Apple has today released macOS Sonoma 14.5, watchOS 10.5, and tvOS 17.5 to the public.
Based on our testing, below are the key changes and issues for blind and low vision users in these updates.
Our testing suggests that a frustrating new bug has been introduced in macOS Sonoma 14.5 that impacts VoiceOver's Quick Nav functionality - single-key Quick Nav and arrow-key Quick Nav will randomly and frequently stop working if you have the "Always allow typing in text fields while using single-key Quick Nav" setting enabled in the Quick Nav section of the VoiceOver Utility. In the case of web browsers such as Safari, when the "allow typing" setting is on, the issue can spontaneously occur when navigating a web page, after following a link to a new web page, or switching between tabs. Sometimes the issue presents itself shortly after enabling Quick Nav, while other times it may work normally for some time before the keys stop performing Quick Nav functions. Toggling Quick Nav off and back on provides a temporary workaround, but the problem will recur as long as the "allow typing" setting is enabled. (Our thanks go to Maldalain for identifying that the "allow typing" setting is the trigger for this issue.)
We are currently aware of four possible fixes in macOS Sonoma 14.5:
- It is once again possible to reliably navigate text fields on web pages using Safari.
- VoiceOver no longer becomes sluggish when navigating long web pages in Safari.
- It is no longer necessary to interact with VoiceOver's find field to perform a search when single-key Quick Nav is on.
- Pressing VO-Globe-Left-Arrow now consistently works to jump to the toolbar in Dictionary.
We are currently unaware of any additional fixes, new bugs or regressions for blind and low vision users in macOS Sonoma 14.5, watchOS 10.5, or tvOS 17.5.
With our small team, it's impossible to test every device, configuration, app, and use case. We can't claim our lists of new and resolved bugs are comprehensive or that our assessments are infallible. Some issues may manifest only under specific conditions. You likely won't experience every bug. Also, expect to encounter problems not listed that we missed in our testing. Please let us know in the comments if you encounter any other improvements or new bugs introduced in these updates. Community feedback is invaluable in helping us keep this page up-to-date and accurate.
Release Notes
macOS Sonoma 14.5
macOS Sonoma 14.5 includes the following improvements and bug fixes:
- Quartiles is a new and original daily word game that is now available in Apple News+
- Scoreboard in News+ Puzzles gives you access to new player data for Crossword, Mini Crossword and Quartiles, including stats and streaks
Some features may not be available for all regions, or on all Apple devices.
watchOS 10.5
watchOS 10.5 includes new features, improvements and bug fixes, including a new Pride Radiance watch face to honor the LGBTQ+ community and culture.
For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222
tvOS 17.5
Release notes for tvOS 17.5 are not currently available. We will update this post if this changes or if anything of note is discovered or reported.
How to Update
To install macOS Sonoma 14.5, choose System Settings from the Apple menu, select General in the table, click Software Update in the scroll area, and click the Update Now button to begin the update process. If other updates are available, you can click "More info" to see details about them and select specific updates to install.
watchOS 10.5 is available via Over-the-Air Update (Settings > General > Software Update) or by going to the Watch app on your iPhone and navigating to General> Software Update. To install the update, your Watch must be connected to its charger and have at least 50% battery power.
To install tvOS 17.5 on Apple TV 4K or Apple TV HD, go to the Settings channel, then look for the System section near the bottom. From here, look for Software Updates under Maintenance, then select Update Software and Download and Install. Wait for your Apple TV to download the update. Don't disconnect or unplug your Apple TV until the update completes.
We'd love to hear your thoughts after you've had a chance to install the updates. What new features do you find most useful? Are there any changes you don't like? Please share your feedback in the comments below. Let us know what Apple got right with each release and where you think there's still room for improvement.
Comments
Is anyone having issues with QuickNav and OneKey navigation?
After updating to the latest MacOS I am having issues with QuickNav and OneKey navigation. QN does not work except if I toggle it off and then on back again. The same applies to OneKey navigation.
This is very big issue now
Again I amn having the issue please anyone can confirm? An exampl when I try to stop interacting with the current window VoiceOver either register a command to navigate to the next or previous character or says New Line. Also when I try to activate the Save button in the current post to submit my comment using the up and down arrows, VoiceOver says save button without activating the button.
Sorry for the third post
The issue seems to be universal, other browsing apps are affected, I tried Chrome and the same applies to it. Other apps are also affected like WhatsApp. I hardly can navigate away from edit fields in the WhatsApp except when I use CTRL+Options
The Culprit
I found that when I switch off the feature "Always allow typing in text fields while using single-key Quick Nav" the issue is gone. It seems it is a bad implementation of this feature that got worse with the latest MacOS release.
what about the dock bug?
the bug which not use to announce the focus of VO after opening the dock got fixed?
Just discovered the dock bug
and it is not fixed. Plus since at least 14.4 the iphone-ipad apps and mac apps element in the toolbar are impossible to access with vo left and right, the workaround is to interact with the toolbar then explore by touch on trackpad and hopefully find either of the three elements you wanna click all mac apps or iphone and ipad apps and then double tap.
Is the erratic behavior of VO+J in Apple Mail resolved?
It looks like it is behaving better now but I won't trust it. Besides I got my first 'Mail Not Responding' message today. I hope we don't have a MNR joining SNR!
Menu bar
I've noticed if I use VO+M then left/right arrows to move between menu items, VO helpfully says "Menu bar" in front of every single one. So "Menu Bar File" then "Menu Bar Edit". It's not exactly a showstopper but a little annoying. It doesn't do that if I use VO+left/right to move instead so guess need to retrain myself to do it that way.
@mr grieves don't wanna make you sad
But I am also on this version and I don't have this menu bar bug. Could you give some more context? I feel sorry for you though it sounds like one of those very common annoying thing with voiceover ruining productivity and our confidence with a digital device..
So Far So Good Here
I updated yesterday, and am not having any issues. Safari seems to be behaving itself very well.
Dynamic tables
OK I know this feels very old suddenly with all the AI announcements recently, but.... well, first of all sit down, take a few deep breaths until you are feeling nice and relaxed and calm....
I THINK I FOUND A BUG FIX!!!!
So with Sonoma there was a problem in Safari where if a row in a table was dynamically removed it would be impossible to navigate past it with VoiceOver. I had this all the time with the Amazon Web Services console. Well I've been noticing recently that it seems to have been working and I wasn't sure if it was something Amazon did, or something Apple had done.
Well I went back to my reference html page and lo and behold it seems to work now.
I still don't forgive Apple for Safari but it always feels like a big moment when you find something is actually no longer broken. Time to get the bunting out. Wish I'd known earlier or I would have booked a brass band and some cheerleaders.