Do I Need Accessibility for My Mobile App? Requirements and Best Practices

Mobile apps have become the primary way many people interact with businesses, services, and information. If you're developing or maintaining a mobile app, accessibility shouldn't be an afterthought—it's a legal requirement and significant user experience factor.

I've seen companies invest heavily in mobile app development while completely ignoring accessibility, then face lawsuits or lose users who can't use their apps. The accessibility requirements that apply to websites apply equally to mobile apps, and the technical implementation isn't fundamentally different.

Let me break down what you need to know about mobile app accessibility.

Q: Do I need accessibility for my mobile app?

A: Yes. Mobile apps are subject to the same accessibility requirements as websites under the ADA, Section 508, and international regulations. WCAG 2.1 and 2.2 include specific criteria for mobile accessibility. Apps must work with screen readers (VoiceOver, TalkBack), support various input methods, and provide accessible alternatives to gestures and visual-only information.

Legal Requirements for Mobile App Accessibility

ADA and Mobile Apps

The Americans with Disabilities Act applies to mobile apps the same way it applies to websites. The DOJ's guidance on web accessibility explicitly mentions "mobile apps" as covered under the requirement for accessible digital services.

Key points:

• Title III applies to apps from businesses open to the public
• No exemption for mobile platforms versus web
• Lawsuits increasingly target mobile apps specifically
• Same WCAG standards apply

Companies have faced accessibility lawsuits specifically targeting mobile app barriers.

Section 508 and Mobile

For apps used by or sold to federal agencies, Section 508 requirements apply. Federal employees and members of the public interacting with government must be able to use mobile apps accessibly.

European Accessibility Act

The EAA, effective June 2025, explicitly covers mobile applications. Apps serving EU users must meet EN 301 549 requirements.

Platform Requirements

Beyond legal requirements, both major app stores have accessibility expectations:

Apple App Store: Apple provides extensive Human Interface Guidelines for accessibility and VoiceOver support documentation. Apps that don't work with VoiceOver receive user complaints and poor reviews.

Google Play Store: Google provides Android accessibility guidance and accessibility testing tools. The Play Store highlights app accessibility in some contexts.

While store rejection for accessibility issues isn't common, poor accessibility affects user ratings, reviews, and adoption.

What Makes a Mobile App Accessible

Screen Reader Compatibility

Mobile screen readers (VoiceOver on iOS, TalkBack on Android) are the primary assistive technology for mobile apps.

What screen reader compatibility means:

• All interface elements have accessible names
• Interactive elements are announced with correct roles
• Screen reader can reach all content
• Focus order is logical
• State changes are announced

Testing approach: Enable VoiceOver or TalkBack and attempt to use your app without looking at the screen. Can you understand what's on screen? Can you accomplish key tasks?

Touch and Gesture Accessibility

Mobile apps rely heavily on touch gestures. Accessible apps ensure:

Touch target size: Interactive elements should be at least 44x44 points (iOS) or 48x48 dp (Android). WCAG 2.2 criterion 2.5.8 specifies 24x24 CSS pixels minimum.

Gesture alternatives: Complex gestures (pinch, multi-finger swipes) need single-finger alternatives. Users with motor impairments may not be able to perform complex gestures.

Motion alternatives: Features triggered by device motion (shake to undo, tilt to scroll) need alternatives. Users may have devices mounted or have conditions affected by motion.

Visual Accessibility

Color contrast: Same 4.5:1 ratio requirements as web. Mobile screens in various lighting conditions make contrast especially important.

Text resizing: Apps should support system text size settings. When users increase text size for readability, apps shouldn't break.

Color independence: Information shouldn't rely on color alone. Status indicators, error states, and data visualizations need multiple cues.

Content Accessibility

Image descriptions: Images need alt text accessible to screen readers. Decorative images should be marked as such.

Video captions: Video content needs captions. Platform media players typically support caption tracks.

Form accessibility: Form fields need labels, error messages must be announced, and focus management should be logical.

Platform-Specific Implementation

iOS Accessibility

iOS provides robust accessibility APIs. Key components:

UIAccessibility protocol: Provides properties for accessibilityLabel, accessibilityHint, accessibilityTraits, and accessibilityValue.

VoiceOver support: Built-in screen reader that apps should work with out of the box if standard UIKit components are used correctly.

Dynamic Type: System for supporting user text size preferences. Apps should adapt to user-selected text sizes.

Key implementation points:

• Use standard UIKit components when possible
• Provide accessibilityLabel for custom controls
• Support Dynamic Type
• Test with VoiceOver regularly

iOS-specific testing:

1. Enable VoiceOver (Settings → Accessibility → VoiceOver)
2. Navigate app using VoiceOver gestures
3. Verify all elements are announced meaningfully
4. Test with increased text sizes
5. Test with reduced motion enabled

Android Accessibility

Android's accessibility framework similarly provides APIs for accessible app development.

Accessibility Services: Android's framework for screen readers and other assistive technology.

TalkBack: Google's screen reader for Android.

Key implementation points:

• Provide contentDescription for ImageViews and custom views
• Use standard Android widgets when possible
• Support system font scaling
• Test with TalkBack regularly

Android-specific testing:

1. Enable TalkBack (Settings → Accessibility → TalkBack)
2. Navigate using TalkBack gestures
3. Run Accessibility Scanner (Google's testing tool)
4. Test with large text and display size settings

Cross-Platform Frameworks

If you're using React Native, Flutter, or other cross-platform frameworks:

React Native: Provides accessibility props (accessible, accessibilityLabel, accessibilityRole, etc.) that map to native implementations. Quality depends on proper use of these props.

