Here at Site Design Squad, we believe the internet should be accessible to everyone. To help, we have put together this guide to browsing the web with assistive technology and the accessibility settings built into your device.
Accessibility means making things usable for as many people as possible. Online, that could be bigger text if you have sight loss, captions if you are Deaf or have hearing loss, or navigating with a keyboard or your voice if using a mouse is difficult. It helps disabled people and people with long term conditions. It also helps anyone who is tired, older people, and even those trying to read a small screen in bright sunshine.
Everything in this guide is free. Most of the tools we cover are already built into your phone, tablet or computerr. We have also included a list of other tools further down.
Due to the various device models, settings can sit in slightly different places from one device to the next, so if yours looks different, the help links near the bottom of the page will point you the right way.
Make text and pages bigger
If you find yourself struggling to see the text on a screen, start here. Zooming in is the quickest fix there is, and it works on nearly every website.
Zoom in on a single page on your computer
- On a Windows PC: hold Ctrl and press the plus key and it’ll zoom in, or press the minus key to zoom out. You can also hold down Ctrl and scroll the mouse wheel up to zoom in, and down to zoom out. You can press Ctrl and zero to reset the zoom.
- On a Mac: hold Command and press the plus key to zoom in. Hold Command and press minus to zoom back out, or Command and zero to reset.
Set the zoom in your phone or tablet’s browser
You can zoom in on your phone by placing two fingers on the screen and spread them apart at the same time. This will zoom in. To zoom out, put two fingers on the screen and bring them together at the same time, also called pinching.
Pinching is fine for a quick look. If you want every page to open larger, set a zoom level in your browser settings and it will stick.
Safari on iPhone and iPad
- Open the Settings app and tap Apps, then Safari. On older versions, Safari sits in the main Settings list.
- Scroll down and tap Page Zoom.
- Pick a percentage. Every website will now open at that size.
To change one website only, open it in Safari, tap the page menu in the address bar, and use the small A and large A buttons.
Chrome on Android
- Open Chrome and tap the three dots at the top right.
- Tap Settings, then Accessibility.
- Move the Default zoom slider until the sample text is comfortable to read.
Two other switches on that screen are worth turning on. “Force enable zoom” lets you pinch to zoom on websites that try to block it. “Show zoom option in main menu” adds a Zoom slider to the three dot menu, so you can change one website at a time.
Your browser remembers the zoom level for each website, so you only need to set it once per site.
Make text larger everywhere
If you want bigger text across all your apps and websites, change it in your device settings.
| Device | Where to look |
|---|---|
| Windows 11 | Settings, then Accessibility, then Text size |
| Mac | System Settings, then Accessibility, then Display, then Text size |
| iPhone and iPad | Settings, then Display & Brightness, then Text Size |
| Android | Settings, then Display, then Font size or Display size and text |
Magnify part of the screen
A screen magnifier works like holding a magnifying glass over one area. It is handy when zoom alone is not enough.
- Windows: hold the Windows key and press plus to open Magnifier. Windows key and Esc closes it.
- Mac: go to System Settings, then Accessibility, then Zoom.
- iPhone and iPad: go to Settings, then Accessibility, then Zoom.
- Android: go to Settings, then Accessibility, then Magnification.
Struggling to find the mouse pointer?
You can make it bigger and change its colour. On Windows, look in Settings, then Accessibility, then Mouse pointer and touch. On a Mac, look in System Settings, then Accessibility, then Display.
Change colours and contrast
Bright white screens tire a lot of people out, and pale grey text on a white background is hard for almost everyone. You can change both.
Dark mode
Dark mode swaps light backgrounds for dark ones. Many people find it gentler on the eyes, mainly in the evening.
| Device | Where to look |
|---|---|
| Windows 11 | Settings, then Personalisation, then Colours |
| Mac | System Settings, then Appearance |
| iPhone and iPad | Settings, then Display & Brightness |
| Android | Settings, then Display, then Dark theme |
Not every website follows your dark mode setting. If one stays bright, the Dark Reader extension in our free tools list can darken it for you.
Stronger contrast
More contrast makes text and buttons stand out from what is behind them.
- Windows 11: Settings, then Accessibility, then Contrast themes.
- Mac: System Settings, then Accessibility, then Display, then Increase contrast.
- iPhone and iPad: Settings, then Accessibility, then Display & Text Size, then Increase Contrast.
- Android: Settings, then Accessibility, then look for High contrast text or Colour and motion.
Colour filters
If you are colour blind, or certain colours are hard to tell apart, a colour filter can help. Every device has one in its Accessibility settings. Look for Colour filters on Windows, Mac, iPhone and iPad, and Colour correction on Android.
Some dyslexic people, and people with visual stress, find a soft tint over the screen makes reading more comfortable. The colour filter settings on your device can do this, and so can some of the free tools further down.
Have pages read aloud
Listening can be easier than reading, whether you have sight loss or are dyslexic, your eyes are tired, or your hands are full. There are two kinds of tool for this, and they do different jobs.
