ensure compatibility with screen readers like VoiceOver and TalkBack.
2. Maintain a logical focus order and support keyboard navigation.
3. Provide clear and descriptive labels for buttons, icons, and controls.
4. Use adequate tap target sizes and spacing between touch elements.
5. Maintain sufficient color contrast for all visual elements.
6. Support system text resizing and zoom without layout issues.
7. Ensure responsive layout in both portrait and landscape orientations.
8. Announce dynamic content updates using ARIA live regions or equivalents.
9. Make all forms accessible with labeled fields and input validation.
10. Provide meaningful and accessible error messages and alerts.
11. Include skip links and landmark regions for structured navigation.
12. Ensure audio and video content has captions and accessible controls.
13. Support dark mode and high contrast mode without losing readability.

This article provides a complete mobile accessibility checklist to help QA and development teams test, maintain, and improve accessibility across devices.

Why Mobile Accessibility Matters For Inclusive Design

Mobile accessibility ensures that all users, including those with disabilities can navigate, understand, and interact with apps and websites on mobile devices.

With mobile usage dominating global digital access, inclusive design is a core requirement for usability, reach, and compliance.

Here’s why mobile accessibility is critical:

• Equitable Access: It allows users with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive impairments to fully engage with mobile interfaces using assistive technologies like screen readers, switch controls, and voice input.
• Legal Compliance: Many global laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), mandate accessible digital content, including mobile apps.
• Improved User Experience: Accessibility features like larger tap targets, proper contrast, and clear labels enhance usability for all users, not just those with disabilities.
• Expanded Reach: Accessible mobile design benefits users in temporary or situational impairments (e.g., bright sunlight, broken arm, low bandwidth), broadening your audience.
• Brand Reputation: Companies that prioritize inclusivity demonstrate social responsibility, build trust, and reduce the risk of litigation or public backlash.

Accessibility Standards For Mobile Apps

To meet accessibility goals and legal obligations, mobile apps must align with established standards and platform guidelines.

These standards define how content should function for users with disabilities.

Core accessibility standards for mobile apps:

• WCAG 2.1 and 2.2: Global guidelines that address mobile-specific needs like touch targets, orientation, and focus indicators
• ADA: U.S. law requiring accessible digital services from public and private entities
• Section 508: U.S. federal standard mandating WCAG compliance for digital content, including mobile apps
• AODA: Ontario law requiring WCAG 2.0 Level AA compliance for apps developed by public and private organizations
• EN 301 549: EU accessibility standard for mobile applications, aligned with WCAG
• Platform Guidelines: Apple and Google provide accessibility APIs and documentation to support compliant development

Following these standards helps ensure apps work correctly with assistive technologies and meet global compliance benchmarks.

Complete Mobile Accessibility Checklist For QA And Dev Teams

This checklist is designed to help QA and development teams validate accessibility across mobile apps. It covers essential UI elements, interactions, and behaviors that impact usability for people with disabilities.

Screen Reader Compatibility (VoiceOver, TalkBack)

Screen readers are critical for users with visual impairments. Ensure the app content is readable and navigable with VoiceOver (iOS) and TalkBack (Android).

• Verify that all elements are correctly announced in the right order
• Use native accessibility labels or ARIA roles for custom components
• Avoid redundant or missing announcements during screen transitions

Focus Order And Keyboard Navigation

A logical focus order is essential for users navigating via keyboard or switch controls. Inconsistent focus behavior leads to confusion and blocked access.

• Test navigation using external keyboards or switch access devices
• Ensure focus moves in a predictable, logical sequence
• Add visible focus indicators for every interactive element

Labeling Of Buttons, Icons, And Controls

Users who rely on screen readers must hear clear, descriptive labels for interactive elements. Icons alone are not accessible.

• Provide text labels for all icons, buttons, and controls
• Use accessibility APIs or ARIA attributes when no visible label exists
• Avoid vague labels like “Click here” or “More”

Tap Target Size And Spacing

Small or closely spaced targets are difficult for users with limited mobility. Ensure all interactive elements are easy to tap.

• Maintain a minimum target size of 48×48 dp
• Allow enough spacing between touch elements to avoid overlap
• Avoid placing buttons too close to screen edges

Color Contrast And Visual Clarity

Poor contrast makes content unreadable for users with low vision. Design for clarity across various lighting and vision conditions.

• Ensure a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for text
• Avoid color as the only means of conveying meaning
• Use legible fonts and consistent visual styles

Text Resizing And Zoom Support

Users may need to enlarge text or zoom in to view content. The interface must adapt without losing functionality.

• Support system text scaling up to 200%
• Make sure content reflows properly with larger fonts
• Allow pinch-to-zoom on non-fixed layouts

Orientation Responsiveness (Portrait & Landscape)

Some users may rely on specific orientations for comfort or device setup. Your app must work well in both modes.

• Test app layout and readability in portrait and landscape
• Ensure no UI components are cut off or hidden during rotation
• Retain functionality and navigation flow after switching orientation

Dynamic Content And Live Region Announcements

Apps often update content dynamically. These changes must be communicated effectively to users using screen readers.

