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Important: As of mid-December 2018, the Sway iOS app will be retired. If you created any Sways in the iOS app prior to this date, you will still be able to open and edit them in sway.office.com or Sway for Windows 10.

Sway works with the accessibility features of your iPad so that you can create interactive reports, presentations, personal stories, and more. You provide the content and Sway does the rest, making sure that your finished layout looks beautiful on virtually any device. The accessibility features in Sway help more people use Sway to create, regardless of ability. They also help make sure that more people can read and enjoy the finished content.

To learn about other ways to set accessibility preferences, refer to Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365.

In this topic

Explore the Sway user interface

When you start the Sway app, My Sways appears at the top. This view lists all the Sways associated with the account you used to sign in.

To start a new Sway, choose the + (plus sign) button in the menu bar.

When you create or edit a Sway, two buttons are in the center of the top navigation bar:

  • Edit. To add content to a card on your storyline, use the Edit button. Below the storyline, you'll find buttons for adding content, such as media, photos, text, and headers.

  • Preview. To review your Sway, use the Preview button. In Preview, you can remix the design, try different navigation styles, and change the color scheme.

Tip: To delete your Sway, use the ... (more) button in the My Sways view, in the lower-right corner of a Sway.

Use VoiceOver to get started in Sway

VoiceOver can help you navigate and work in Sway, whether you use gestures or an external keyboard.

Procedures in this topic assume that Quick Nav is off. To turn off Quick Nav, press both the Left Arrow and Right Arrow keys at the same time.

The topic uses the abbreviation “VO” to refer to the VoiceOver keys such as the Control key and the Option key.

Here are key tips for staying oriented in Sway:

  • When you start Sway, the heading at the top of the screen is My Sways. When you run your finger near the top center of the screen, you hear, “My Sways, Heading.” If you hear, “My Sways, Button,” either Preview or Edit view is active, and the VoiceOver cursor is on the My Sways button in the upper-left corner.

  • When you edit, flick up or down to find the available commands. If you’re using a keyboard, press VO+Down Arrow. VoiceOver lists the options for the current context, depending on what’s selected. When you hear the one you want, double-tap.

Sign in

If you aren’t already signed in when you start Sway, you hear, “Sign in to start.” To sign in:

  1. To activate the Sign in to start button, navigate through the Getting Started Welcome screens until you reach the last screen. Flick right or left until you hear, "Get started, button," and then double-tap to open the Sign In dialog. The VoiceOver cursor is on the Cancel button in the upper-left corner.

  2. Flick to the right, or press VO+Right Arrow repeatedly until you hear, “What email address or phone number would you like to use to sign in to Sway?”

  3. Double-tap to place the insertion point in the text box, type your account information, and then tap Return. This displays the sign-in dialog for your account.

  4. Type your sign in information as instructed on the screen. When you’re done, Sway opens to the My Sways view.

Open an existing Sway

  1. In My Sways, flick your finger to the right, or press VO+Right Arrow repeatedly, until you hear the name of the Sway you want.

  2. Double-tap anywhere on the screen. The Sway opens in the Edit window, and the VoiceOver cursor is on the first card in the view.

  3. To preview this Sway, swipe to the right or press VO+Right Arrow repeatedly until you hear “Preview, Button” and then double-tap anywhere on the screen.

Start a new Sway

  1. In My Sways, flick your finger to the right, or press VO+Right Arrow repeatedly, until you hear “Add, button”.

  2. Double-tap anywhere on the screen. In the storyline, a new, blank title card appears, followed by a row of buttons for adding content.

Use VoiceOver to add content to a new Sway

  1. In Edit view, move your finger to the first card in the storyline. Or, if you’re using a keyboard, press VO+Right Arrow repeatedly, until you hear “Title without background image.”

  2. To add an image that will appear behind the title, swipe up repeatedly. Or, press VO+Down Arrow until you hear “Replace the image.” Then double-tap anywhere. A dialog opens where you can choose From Library or Take Picture.