Read aloud tools
These read the main text of a page to you while you look at the screen as normal. They are a good first step if you just want to listen to an article.
- Microsoft Edge: right click on the page and choose Read aloud, or press Ctrl, Shift and U.
- Google Chrome: open the three dot menu, choose More tools, then Reading mode. You will see a play button at the top.
- Safari on iPhone, iPad and Mac: open the page menu in the address bar and choose Listen to Page.
- iPhone and iPad, any app: go to Settings, then Accessibility, then Read & Speak, and switch on Speak Screen. Swipe down from the top of the screen with two fingers to start. On older versions this menu is called Spoken Content.
- Android, any app: go to Settings, then Accessibility, then Select to Speak.
Screen readers
A screen reader speaks everything on the screen, including menus, buttons and image descriptions. It lets someone use a device without seeing it at all. Every modern device has one built in.
| Device | Screen reader | How to turn it on |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | Narrator | Windows key, Ctrl and Enter |
| Mac | VoiceOver | Command and F5 |
| iPhone and iPad | VoiceOver | Settings, then Accessibility, then VoiceOver |
| Android | TalkBack | Settings, then Accessibility, then TalkBack |
A word of warning before you try one on a phone. Touch gestures change while a screen reader is running. You tap once to hear an item and double tap to open it. If you get stuck, ask Siri or Google Assistant to turn it off.
On Windows, a lot of people prefer NVDA, a free screen reader you can download. It is in our tools list below.
Browse without a mouse
A mouse or trackpad needs a steady hand and fine control. If that is painful, tiring or simply not possible, you can get around most websites with the keyboard alone.
| Key | What it does |
|---|---|
| Tab | Moves to the next link, button or form field |
| Shift and Tab | Moves back to the previous one |
| Enter | Opens the link or presses the button you are on |
| Space bar | Scrolls down the page, or ticks a checkbox |
| Arrow keys | Scroll the page, or move through menus and options |
| Esc | Closes a pop up or menu |
| Alt and left arrow | Goes back a page. On a Mac, use Command and left arrow |
| Ctrl and F | Searches the page for a word. On a Mac, use Command and F |
As you press Tab, look for an outline or highlight that shows where you are on the page. A well built website always shows one.
On many sites, the very first press of Tab brings up a link called “Skip to content”. Press Enter on it to jump past the menu and go straight to the main part of the page.
If Tab does not work on your Mac
Macs do not switch this on by default. Go to System Settings, then Keyboard, and turn on Keyboard navigation. In Safari, open Settings, choose Advanced, and tick the option to press Tab to highlight each item on a webpage.
Use your voice
You can talk to your device instead of typing or tapping. This helps if typing is slow or sore, if spelling is a struggle, or if you just think better out loud.
Dictation: speak instead of type
Click into any text box, such as a search bar or contact form, then start dictation and say what you want to write.
- Windows: press the Windows key and H.
- Mac: press the microphone key, or turn dictation on in System Settings, then Keyboard.
- iPhone, iPad and Android: tap the microphone on the on-screen keyboard.
Say “comma”, “full stop” or “new line” to add punctuation as you go.
Voice control: run the whole device by voice
Voice control goes further than dictation. You can open apps, scroll, click links and press buttons, all by speaking.
| Device | Feature | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 11 | Voice access | Settings, then Accessibility, then Speech |
| Mac | Voice Control | System Settings, then Accessibility, then Voice Control |
| iPhone and iPad | Voice Control | Settings, then Accessibility, then Voice Control |
| Android | Voice Access | Settings, then Accessibility, then Voice Access |
If you cannot tell what a button is called, say “show numbers”. Each thing you can click gets a number, and you say the number to choose it.
Captions and sound
Captions turn speech into text on the screen. They are a must if you are deaf or have hearing loss, and a real help in a noisy room or when you cannot have the sound on.
Captions on videos
Most video players have a captions button, usually marked CC. On YouTube, click CC under the video or press the C key. If the speaker talks too fast, the settings cog lets you slow the video down.
Live captions for any sound
Your device can also caption audio that has no captions of its own, such as a podcast, a voice note or a video call. Everything is worked out on your device as it plays.
| Device | Where to look |
|---|---|
| Windows 11 | Press the Windows key, Ctrl and L |
| Google Chrome on a computer | Chrome Settings, then Accessibility, then Live Caption |
| iPhone, iPad and Mac | Settings, then Accessibility, then Live Captions |
| Android | Press a volume button, then tap the Live Caption icon under the slider |
Live captions are written by software, so expect a few mistakes, mainly with names, accents and background noise. They also work best in English.
Other sound settings worth knowing
- Mono audio plays both left and right sound through each ear. Turn it on if you hear better on one side.
- Sound alerts can flash the screen or vibrate when your phone hears a doorbell, alarm or baby crying. Look for Sound Recognition on iPhone and Sound Notifications on Android.
