For most teams, mobile accessibility feels like a mystery box. Everyone agrees it’s important, but when it’s time to test, the question pops up: where do we start?

That uncertainty often leads to doing nothing at all. Yet accessibility isn’t an all or nothing commitment; it’s a habit of curiosity. The best way to begin is to test what you already have, using the device in your pocket.

 

Why Mobile Accessibility Matters

Fifteen years ago, the web went mobile. Today, more than 60 percent of web traffic comes from phones and tablets, but many mobile experiences still trip up users with disabilities. Accessibility isn’t a niche checklist; it’s the foundation of good design.

If you’ve ever squinted at your screen in sunlight or tried to tap a tiny button while juggling coffee, you’ve already met the same barriers millions face every day. Good accessibility helps everyone get things done.

The great news? You don’t need specialist tools. Your phone already includes everything required to experience your app or site through different lenses.

Here’s how to start.

 

1. Turn On VoiceOver or TalkBack

Screen readers turn a touchscreen into an audio interface. Switch on VoiceOver (iOS) or TalkBack (Android) and navigate your favourite app. Every unlabeled button or decorative icon will instantly vanish from your reach.

WebAIM’s Screen Reader User Survey 9 found that more than 70 percent of users rely on mobile screen readers every day. That’s a large audience to leave guessing.

 

2. Max Out Text Size

In your phone’s accessibility settings, increase text size to the maximum. Does your layout flex gracefully, or do buttons and words collide?

This quick test checks compliance with WCAG 1.4.4 – Resize Text, and it reveals how well your typography scales in the real world.

 

3. Check Colour Contrast Outdoors

Step outside on a bright day and open your site. Can you still read the buttons? Poor contrast remains one of the most common accessibility failures, and sunlight is a ruthless tester.

 

4. Switch to Grayscale

Colour shouldn’t be the only way information is conveyed. Flip your phone to grayscale mode; instructions like “tap the green button” will instantly break. The World Health Organization estimates that around 300 million people have some form of colour vision deficiency.

 

5. Test Captions and Audio on Video

Mute the sound and watch a video. Are the captions accurate, synced and complete? Around 80 percent of caption users are not deaf or hard of hearing; many are watching in noisy places, or quietly in bed.

Then, play the same video again but turn the screen away or place your phone face down. Listen without seeing it. Does the narration or dialogue alone convey all the important information? If visuals are required to understand key points, consider adding audio description or clearer verbal cues.

 

6. Enable Dark Mode

Dark mode saves battery and eyes, but it often exposes missing transparency or hard-coded colours. Toggle it on and see if your logos or icons vanish into the background.

 

7. Try High Contrast Mode

Android’s High Contrast Text and iOS Smart Invert are good crash tests for over-engineered designs. If your app breaks visually, you’ve learned where assumptions hide.

 

8. Use One Hand

Hold your phone as you would in a busy queue, coffee in one hand, thumb doing all the work. Can you still reach key actions? Large screens make one-handed use a real design challenge.

 

9. Rotate the Screen

Switch between portrait and landscape. Does the layout adapt? Are important buttons lost off-screen? Orientation flexibility benefits everyone from tablet users to wheelchair-mounted setups.

 

10. Check Tap Targets

Tiny touch areas cause frustration for users with dexterity differences or larger fingers. Try tapping buttons with your thumb; if you miss often, enlarge those targets.

 

11. Lock Orientation

Force portrait mode and see if content remains readable without horizontal scroll. WCAG discourages layouts that demand a specific orientation unless essential.

 

12. Simulate Slow Connections

Switch to airplane mode, then reconnect on weak data. Does your app show a spinner forever or offer meaningful feedback? Accessible apps communicate, even when bandwidth fails.

 

13. Reduce Motion

In accessibility settings, choose Reduce Motion. If the experience depends on animations or parallax effects, some users could get dizzy or disoriented. The app should stay functional and calm.

 

14. Try Keyboard Navigation

Pair a Bluetooth keyboard or use the on-screen one to tab through interactive elements. Logical focus order and visible outlines are vital for users who can’t rely on touch.

 

15. Test in Low Light

Dim the lights, maybe at the end of a long day. Does your text spacing, line height and font choice remain comfortable? Eye strain is a usability issue long before it becomes a disability issue.

 

What These Tests Teach

These aren’t extra steps. They reflect the way people actually use their phones: one-handed, outdoors, in noise, at night, or with permanent accessibility settings.

Accessibility on mobile isn’t about special users; it’s about designing for human reality. Each small test makes that reality clearer, and each improvement makes your app friendlier for everyone.

Start with your own device, note what breaks, fix what you can, and share what you learn. The first step toward inclusive design isn’t a policy; it’s curiosity.