VoiceOver issue with latest version of YouTube on iPhone

By Luke, 12 August, 2015

Forum
iOS and iPadOS

As of the latest version of the YouTube app, I'm experiencing a strange thing. I'll be using the app as usual with VoiceOver, and every few seconds VoiceOver will say "Button -- disabled" no matter where I touch on the app. I have enough sight to see that the app appears totally normal, and when I turn off VoiceOver the app responds normally to touches. It's almost like there's some invisible barrier between me and the user interface when this happens. Also, if I use VoiceOver gestures like flicking left or right, it works, but without being able to navigate by touch, the app becomes nearly impossible to use. If I close and restart the app it'll work OK for a minute or two, but then the dreaded full-screen disabled button of doom returns! Is anyone else having this bizarre issue?

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Comments

By Anthony on Tuesday, August 25, 2015 - 12:17

Yes I have been experiencing that same thing I thought it was just me but apparently there are other people dealing with that same problem

By RomanJ on Tuesday, August 25, 2015 - 12:17

I'm having the same strange issue with the youtube app on my iPhone.

By nohansa nuh on Tuesday, August 25, 2015 - 12:17

yess, IM also have same problem with youtube for iOS

By a12608 (not verified) on Tuesday, August 25, 2015 - 12:17

I have the same problem with YouTube. Also, you are not suppose to discuss Beta Software on this post.

By Luke on Tuesday, August 25, 2015 - 12:17

Ok, so a bunch of us are having this problem. What now? Does someone review these threads and contact the developer, or is that on us? Relatively new to this site so not totally clear on how it works. For what it's worth, I submitted feedback to the Google accessibility page but who knows if that will ever reach human eyes

By Alessandra on Tuesday, August 25, 2015 - 12:17

In reply to by Luke

I am having the same problem with my I-pad, but not with my I-phone. I wnt to the settings inside the You Tube App and left a message in the feedback section. Let's hope they deal with it soon!

By Luke on Friday, September 25, 2015 - 12:17

comment removed

By Alessandra on Tuesday, August 25, 2015 - 12:17

In reply to by Luke

Yes, indeed. Evidently you missed the comment from someone who said that he was having the same problem but had assumed that it was due to a beta version that he was running. By the way, I discovered that the reason that I am not having the problem with my I-phone is because I didn't do the update.

By Jessica on Tuesday, August 25, 2015 - 12:17

Hi all, I'm using an iPad Air 2 iOS 8.3, and am experiencing a very similar issue. In my case though, VoiceOver works just fine, until I play a video... And then, I can't navigate the app by touch or by flicking, at all. It just says "dimmed, dimmed, dimmed", no matter where I touch or flick. I can turn off VoiceOver, and for me, too, the app will work normally. I will follow up and try to contact Google. This is a bummer. :( I see the forum info in the app directory listing for Youtube. Is this the way that you'd recommend contacting Google Accesibility, or is there an Email address for the team? Thanks.

By a12608 (not verified) on Friday, September 25, 2015 - 12:17

I think that we should all contact Google and tell them how important accessibility is on the YouTube app. Just look at the reviews and the rating of the YouTube app on the app store. The YouTube app was good, but now, it is worse. They need to fix it ASAP.

By a12608 (not verified) on Friday, September 25, 2015 - 12:17

Sorry for the confusion. I updated the app and they fixed it.

By a12608 (not verified) on Friday, September 25, 2015 - 12:17

I was using the YouTube app. It still has a accessibility bug.

By Luke on Friday, September 25, 2015 - 12:17

Armando, my iPhone is set to update apps automatically and I am still having the same issue. Only starts happening once I've played a video and the playback screen is minimized to the lower right corner of the app. Also seems to occur when trying to read comments. I agree everyone should submit a bug report via the YouTu app. I did. I would also like to make sure that anyone else experiencing this issue knows how to navigate the app while we wait to get this fixed . Once the " button dimmed" announcement starts occurring, you cannot access the screen by directly touching it, but you can use the flick right and flick left gestures, as well as the rotor to jump to headings, links, and so on. One of the most useful jesters here will be the four finger Single tap near the top of the screen. This will get you to the home menu of the app . While not an ideal means of getting around, at least it allows you some basic access until they get it fixed. Hope that helps

By Alessandra on Sunday, October 25, 2015 - 12:17

I was just going to write to tell everyone that if you keep your device in portrait mode the problem goes away. However I noticed there was a new update and I did it. Lo and behold, it works.