Is there a recommended WCAG checklist for native macOS and iOS apps?

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This post is from the WWDC26 Accessibility & Inclusion Q&A.

I'm working on improving accessibility in a native macOS app and going through WCAG, but with so many success criteria it's hard to know where to focus for native Apple platform apps.

1. Does Apple recommend a specific subset or checklist of WCAG requirements for macOS and iOS?

2. If not, which criteria are generally considered essential, and how do developers typically validate them using Apple's accessibility tools and assistive technologies?

I'm looking for a prioritized list of criteria that actually apply to native apps, rather than trying to implement every WCAG criterion individually.

Answered by Engineer in 891421022

WCAG checklist does not map directly to native apps. The first thing to do is to run the audit function in Accessibility Inspector (Xcode > Open Developer Tool). Then try to use something like VoiceOver to navigate the content of your app. See if you can reach all the UI and hear user friendly description for each UI.

Answer 1

Engineer OP

Apple

3h

Recommended

WCAG checklist does not map directly to native apps. The first thing to do is to run the audit function in Accessibility Inspector (Xcode > Open Developer Tool). Then try to use something like VoiceOver to navigate the content of your app. See if you can reach all the UI and hear user friendly description for each UI.

Answer 2

Engineer OP

Apple

3h

Accepted Answer

We always recommend taking a look at dynamic type in your app. A little work here goes a long way and supports such a wide range of users. Beyond that, looking at sufficient contrast, and VoiceOver support, are probably good next areas to take a look at. These are just good areas to get started with, and do not map to any specific WCAG guidelines. I'd take a look at our built in apps for examples of some great accessible experiences to model your improvements after!