WebInclusiveby Giuseppe Stumbo

Voice commands by platform

Voice Control on iPhone and Mac, voice access on Windows and Voice Access on Android: the phrases to say to tap, scroll, type and manage apps.

On this page

Choose an operating system and open its section. Phrases are grouped by task: navigate, click or tap, scroll and type. Voice commands control the device; they do not read the screen.

The illustrations are still. Start the animations to observe movement and pause them to read.

How to read the animations
  • The phrase in quotation marks is the command to say in English.
  • The animation illustrates the system response.

Three ways to tap by voice

All four platforms offer the same three methods: say the name of what you see, say the number the system writes over it, or split the screen into a grid and zoom in cell by cell.

The phrases are those documented in the English guides. Commands differ in other languages, and not every language is supported by every system and version. Replace words such as “name”, “number” or “app” with what you see on screen.

  • SpeechAll platforms

    By name

    Tap item name

    Say the name of the button or link you see, for example “Save”. It works when the name is unique on screen.

  • SpeechAll platforms

    By number

    Show numbers

    The system shows a number next to each item. Then say the number, or “Tap 2” or “Click 2”.

  • SpeechAll platforms

    By grid

    Show grid

    The screen is split into numbered cells. Say a number to zoom into a finer grid, then “Tap” or “Click”.

Voice Control on iPhone

3 tasks · 18 commands

Turn on and modes

  • SpeechiPhone · Voice Control

    Turn on with Siri

    Turn on Voice Control

    After setting it up in Settings, Accessibility, Voice Control. After the first download it no longer needs the internet.

  • SpeechiPhone · Voice Control

    Turn off

    Turn off Voice Control

    Say it to Siri to turn off Voice Control.

  • SpeechiPhone · Voice Control

    Command mode

    Command mode

    Stops dictation: what you say only counts as a command. A crossed-out character appears in the field.

  • SpeechiPhone · Voice Control

    Dictation mode

    Dictation mode

    In text fields, words that are not commands are typed.

Tap and navigate

  • SpeechiPhone · Voice Control

    Tap an item

    Tap item name

    Taps the control with that name.

  • SpeechiPhone · Voice Control

    Open an app

    Open app name

    Opens the named app.

  • SpeechiPhone · Voice Control

    Go to Home

    Go home

    Returns to the Home screen.

  • SpeechiPhone · Voice Control

    Control Centre

    Open Control Center

    Opens Control Centre.

  • SpeechiPhone · Voice Control

    Screenshot

    Take screenshot

    Takes a screenshot.

  • SpeechiPhone · Voice Control

    Volume

    Turn up volume

    Turns the volume up.

  • SpeechiPhone · Voice Control

    Commands list

    Show commands

    Shows the available commands. Also “Show me what to say”.

Names, numbers and grid

  • SpeechiPhone · Voice Control

    Show names

    Show names

    Shows the names of items. With “Show names continuously” they stay visible.

  • SpeechiPhone · Voice Control

    Show numbers

    Show numbers

    Numbers the items. With “Show numbers continuously” they stay visible.

  • SpeechiPhone · Voice Control

    Tap a number

    Tap number

    Taps the item with that number. “Long press number” and “Double tap number” also work.

  • SpeechiPhone · Voice Control

    Swipe from a number

    Swipe up at number

    Swipes up starting from the numbered item.

  • SpeechiPhone · Voice Control

    Show grid

    Show grid

    Splits the screen into numbered cells. With “Show grid continuously” it stays visible.

  • SpeechiPhone · Voice Control

    Zoom into the grid

    Zoom in number

    Zooms into the chosen cell. Change rows and columns with “Show grid with five rows”.

  • SpeechiPhone · Voice Control

    Hide

    Hide numbers

    Removes the overlay. Likewise “Hide names” and “Hide grid”.

Voice Control on Mac

5 tasks · 28 commands

Turn on and listen

  • SpeechMac · Voice Control

    Turn on with Siri

    Turn on Voice Control

    Or from System Settings, Accessibility, Voice Control.

  • SpeechMac · Voice Control

    Pause

    Go to sleep

    Stops listening for now. Also “Stop listening”.

  • SpeechMac · Voice Control

    Resume

    Wake up

    Starts listening again. Also “Start listening”.

  • SpeechMac · Voice Control

    Dictation mode

    Dictation mode

    Words are typed.

