Description
It seems that Apple has recently implemented some server-side updates to its Subscription Management display, which have introduced problems for VoiceOver users. As a result, apps or services listed on the screen are no longer accessible or locatable, rendering management of subscriptions unusable for those who rely on VoiceOver.
This behaviour is present if you access the subscription management screen via the App Store or at Settings > Apple ID > Subscriptions
Steps to reproduce
- Ensure that VoiceOver is enabled.
- Open the App Store.
- Navigate to the Today tab.
- Double tap with 1-finger on the My Account button.
- Double tap with 1-finger on the Subscriptions button.
- Perform a 4-finger single tap on the top half of the screen so as to place VoiceOver focus on to the first UI element on this screen.
- Flick right with 1-finger repeatedly to move VoiceOver focus through all UI elements on this screen.
You should find that VoiceOver focus skips any apps or services listed on this screen. It is also impossible to locate these by touch.
Note that this same subscription management screen is also located at Settings > Apple ID > Subscriptions
Comments
small correction and work around
The screen is accessible, however the active subscriptions are the ones voiceover cant read. You only get the active subcriptions heading, however these aren't read when swiping to the right. But this only happens with active subscriptions, which should be indicated in the post. The way it was worded I thought the entire subscription screen was inn-accessible. In the meantime a workaround for this is to access the subscriptions from the settings app and going to your apple ID and then into subscriptions..'
Re: Work around
This is just an alternative path to the same screen, so you still face the issue.
Also present in the 16.4 beta
Hi,
I have an iPhone 13 Pro Max & this issue is also present In the 16.4 beta.
I am running the beta due to a screen flickering issue. Unfortunately, that issue still exists in the beta as well, because I had it this morning.
re, work around
My bad, I thought the subscriptions screen found in settings was a different one.
Already sent a email to apple accessibility regarding this bug. Hopefully they fix it soon.
Re: Also present in the 16.4 beta
Since this screen is generated server-side, the version of iOS on your device won't be a factor. This means that Apple can address the issue outside of an iOS update, so a fix may be available soon.
the workaround I use
turn on screen Recognition while on the subscriptions screen. It will become accessable
I tried screen recognition and it didn't work as well as I hoped
The only subscription it showed me was my very latest one, none of the others, and it doesn't read complete words.
No luck with screen recognition here either
I gave screen recognition a shot with no luck.
Ok, screen recognition works but there is a catch
If you go into subscriptions and enable screen recognition once inside the subscriptions screen, it doesn't work. However if you enable screen recognition before going into the subscriptions screen it'll work. It does work, but enable it before you tap on the subscriptions button.
Now resolved
Great news! I'm glad to report that the subscription management screen is now working as expected for me. It seems that Apple has implemented server-side changes to address the issue.
To anyone else who encountered this problem, it would be helpful to hear whether the issue has been resolved for you as well.
Kudos to Apple for their quick response.
Got to love those bugs which can be resolved without the need of an OS update!
I just tried it now. It…
I just tried it now. It works very well, although voiceover focus will get stuck on an item when swiping, requiring to explore by touch. As soon as you touch a random place where one of the subscriptions are, you can than again swipe
it is working
it is now working for me. I am having the issue where the cursor gets stuck, but using explore by touch solves the problem. At least I can access my subscriptions again.
Works on the phone but not my ipad.
Hi,
This issue is fixed on my phone but not my ipad.
The phone is running 16.4 & the ipad is still on 16.3.1.
Should I update it & see if that helps?