• Use ARIA live regions to announce content updates
• Notify users of validation messages, alerts, or page changes
• Avoid automatic updates that disrupt the reading experience

Accessible Forms And Input Validation

Forms must be easy to navigate and complete using assistive technologies. Clear structure and validation improve usability for all users.

• Label all fields programmatically using native or ARIA techniques
• Group related fields with headings or fieldsets
• Provide inline guidance and accessible validation cues

Meaningful Error Messages And Alerts

Users need to understand what went wrong and how to fix it. Clear error messages reduce confusion and form abandonment.

• Place error messages near the associated field
• Use simple, specific language (e.g., “Enter a valid email address”)
• Ensure alerts are read out by screen readers automatically

Skip Links And Landmark Navigation

Landmarks and skip links help users navigate efficiently without repetitive scrolling or reading.

• Add a skip link to allow users to bypass repeated content
• Define regions like main, nav, and footer using landmarks
• Ensure screen readers and keyboard users can access all regions

Audio/Video Content Accessibility

Multimedia must be accessible to users who are deaf, hard of hearing, or blind. This includes controls, captions, and transcripts.

• Provide closed captions for all video content
• Offer transcripts for audio-only media
• Ensure media players are keyboard-accessible and screen reader-friendly

Support For Dark Mode And High Contrast Mode

System-level appearance preferences must be supported to meet user needs related to light sensitivity or visibility.

• Adapt color schemes to dark mode and high contrast settings
• Test legibility and interaction in both light and dark themes
• Maintain color contrast and brand consistency across modes

Common Issues Found During Mobile Accessibility Checks

Even well-designed mobile apps often miss key accessibility requirements. Identifying these issues early helps prevent user frustration and ensures compliance.

Here are the most common accessibility issues on mobile apps:

• Missing or incorrect labels on buttons, icons, or custom controls
• Inconsistent focus order when navigating via keyboard or switch input
• Small or tightly spaced tap targets that are difficult to activate
• Low color contrast between text and background elements
• Dynamic content updates not announced by screen readers
• Unlabeled form fields or missing input validation feedback
• Media content without captions or accessible playback controls
• Text scaling issues when system font size is increased
• Unsupported dark mode or high contrast settings
• Layout breaks when switching between portrait and landscape orientation

Regular testing across real devices and assistive technologies is the best way to catch and resolve these issues before release.

Tools For Mobile Accessibility Testing

Effective mobile accessibility testing requires a mix of automated analysis and manual validation across real devices. The right tools help teams identify and fix issues early in the development cycle.

1. BrowserStack Accessibility Testing is a comprehensive platform that allows teams to test mobile websites and web apps on real devices without setup or maintenance overhead.

Key features include:

• Automated accessibility scans based on WCAG 2.0, 2.1, and 2.2 standards
• Real device testing for mobile browsers and operating systems
• Detection of critical issues such as missing labels, contrast errors, and focus traps
• Support for screen reader testing and keyboard navigation across devices
• Shareable reports that help teams track compliance and resolve issues efficiently

BrowserStack also offers free accessibility scans for up to five unique pages per test, making it easy to integrate accessibility into regular QA cycles.

2. axe DevTools Mobile

Offers automated WCAG compliance testing for native Android and iOS apps. Helps developers find and fix accessibility issues during development using SDKs that integrate with the mobile build process.

3. Accessibility Scanner (Android)

A Google-developed tool for evaluating native Android apps. Highlights potential accessibility issues such as small tap targets, missing labels, and low contrast, with actionable suggestions.

4. Xcode Accessibility Inspector (iOS) Apple’s tool for inspecting and testing accessibility on iOS. Verifies compatibility with VoiceOver, checks label completeness, and simulates assistive technology usage across the app interface.

5. Google Lighthouse

Provides automated audits for mobile web pages, including accessibility. Useful for catching common issues related to semantics, ARIA usage, and contrast, though limited to browser-based environments.

Best Practices For Maintaining Mobile Accessibility Post-Release

Accessibility should not stop at launch. Mobile apps evolve through updates, UI changes, and feature additions, all of which can introduce new accessibility barriers. Ongoing maintenance ensures the product remains usable and compliant for all users.

Follow these best practices to maintain mobile accessibility:

• Include accessibility checks in every release cycle to prevent regressions
• Retest components affected by design or code changes, especially custom UI elements
• Use automated scans regularly to catch low-level issues early
• Perform manual testing on real devices, including screen readers and alternative input methods
• Gather user feedback, especially from users with disabilities, to identify missed barriers
• Keep documentation up to date, including accessibility guidance for dev and QA teams
• Monitor WCAG and platform guideline updates, and adapt your app accordingly

Conclusion

A well-defined mobile accessibility checklist helps teams validate key areas like navigation, labeling, color contrast, and screen reader support.

From initial development to post-launch updates, accessibility must be integrated into every phase of the mobile app lifecycle. Tools like BrowserStack Accessibility Testing enable teams to run automated scans on real devices and address issues early.

Combined with manual validation and best practices, this approach ensures long-term accessibility and a better experience for every user.