Flutter: Provides Semantics widget and properties for accessibility. Has improved significantly but requires attention.

Challenges with cross-platform:

• Native accessibility support quality varies
• Some patterns harder to implement accessibly
• Testing must cover both platforms
• Framework updates may affect accessibility

Common Mobile Accessibility Issues

Issues I See Repeatedly

Missing labels on interactive elements: Buttons with only icons, no accessible names. Screen reader announces "button" with no indication of function.

Custom gestures without alternatives: Swipe-to-delete, pinch-to-zoom, or shake-to-refresh with no accessible alternatives.

Inaccessible custom controls: Custom pickers, sliders, or toggles that don't expose accessibility information correctly.

Poor focus management: Focus jumping unexpectedly, focus not moving to new content (like modal dialogs), focus getting lost.

Dynamic content not announced: Content that changes (loading states, error messages, updates) not communicated to screen reader users.

Text not respecting size settings: Fixed-size text that doesn't scale when users increase system text size.

Touch targets too small: Buttons and links that are difficult to tap accurately.

Color-only information: Status indicators using color alone without text or icons.

Why These Happen

Native UI not used: Custom implementations miss accessibility features built into standard components.

Accessibility not in design phase: Visual designs don't consider accessibility from the start.

No accessibility testing: Apps ship without screen reader or accessibility testing.

Framework limitations not understood: Cross-platform frameworks need explicit accessibility work; developers assume it's automatic.

Testing Mobile App Accessibility

Manual Testing Essentials

Screen reader testing is non-negotiable. Use VoiceOver (iOS) and TalkBack (Android) to navigate your entire app.

Key test scenarios:

• Complete your app's primary user journey
• Navigate every screen
• Interact with every control type
• Test with various system accessibility settings

What to verify:

• Every element has meaningful announcement
• Focus order is logical
• All functionality is accessible via screen reader
• State changes are announced

Automated Testing Tools

iOS:

• Accessibility Inspector in Xcode
• UI Testing with accessibility assertions

Android:

• Accessibility Scanner (standalone app)
• Accessibility Test Framework for automated tests
• Lint checks for accessibility issues

Limitations: Like web automated testing, mobile automated tools catch some issues but miss many. Manual screen reader testing remains essential.

Testing with Users

Testing with actual screen reader users provides insights no automated tool or developer testing can match. If possible, include users with disabilities in usability testing.

Building Accessibility Into Development

Design Phase

Include accessibility in requirements. Define accessible behaviors for every feature.

Consider interaction patterns. How will screen reader users accomplish tasks? What about users who can't perform gestures?

Design for flexibility. Support different text sizes, contrast settings, and interaction methods from the start.

Development Phase

Use platform accessibility APIs. iOS and Android provide comprehensive accessibility support when used correctly.

Test continuously. Don't save accessibility testing for the end. Test each feature with screen readers during development.

Follow platform conventions. Standard UI patterns are already accessible. Custom implementations need extra work.

QA Phase

Include accessibility in test plans. Screen reader testing should be part of standard QA, not a separate afterthought.

Automate what you can. Automated accessibility checks in CI/CD catch regressions.

Manual testing remains crucial. Automation supplements but doesn't replace manual screen reader testing.

FAQ Section

Q: Do accessibility requirements differ for iOS vs. Android apps?

A: Legal requirements (ADA, WCAG) apply equally to both platforms. Technical implementation differs—each platform has its own accessibility APIs—but the standards you must meet are the same. Test on both platforms with their respective screen readers.

Q: Are hybrid/web-based mobile apps subject to the same requirements?

A: Yes. Whether your app is native, hybrid, or a wrapped web app, accessibility requirements apply. Hybrid apps need to ensure their web content is accessible and that the native wrapper doesn't introduce barriers.

Q: Is there mobile-specific WCAG criteria?

A: WCAG 2.1 added criteria particularly relevant to mobile (target size, motion actuation, pointer cancellation, etc.). WCAG 2.2 added more. These supplement rather than replace core requirements. All WCAG criteria apply to mobile when relevant.

Q: How much does mobile app accessibility add to development costs?

A: When built in from the start, accessibility adds roughly 5-15% to development effort. Retrofitting accessibility to existing apps costs significantly more. The ROI includes legal risk reduction, expanded user base, and better overall quality.

Q: Can I make my app accessible without hiring accessibility specialists?

A: You can make significant progress using platform documentation, testing with screen readers, and free accessibility resources. However, for comprehensive compliance, especially in high-risk scenarios, specialist review adds confidence. Professional accessibility audits provide thorough assessment.

Making Your Mobile App Accessible

Mobile app accessibility follows the same principles as web accessibility: provide alternatives, support assistive technology, don't rely on single modalities. The implementation details differ by platform, but the goals are identical.

Key takeaways:

• Mobile apps are legally required to be accessible
• VoiceOver and TalkBack testing is essential
• Use platform-provided accessibility APIs
• Build accessibility in from the start
• Test on actual devices with actual assistive technology

The millions of users with disabilities who depend on mobile apps deserve the same access as everyone else. Building accessible apps serves them while reducing your legal risk and improving overall app quality.

Building a mobile experience and need accessibility guidance? Schedule a demo to learn how TestParty helps organizations achieve digital accessibility across web and mobile.

Related Articles:

• What Are the Legal Requirements for Website Accessibility?
• How Do Screen Readers Work?
• WCAG 2.2: What's New and How to Comply

Here's the deal—we use AI to help create content (it's 2025, after all), but humans on our team review everything. TestParty does Shopify accessibility and WCAG testing, and we love talking shop. For legal stuff though, please consult actual experts.