  • SpeechMac · Voice Control

    Command mode

    Command mode

    Words only count as commands.

  • SpeechMac · Voice Control

    Spelling mode

    Spelling mode

    Dictate letters with the phonetic alphabet: “Alfa Bravo Charlie” types “abc”.

Open, click, scroll

  • SpeechMac · Voice Control

    Open an app

    Open Mail

    Opens the named app.

  • SpeechMac · Voice Control

    Click

    Click Done

    Clicks the button with that name.

  • SpeechMac · Voice Control

    Click a menu

    Click Edit menu

    Opens the named menu.

  • SpeechMac · Voice Control

    Scroll

    Scroll down

    Scrolls the page. Also “Scroll up”.

  • SpeechMac · Voice Control

    Commands list

    Show commands

    Opens the commands window.

  • SpeechMac · Voice Control

    Voice Control settings

    Open Voice Control preferences

    Opens Voice Control preferences.

Names, numbers and grid

  • SpeechMac · Voice Control

    Show names

    Show names

    Shows the names of items.

  • SpeechMac · Voice Control

    Show numbers

    Show numbers

    Numbers the items. With “Show numbers continuously” they stay visible.

  • SpeechMac · Voice Control

    Click a number

    Click 9

    Clicks the numbered item. “Double click”, “Triple click” and “Long press” plus the number also work.

  • SpeechMac · Voice Control

    Text numbers

    Show text numbers

    Numbers pieces of text so you can act on one of them.

  • SpeechMac · Voice Control

    Show grid

    Show grid

    With “Show grid continuously” it stays visible; with “Show window grid” it covers only the active window.

  • SpeechMac · Voice Control

    Zoom into the grid

    Zoom in number

    Any command followed by a cell number. A number on its own zooms into that cell.

  • SpeechMac · Voice Control

    Drag

    Drag 10 to 15

    Drags from item 10 to item 15. Also “Start drag 10” and “Drop 9”.

  • SpeechMac · Voice Control

    Hide

    Hide numbers

    Removes the numbers. Likewise “Hide grid” and “Hide names”.

Mouse and text

  • SpeechMac · Voice Control

    Move the pointer

    Move cursor right 5 pixels

    Moves the pointer five pixels to the right.

  • SpeechMac · Voice Control

    Replace text

    Replace cat with dog

    Replaces one word with another.

  • SpeechMac · Voice Control

    Select text

    Select phrase

    Selects the named phrase.

  • SpeechMac · Voice Control

    Uppercase an item

    Uppercase number

    A command such as “Uppercase” followed by the number of the text item.

VoiceOver by voice

  • SpeechMac · Voice Control

    Say all

    VoiceOver read all

    Tells VoiceOver to read everything.

  • SpeechMac · Voice Control

    Rotor

    VoiceOver rotor

    Opens the VoiceOver rotor.

  • SpeechMac · Voice Control

    First item

    VoiceOver select the first item

    VoiceOver selects the first item.

  • SpeechMac · Voice Control

    Item Chooser

    VoiceOver show Item Chooser

    Opens the VoiceOver Item Chooser.

Voice access on Windows

8 tasks · 52 commands

Start and stop

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Wake up

    Voice access wake up

    Starts listening. Also “Unmute”.

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Put to sleep

    Voice access sleep

    Stops listening but stays on. Also “Mute”.

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Turn off the microphone

    Turn off microphone

    Turns the microphone off.

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Close

    Turn off voice access

    Closes voice access. Also “Stop voice access” and “Exit voice access”.

Apps and windows

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Open an app

    Open app name

    Also “Start app name” and “Show app name”.

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Switch to an app

    Switch to app name

    Also “Go to app name”.

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Close an app

    Close app name

    Also “Exit app name” and “Quit app name”.

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Window list

    Show all windows

    Also “Show task switcher” and “List all windows”.

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Minimise

    Minimize window

    Also “Minimize all windows”.

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Maximise

    Maximize window

    Maximises the active window.

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Restore

    Restore window

    Returns the window to its previous size.

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Close the window

    Close window

    Closes the active window.

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Snap

    Snap window to left

    Also right, top left or right, bottom left or right.

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Go to the desktop

    Go to desktop

    Also “Go home”.

Click

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Click an item

    Click item name

    Also “Tap item name”.

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Right-click

    Right click

    Secondary click where the pointer is.

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Double-click

    Double-click

    Also “Double-click item name”.