  3. To browse photos, flick left or right, or press VO+Left Arrow or VO+Right Arrow. When you find the photo you want, double-tap or press VO+Spacebar. The photo is inserted in the title card as a background image.

  4. To add the title, make sure that the title card is selected and then triple-tap. The insertion point appears in the text area. Type the title text.

  5. To add more content, use the buttons below the title card.

Use Accessibility view

When you preview your Sway, you can turn on Accessibility view. Accessibility view lets you view Sways with reduced animation, high contrast style, and screen layout optimized for VoiceOver. Accessibility view applies only to Sway in this app. It does not affect the design and layout of the Sways when viewed on other devices or apps.

Turn on Accessibility view

Tip: When you start Sway with VoiceOver on, Accessibility view is on by default.

When you preview your Sway, you can turn on Accessibility view, which displays your content with reduced animation, high contrast style, and layout optimized for VoiceOver.

To preview your Sways in Accessibility view:

  1. Go to the Options dialog in My Sways.

  2. Flick right until you hear "Accessibility view", then double-tap to select.

  3. Flick right again until you hear "Accessibility view, switch button", then double-tap to switch the setting on.

If Accessibility view is off, you can still preview specific Sways in accessibility view. In Preview, the Accessibility view link is a landmark area hidden from view.

To display the Accessibility view link:

  • Using an external keyboard, press VO+Left Arrow until you hear “Accessibility link” and then press VO+Spacebar. Your Sway opens in a new browser window in Accessibility view.

  • If you’re using gestures, tap the Sway. You hear the title of your Sway. Flick left repeatedly until you hear “Accessibility view.” Double-tap. Your Sway opens in Accessibility view in a new browser window.

Tips for working in Accessibility view

Here are tips for working in Accessibility view:

  • To navigate through selectable options, on your keyboard, press VO+Left Arrow or VO+Right Arrow repeatedly until you hear the option you want.

  • To zoom a selected image in your current Sway, on your keyboard, press the Spacebar.

  • To close the image and go back to the Sway, press Esc.

Exit Accessibility view

  1. Flick left, or press VO+Right or VO+Left Arrow repeatedly, until you hear “More options,” and then double-tap.

  2. Move to Exit Accessibility view, and then double-tap or press VO+Spacebar.

  3. To return to editing, switch back to the Sway app. Double-click the Home button to open the App Switcher, or press Command+Tab.

Make images and videos accessible with Alt Text

To make images and videos accessible to people who use screen readers, you can add alt text.

  1. In the Edit view of a Sway, open the image or video card.

  2. Tap on the Alternative Text text field and then type descriptive text.

Make links easy to read

To make links accessible to all users, you can add display text.

  1. In the Edit view of a Sway, open the card containing a link

  2. Tap the Link button above the keyboard and then, in the Display text field, type descriptive text.

Send us feedback

Sway is evolving, and the Sway team is dedicated to creating a great, accessible experience.

Please let us know which accessibility features are most important to you. To learn how to share your thoughts, see How do I give feedback on Microsoft Office? or you can follow these steps to send us email:

  1. In My Sways, flick left until you hear “Options, Button” and then double-tap.

  2. Flick right, or press VO+Right Arrow repeatedly until you hear “Send feedback, Button.” Double-tap.

  3. In the Help us improve dialog, choose OK. An email message opens, addressed to the Sway team at Microsoft.

  4. Type and send your message. So that we can find it easily, in your feedback, please include the word Accessibility.

Technical support for customers with disabilities

Microsoft wants to provide the best possible experience for all our customers. If you have a disability or questions related to accessibility, please contact the Microsoft Disability Answer Desk for technical assistance. The Disability Answer Desk support team is trained in using many popular assistive technologies and can offer assistance in English, Spanish, French, and American Sign Language. Please go to the Microsoft Disability Answer Desk site to find out the contact details for your region.

If you are a government, commercial, or enterprise user, please contact the enterprise Disability Answer Desk.

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