Hello everyone,
I've developed a native TeamTalk client for macOS that's fully accessible with VoiceOver. As you know, the official TeamTalk version on Mac is completely inaccessible, so I built an alternative from scratch.
What's included:
- Full keyboard navigation — Cmd+1/2/3/4 for UI areas, F5 for nickname, F6 for status, etc.
- VoiceOver announcements for all events (users joining/leaving, private messages, file transfers)
- Native macOS interface (no ugly web wrapper)
- Saved server management with quick access
- Browse and join channels with optional password protection
- Private messaging with full conversation history
- File sharing with visual progress indicators
- User administration (for server admins)
- Advanced microphone settings:
- Enable/disable audio processing
- Noise suppression (Noise Gate) or Expander with fine-tuned controls over threshold, attack, hold, and release
- Peak limiter with auto or manual mode
- Multiple presets for different use cases
- Professional-grade tools to eliminate feedback and control voice peaks
Current state:
The app is functional and ready to use. The interface is clean, accessible and looks good — because using VoiceOver doesn't mean the UI has to be ugly.
Important:
The app is unsigned (no budget for Apple Developer Program yet). You'll need to authorize it in macOS security settings.
Interested?
If anyone wants to test, I can set up a beta distribution system. Your feedback on features, keyboard shortcuts, or missing functionality is welcome!
Comments
Teamtalk is accessible.
Last I tried it... Which was a good year ago I admit, teamtalk worked perfectly fine , if a bit convolutedly, what does your client offer that the official client does not?
very interested to give it a shot
Hi, I think having a 100% native mac client for teamtalk isn't at all a bad thing. Sure the qt app does exist, but I've been told by several mac users that unless you own a macbook with a screen, then you'll have big problems with it glitching severely, for example on the mac mini.
I do not have my mac yet, but I've ordered one and I'm most definitely interested in testing this client.
Edit: Would you consider also making it available on iOS? There is a native iOS app but frankly it's looking more and more like it's not being worked on, for one thing... Still stuck on 5.19, and ever since iOS 26 came out, it's broken so badly for me that it's unusable. My microphone simply stopped working and will never work, not even 1 or 2 seconds despite showing as if it does in both the status bar and in teamtalk itself. Also the dev doesn't really seem to know what he's talking about, as he claims that apple does not let you access the files app to retrieve .tt files from, so you can't even just use a .tt file unless you send it via email. Meh.
Definitely will try this
As said above, the QT MacOS client suffers from issues for years now that have not been solved: conversation history has some caevats when browsing (either when using lists or plain text view), audio input produces saturation at high volume, and TTS announcements is also sometimes sluggish.
I'll definitely try this pure swift version when it will come out, as native apps are often better for accessibility, and lighter to use.
Re: Accessibility, macOS support and future iOS plans
Hey everyone, thanks so much for the interest and feedback! Really appreciate it.
@jim pickens – You're right that the Qt app technically works, but honestly it's pretty rough for accessibility. Navigating between channels and users is basically a nightmare with VoiceOver, context menus don't respond properly, and there's that annoying audio crackling that I managed to eliminate in my version. So yeah, it "works" but it's not really usable if you rely on screen readers. This native macOS client is built VoiceOver-first, so the experience should be night and day.
@Casey Reeves – Totally feel you on the Mac mini issues. And yeah, iOS would be amazing! But here's the reality: I need to get an Apple Developer subscription first to sign the macOS app (costs money), and then building an iOS version would require the same. Down the road though, if I do make an iOS version, it would be way better than the official one – full
.ttfile support and iCloud sync between Mac and iOS so your servers stay in sync across devices. One step at a time though! Can't wait to hear what you think once your Mac arrives.@kaillewaille – Exactly! Those Qt issues are exactly what I was trying to fix. The navigation between channels/users for accessibility is broken, context menus don't work with VoiceOver, and yeah, that audio crackling is gone in my version. The audio pipeline is custom using Apple's AudioQueue, so no more distortion or saturation problems. And all the TTS is direct VoiceOver calls, so way more responsive. Looking forward to your feedback!
Let me know if you have any other questions. Excited to get this in people's hands!
definitely interested
I am definitely interested.
The native app is barely usable, and I'd be very happy to finally have a natively accessible and fully functional macos client.
TTAccessible Beta 1
Hi everyone, thanks for the great feedback on my earlier post! I'm happy to share the first public beta.
Download
ttaccessible-1.0.0-beta.1-1.zip (16 MB)
Important: Unsigned App
This app is not signed with an Apple Developer certificate (no budget for the $99/year program yet). macOS will block it by default. Here's how to open it with VoiceOver:
ttaccessible.appto your/Applicationsfolder (Finder, Cmd+Shift+A to open Applications, then paste)You only need to do this once. After that, the app opens normally.
Importing your servers from the official TeamTalk client
If you already use TeamTalk on your Mac, you can import all your saved servers:
TeamTalk5.inifileTeamTalk5.iniin the file list, select it, then press Enter (or activate the Import button)All your servers, nicknames, and credentials will be imported. Duplicates are automatically skipped.
What's in this beta
Keyboard shortcuts (quick reference)
Known limitations
Feedback
I'd love to hear your feedback! Let me know: - Anything that doesn't work as expected - VoiceOver issues or confusing navigation - Features you'd like to see - Keyboard shortcuts that feel wrong
Looking forward to hearing from you all!
Re: Accessibility, macOS support and future iOS plans
No worries, I understand. I just thought that mentioning iOS couldn't hurt given the state of things over there as well.
The good news is, I've just received confirmation that my mac will arrive tomorrow, so, unless there are many issues with setting it up, I should be all good to go to try this out in a matter of days, maybe weeks. I'm a very fast learner indeed, which will come in very handy for my initial switch to a mac.
Giving this a try, but one thing already.
This looks great, but one thing if possible is the ability to import TT files.
thank you for developing this app!
TTAccessible Beta 2
Hi everyone,
Here is beta 2 of TTAccessible.
First, thank you again for all the feedback on beta 1. It helped a lot, and this release includes quite a few improvements based directly on testing and user reports.
Download
ttaccessible-20260319-beta2.zip
Important: Unsigned App
This app is still not signed with an Apple Developer certificate, so macOS may block it the first time you try to open it.
If you already opened beta 1 using Open Anyway, beta 2 should normally be easier to launch, but if macOS blocks it again, use the same process as before in System Settings > Privacy & Security.
What’s new in beta 2
.ttfilesA few notes
TTAccessible is still designed with the same goals as before:
What I’d especially like feedback on in this beta
.ttfilesKnown limitations
Thanks again to everyone testing this. Your feedback is genuinely helping shape the app.
first impressions
Okay, serious, this is an absolutely awesome app. I couldn't find one option I'd definitely require but maybe I just missed it? Echo cancelation and all that fancy stuff to avoid feedback when on speakers and accidentally spamming everyone with VO. But other than that? Just wow. This app is really amazing.
Sadly unable to test, but
I'm sadly unable to test this, as I don't have a mac with an m-series chip. If I get one, however, and once this app is out of beta, I'll be giving it a look for sure. The QT teamtalk client for mac makes me rather sad. I despise being sad.