Neowin News Feed for: Accessibility

Microsoft makes significant accessibility improvement in Word

Usama Jawad — Wed, 20 May 2026 12:16:01 +0000

Microsoft just revamped Word's accessibility experience with calmer Narrator prompts, fewer keystrokes, and quicker fixes. Read more...

Microsoft is finally ditching annoying CAPTCHAs for Teams meetings

Paul Hill — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 11:20:02 +0000

Joining Microsoft Teams meetings is about to get a lot less frustrating. Discover how the new bot detection system replaces CAPTCHAs to improve accessibility and security. Read more...

Live transcriptions with translations coming to Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android soon

Paul Hill — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:40:02 +0000

Microsoft is adding live transcriptions with translations to Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android in the coming months. It will give a boost to accessibility and break language barriers. Read more...

Microsoft has made a "crucial" accessibility improvement to Word for Windows

Usama Jawad — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 13:10:01 +0000

Microsoft has made an accessibility update described as "crucial for improving the Word experience" for a select set of users. Read more...

Microsoft brings another AI feature to all Windows 11 devices without special hardware

Taras Buria — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 10:00:02 +0000

Windows 11 has several features that require dedicated hardware, and with the latest update, one of them becomes available on all Windows 11 PCs. Read more...

Elementary OS 8.1 arrives with Linux 6.14 kernel and smoother multitasking

Paul Hill — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 13:24:01 +0000

The elementary OS 8.1 update introduces Wayland as the default session, better gaming via Linux 6.14, and refined accessibility features. Read more...

Guide: What are Sticky keys in Windows?

Usama Jawad — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 23:28:01 +0000

Accidentally triggering Sticky keys in Windows may have caused you annoyance in some point in your life, but they actually serve a very important purpose. Read more...

Microsoft announces potential game-changer feature for Word and PowerPoint

Usama Jawad — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 22:30:01 +0000

Microsoft has revealed a new feature that may make the lives of many document authors using PowerPoint and Word a lot easier. Read more...

How to set up and use Head Tracking on your iPhone running iOS 26

Aditya Tiwari — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 11:58:01 +0000

With iOS 26, Apple has added a new way to control the iPhone using your head movements. Read on to know how to turn on and use Head Tracking on iOS 26. Read more...

The latest Microsoft 365 updates will make some customers very happy

Usama Jawad — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 20:30:01 +0000

Microsoft has delivered some accessibility updates to Microsoft 365 apps, which should decrease frustration for authors creating content for those with special needs. Read more...

WhatsApp brings Android's new group calling feature to iOS

Paul Hill — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 16:24:01 +0000

WhatsApp is simplifying the call experience for iOS users with the new Unified Call Hub feature. The hub centralizes call initiation, group scheduling, and even a direct dialer shortcut. Read more...

GNOME 49 is a big release with major app overhauls

Paul Hill — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 11:58:01 +0000

GNOME 49 is here. This new release overhauls two core apps and brings major performance boosts. Read more...

In these regions, Google may still not let you blast your headphones at full volume

David Uzondu — Fri, 22 Aug 2025 22:18:01 +0000

Google's Android hearing protection has long annoyed users for auto-lowering volume, but soon you may be able to control it depending on your region. Read more...

Steam games now detail what accessibility features they offer on store pages

Pulasthi Ariyasinghe — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 00:42:01 +0000

Valve has brought an accessibility-focused update to Steam, making it easier for both developers and gamers to add or find what they are looking for. Read more...

Microsoft brings its presentation customization tool to PowerPoint for Mac

Aditya Tiwari — Tue, 20 May 2025 06:20:02 +0000

A new accessibility tool coming to PowerPoint for Mac makes it easier to customize and re-order presentation content. Read more...

PowerPoint users on Mac can now generate captions using speech recognition

David Uzondu — Fri, 16 May 2025 22:32:01 +0000

In celebration of Global Accessibility Awareness Day, Microsoft is bringing speech recognition-powered captions to PowerPoint on Mac. Read more...

Google updates Android and Chrome with new AI and accessibility features

David Uzondu — Thu, 15 May 2025 20:38:02 +0000

Google is rolling out several updates to Android and Chrome, including upgraded Expressive Captions, improved speech recognition, and more. Read more...

Apple announces new accessibility features for iPhone, Mac, Apple Watch, and more

Taras Buria — Tue, 13 May 2025 13:20:01 +0000

Today is Global Accessibility Awareness Day, and Apple is taking the opportunity to announce many new features that will make using its devices easier for customers. Read more...

Dialogue-only subtitles are finally making their way to Netflix

David Uzondu — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 22:18:01 +0000

Streaming giant Netflix has announced that it now offers dialogue-only subtitles for a cleaner viewing experience. Read more...

PowerPoint gets SRT file support for captions and subtitles

Taras Buria — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 22:36:01 +0000

PowerPoint on Windows, macOS, and the Web now allows users to import SRT files for captions and subtitles for more accessible presentations. Read more...

Google brings something called Expressive Captions for Android

Aditya Tiwari — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 20:40:01 +0000

Google has upgraded the Live Caption on Android with a new feature called Expressive Captions. As the name suggests, it tells users what emotions are conveyed in the content they are watching. Read more...

The FCC makes it mandatory for all smartphones sold in the U.S. to support hearing aids

Karthik Mudaliar — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 17:50:01 +0000

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has mandated all smartphones that will be sold in the United States must be compatible with hearing aids. Read more...