Cut down clutter and movement
Adverts, pop ups, sliding banners and autoplay videos make a page hard work. If you are autistic, or have ADHD, a brain injury, migraines or a vestibular condition, they can make a page unusable. Two settings take most of that noise away.
Reader mode
Reader mode strips a page back to its text and main pictures. No adverts, no sidebars, no distractions. Most let you pick the font, text size and background colour too.
| Browser | How to open it |
|---|---|
| Safari | Open the page menu in the address bar and choose Reader |
| Microsoft Edge | Press F9, or click the book icon in the address bar |
| Firefox | Press F9, or click the page icon in the address bar |
| Google Chrome | Three dot menu, then More tools, then Reading mode |
Reader mode works best on articles and blog posts. It will not show up on every page.
Reduce motion
This setting tells your device you would like less animation. Well built websites pick up on it and tone down their own moving parts.
- Windows 11: Settings, then Accessibility, then Visual effects, then turn off Animation effects.
- Mac: System Settings, then Accessibility, then Display or Motion, then Reduce motion.
- iPhone and iPad: Settings, then Accessibility, then Motion, then Reduce Motion.
- Android: Settings, then Accessibility, then Colour and motion, then Remove animations.
Stop videos playing on their own
On iPhone and iPad, the same Motion screen has a switch for auto-playing video previews and animated images. In Firefox, autoplay with sound is blocked unless you allow it. On other browsers, pressing Esc or the pause button is often the fastest fix.
Free accessibility tools worth trying
The settings above are already on your device. The tools below are extras you can add for free. We have no ties to any of them and earn nothing if you use them.
| Tool | What it helps with | Works on |
|---|---|---|
| NVDA | A full screen reader made by a charity. It reads everything on screen aloud. | Windows |
| Be My Eyes | Connects blind and partially sighted people to sighted volunteers by video call. It can also describe a photo for you. | iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows |
| Seeing AI | Uses your phone camera to read text aloud and describe what is in front of you. Made by Microsoft. | iPhone, iPad, Android |
| Read Aloud | A browser extension that reads web pages to you at the click of a button. | Chrome, Edge, Firefox |
| Helperbird | A browser extension with dyslexia friendly fonts, reading rulers, colour overlays and a reading mode. The everyday tools are free and need no account. | Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari |
| OpenDyslexic | A free font with weighted letter shapes that some dyslexic readers find easier to follow. | Windows, Mac, Chrome |
| Dark Reader | Gives every website a dark mode, even those that do not offer one. | Free on Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| Immersive Reader | Built into Microsoft Edge. Reads text aloud, spaces out lines and can split words into syllables. | Edge on any device |
| Live Transcribe | Turns the speech around you into text on your phone, in real time. Made by Google. | Android |
Block accessibility widgets
Some websites add an accessibility widget, usually a round button that sits in a corner of the screen. They are usually installed because people want to help. But for a lot of people they get in the way, and they can clash with screen readers and other assistive technology.
AccessiByeBye is a free Chrome extension from Pneuma Solutions that blocks the most commonly used ones. You can switch it off again whenever you like. But if you are finding accessibility widgets stop you from browsing the internet, you can install AccessiByeBye on your Mac or Windows PC in Chrome.
Before you add a browser extension
Only install extensions from your browser’s official store. An extension can usually see the pages you visit, so stick to well known names with lots of reviews. If you stop using one, remove it.
Where to get more help
If you would like someone to walk you through any of this, these UK charities are a good place to start.
- My Computer My Way from AbilityNet has step by step guides with pictures for every setting on this page, sorted by device and version.
- AbilityNet also runs a helpline for older and disabled people on 0300 180 0028. It is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, and from 12pm on Thursdays. Their volunteers can help by phone or visit you at home.
- RNIB gives technology advice to blind and partially sighted people. Call their Helpline on 0303 123 9999.
- RNID has information on technology for people who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus.
The companies that make your device publish their own guides as well:
- Apple accessibility support for iPhone, iPad and Mac
- Microsoft accessibility help for Windows and Edge
- Android accessibility help from Google
When a website still does not work for you
Sometimes you can change every setting going and a website still gets in your way. That is a fault with the website, not with you.
It is worth telling the people who run it. Most small businesses have no idea there is a problem until someone says so. Look for an accessibility statement or contact link, usually at the bottom of the page, and let them know:
- which page you were on
- what you were trying to do
- what went wrong
- the device and browser you were using, and any tools such as a screen reader
In the UK, the Equality Act 2010 expects businesses to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people, and that covers websites too.
Tell us about our website
We build this website, and our clients’ websites, with accessibility in mind and we test as we go. We still miss things. If anything here is hard to use, please get in touch and we will put it right as quickly as we can.
You can reach us by email, WhatsApp, voice note or video, whichever suits you best. Our contact information can be found on our contact page.
Do you run a website?
If you would like to know what might be getting in your own visitors’ way, take a look at our accessibility audit service.
We last checked this page in October 2026.