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 an iPhone so that anyone 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.
Tips:
-
This topic uses the abbreviation “VO” in key combinations to mean the Control key and the Option key on an external keyboard used with VoiceOver.
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 signed in with. This includes Sways you’ve created and any Sways that have been shared with you.
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:
-
Use the Edit button to add content to a card on your storyline. At the bottom of the screen, a row of buttons lets you add content such as media, photos from the camera, text, headers, and more.
-
Use the Preview button to review your Sway. Here you can remix the design, try different navigation styles, and change the color scheme. You can also delete your Sway by using the button in the lower-right corner.
Note: 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. VoiceOver is the built-in screen reader on the iPhone. To turn on VoiceOver, triple-click the Home button or use Siri by saying, “Hey Siri, start VoiceOver.”
Here are two key tips for staying oriented in Sway:
-
When you start Sway, the heading at the top of the screen is My Sways, and when you run your finger near the top center of the screen, you hear, “My Sways, Heading.” If you hear, “My Sways, Back button,” Preview or Edit view is active, and the VoiceOver cursor is on the My Sways button.
-
When you edit, to find the available commands, flick up or down. 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 option you want, double-tap or, on the keyboard, press VO+Spacebar.
Sign in
If you aren’t already signed in, when you start Sway, you hear, “Sign in to start.” To sign in:
-
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 anywhere on the screen to open the Sign In dialog opens. The VoiceOver cursor is on the Cancel button in the upper-left corner.
-
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?” and then, “Type your email address or phone number, Text field, Required.”
-
Double-tap to place the insertion point in the text box, and then enter your account information.
-
To move to the next step:
-
On the screen, slide down until you hear “Next button,” and double-tap.
-
With the keyboard, press VO+Spacebar+Right Arrow until you hear, “Next button,” and then press VO+Spacebar. This opens the sign-in dialog for your account.
-
-
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
-
In My Sways, flick right or flick left until you hear the name of the Sway you want. On the keyboard, press VO+Right Arrow repeatedly.
-
Double-tap anywhere on the screen or, on the keyboard, press VO+Spacebar. The Sway opens in the Preview window, and the VoiceOver cursor is on the first card in the Sway.
-
To preview this Sway, slide your finger to the left or right, or press VO+Right Arrow repeatedly, until you hear “Preview, button,” and then double-tap anywhere on the screen.
Start a new Sway
-
In My Sways, slide your finger down or flick your finger to the right until you hear, “Add, button.” On the keyboard, press VO+Right Arrow repeatedly.
-
Double-tap anywhere on the screen or, on the keyboard, press VO+Spacebar. 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
-
In the 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.”
-
To add an image that will appear behind the title, swipe up repeatedly, or, if you’re using an external keyboard, press VO+Down Arrow, until you hear, “Replace the image.” Then double-tap anywhere. This opens a dialog where you can choose From Library or Take Picture. (You may first need to grant Sway access to Photos in your settings.)
-
To add the title, first make sure the title card is selected (slide your finger down on the screen), and then double-tap or, on the keyboard, press VO+Spacebar. The insertion point is in the text area. Type the title text.
-
To add more content, use the buttons below the title card.
Use Accessibility view
Tip: Accessibility view option is turned on by default when you start the app with VoiceOver on.
When you preview your Sway, you can turn on Accessibility view. Accessibility view displays your work with reduced animations, high-contrast style for easier reading, and layout optimized for VoiceOver. It affects your view only in this app. It doesn’t affect the design and layout of the Sways when viewed on other devices or apps.
Turn on Accessibility view
To preview all your Sways in Accessibility view:
-
Navigate to the Options dialog in My Sways.
-
Flick right until you hear, “Accessibility View”, then double-tap to select.
-
Flick right again until you hear, “Accessibility view, Switch button,” then double tap to toggle setting on.
If you don’t have accessibility view option turned on in the Options dialog, 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 link:
-
If using an external keyboard, press VO+Left Arrow or VO+Right Arrow until you hear, “Accessibility link,” and then press VO+Spacebar. Your Sway opens in Accessibility view in a new browser window.
-
If using gestures, move the focus to the Sway. You hear the title of your Sway. Flick to the left or right 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 some tips for using Accessibility view:
-
To navigate through any selectable options, on your keyboard, press VO+Left Arrow or VO+Right Arrow repeatedly to get to the option you want. Or you can swipe left or right.
-
To zoom a selected image in your current Sway, press the Spacebar on your keyboard.
-
To close the image and go back to the Sway, press the Esc key.
Exit Accessibility view
-
Flick your finger to the left, or press VO+Right Arrow or VO+Left Arrow, repeatedly until you hear, “More options,” and then double-tap.
-
Move to Exit Accessibility view, and then double-tap or press VO+Spacebar.
-
To return to editing, switch back to the Sway app:
-
Double-tap the Home button to use the App Switcher.
-
Slide your finger, or press VO+Left Arrow or VO+Right Arrow repeatedly, until you hear, “Back to Sway,” and then double-tap or, on the keyboard, press VO+Spacebar.
-
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.
-
In the Edit view of a Sway, open the image or video card, tap on the “Alternative Text” field.
-
Add descriptive text.
Make links human readable
To make links accessible to all users, you can add display text.
-
In the Edit view of a Sway, open the card containing a link, tap the link button above the keyboard (the button on the left).
-
Add descriptive text in the “Display text” field.
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. See How do I give feedback on Microsoft Office? to learn how to share your thoughts. We're listening.
Or, follow these steps to send us email:
-
In My Sways, flick left until you hear “Options, Button,” and then double-tap.
-
Slide your finger down or press VO+Right Arrow repeatedly until you hear, “Send feedback, Button.” Double-tap.
-
In the Help us improve dialog, slide until you hear, “OK button” or press VO+Left Arrow or VO+Right Arrow. Then double-tap or, on the keyboard, press VO+Spacebar. An email message opens, addressed to the Sway team at Microsoft.
-
Type your message and send. Please include the word “accessibility” in your feedback.
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.