KDE Plasma 6.2 launches with new tools for artists and power management upgrades

Paul Hill — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 12:30:02 +0000

The KDE project has unveiled Plasma 6.2, featuring enhanced drawing tablet support and advanced color management options for artists and daily users alike. Read more...

Microsoft 365 Insiders can try out the Quick Fix accessibility feature in Word for Windows

John Callaham — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 21:18:01 +0000

Members of the Microsoft 365 Insiders program can check out a new feature in Word for Windows called Quick Fix. It's been made to correct multiple accessibility issues in Word files at once. Read more...

Honor will bring phone-controlling eye-tracking tech to its phones this month

Paul Hill — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 12:20:02 +0000

The Chinese phone maker, Honor, will roll out eye tracking technology to its phones from August 27. With this, you will be able to open notifications and apps just by using your eyes. Read more...

Google reveals four new AI-powered accessibility features to help you use your Pixel

Taras Buria — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 19:10:01 +0000

In addition to announcing a bunch of new phones and other devices, Google revealed four new AI-powered accessibility features that should make it easier to use your Pixel devices. Read more...

This iOS 18 feature claims to reduce motion sickness, here's how to use it

Aditya Tiwari — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 19:26:01 +0000

Apple iOS 18 packs some new accessibility features for iPhones. Alongside Eye Tracking, an accessibility feature can help reduce motion sickness when sitting in a moving vehicle. Here's how to try it. Read more...

How to set up and use Eye Tracking on your iPhone running iOS 18

Aditya Tiwari — Sun, 07 Jul 2024 17:24:01 +0000

Apple announced Eye Tracking for iPhone and iPad earlier this year and it is available on the iOS 18 developer beta. Here's how you can set it up and use your iPhone just using your eyes. Read more...

Firefox will use AI to improve browsing accessibility

Taras Buria — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 14:00:01 +0000

Mozilla is not ignoring the ever-reaching AI boom. However, unlike other companies with gimmicky features, the company is trying to put AI to some good use, namely improve accessibility in Firefox 130 Read more...

Google launches new accessibility features for Android and Google Maps

Aditya Tiwari — Thu, 16 May 2024 19:46:02 +0000

Google is rolling out some new accessibility features for Android and Google Maps. For instance, the Lookout app is getting a Find Mode to locate different objects, Sound Notifications is redesigned. Read more...

iPhone and iPad to get Eye Tracking support and more accessibility features later this year

Aditya Tiwari — Wed, 15 May 2024 19:30:01 +0000

Apple announced Eye Tracking will be available for iPhones and iPads later this year. This adds to the host of accessibility features the company will add to the iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro, and CarPlay. Read more...

Windows 11 will soon be able to speak text using your voice

Taras Buria — Fri, 09 Feb 2024 09:46:01 +0000

Microsoft is working on a new accessibility feature for Windows 11. Spotted in the latest preview builds, the "Speak for me" feature will let you type text for the operating system to synthesize it. Read more...

Instagram might add auto-translated captions and pinch-to-zoom for profile pictures

Aditya Tiwari — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 17:36:01 +0000

Instagram captions might improve in a future update with the ability to auto-translate captions in various languages. It's reportedly working on a new toggle button to enable the feature. Read more...

Microsoft kills off Vista era Speech Recognition on the newest Windows versions

Sayan Sen — Thu, 07 Dec 2023 07:50:01 +0000

Microsoft has announced another feature deprecation today as it has killed off Speech Recognition and replaced it with Voice Access. The former was added back in the Windows Vista days. Read more...

Weird iOS 17 bug triggers app switcher while typing on the keyboard

Aditya Tiwari — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 14:54:01 +0000

Users are reporting an iOS 17 bug that triggers the app switcher while typing something on the virtual keyboard. The bug is reportedly affecting all the versions of iOS 17, including iOS 17.1.2. Read more...

Microsoft highlights accessibility features it added to Windows 11 in 2023

Taras Buria — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 18:10:02 +0000

To celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Microsoft published a short recap of all the new accessibility features it added to its operating system during this year. Read more...

Microsoft reveals new Narrator screen reader improvements for Excel Windows users

John Callaham — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 17:36:01 +0000

Microsoft has revealed some new accessibility improvements for the Excel app for Windows. They include some optimizations for when the Narrator screen reader is used in the Excel app. Read more...

Microsoft announces the new accessibility settings menu for Xbox Game Bar

John Callaham — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 16:38:01 +0000

Microsoft has announced some new accessibility features for Xbox and PC players. They include a new accessibility settings menu for Xbox Widgets in the Xbox PC Game Bar, among other changes. Read more...

Forza Motorsport has a Blind Drive Assist feature that can help gamers with visual ailments

John Callaham — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 12:48:02 +0000

The Blind Drive Assist feature in Turn 10 and Microsoft's upcoming racing sim reboot Forza Motorsport will offer audio cues to gamers that will help blind players compete in races. Read more...

Windows 11 will soon let you adjust color filter intensity for better accessibility

Taras Buria — Mon, 07 Aug 2023 13:34:01 +0000

The recently released Windows 11 build 25921 (Canary Channel) contains a new unannounced accessibility feature. Those using built-in color filters can now adjust the intensity and color boost. Read more...