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Triple-click

    Triple-click

    Three quick clicks.

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Move focus

    Move to item name

    Also “Focus on item name”.

Numbers and grid

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Show numbers

    Show numbers

    Also “Show numbers everywhere”, “Show numbers here” and “Show numbers on taskbar”.

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Choose a number

    Click number

    Or just the number.

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Hide numbers

    Hide numbers

    Also “Cancel”.

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Show grid

    Show grid

    Also “Show window grid” and “Show grid everywhere”.

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Several numbers at once

    Mouse grid 4 7 2

    Zooms down several levels in one phrase.

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Undo a step

    Undo

    Returns to the previous grid level.

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Drag

    Mark number

    Grabs the numbered item. Then “Drag” to drop it.

Scroll

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Scroll

    Scroll down

    Also up, left or right.

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Scroll continuously

    Start scrolling down

    Keeps scrolling until you stop it.

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Stop scrolling

    Stop scrolling

    Or just “Stop”.

Dictation

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Capitalise every word

    Caps hello world

    Types each word with an initial capital.

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    No space

    No space text

    Inserts the text without the leading space.

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Spell out

    Spell out

    Dictate letters one by one. Also “Spell that”.

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Fix

    Correct that

    Corrects the last dictation. Also “Correct text”.

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Keyboard

    Show keyboard

    Shows the on-screen keyboard. Also “Hide keyboard”.

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Fluid dictation

    Turn on fluid dictation

    Text appears as you speak.

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Modes

    Dictation mode

    Also “Commands mode” and “Default mode”.

Select and edit

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Select all

    Select all

    Selects all the text.

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Select the last dictation

    Select that

    Selects what you just said.

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Select a word

    Select word

    Also “Select line” and “Select paragraph”.

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Select some text

    Select text

    Also “Select from text to text”.

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Deselect

    Unselect that

    Also “Clear selection”.

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Delete

    Delete that

    Also “Scratch that” and “Strike that”.

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Cut

    Cut that

    Cuts the selection.

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Copy

    Copy that

    Copies the selection.

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Paste

    Paste

    Also “Paste that” and “Paste here”.

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Undo

    Undo that

    Also “Redo that” to redo.

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Bold

    Bold that

    Also “Italicize that” and “Underline that”.

Keyboard

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Press a key

    Press Tab

    Press any key by its name.

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Press several times

    Press Tab 3 times

    Repeats the key.

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Key combination

    Press Control C

    Also “Press Control plus C”.

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Hold down

    Press and hold Shift

    Then “Release Shift” to let go.

  • SpeechWindows · Voice access

    Esc

    Dismiss

    Same as the Esc key.

Voice Access on Android

7 tasks · 45 commands

Start and stop

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    Start

    Hey Google, start Voice Access

    Or tap the Voice Access activation button. “Hey Google” must be enabled.

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    Stop listening

    Stop listening

    Pauses Voice Access.

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    Close

    Stop Voice Access

    Turns Voice Access off.

Navigation

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    Back

    Go back

    Same as the Back button.

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    Home

    Go home

    Returns to the Home screen.

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    Notifications

    Show notifications

    Opens notifications.

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    Recent apps

    Show recent apps

    Opens recent apps. Also “Show previous app”.

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    Open an app

    Open app

    Opens the named app.

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    Cancel the action

    Cancel

    Cancels the current action.

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    Repeat

    Again

    Repeats the last action.

Tap

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    Tap

    Tap OK

    Or just the name: “OK”.

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    Long press

    Long-press item

    Touches and holds the item.

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    Drag

    Drag number

    Drags the named label or number.

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    Check

    Check item

    Also “Uncheck item”.

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    Switch

    Switch on item

    Also “Switch off item”.

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    Expand

    Expand notification

    Also “Collapse notification”.

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    Dismiss

    Dismiss number

    Dismisses the item with that label or number.

Numbers, labels and grid

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    Show numbers

    Show numbers

    Then say the number, or “Tap 7”.

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    What is it

    What is 7

    Describes the item with that number.

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    Show labels

    Show labels

    Also “Hide labels”.

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    Hide numbers

    Hide numbers

    Removes the overlay.

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    Show grid

    Show grid

    Then a number, “Tap 7”, “Long press 8” or “Pinch out 11”.

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    More or fewer cells

    More squares

    Also “Fewer squares”.

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    Hide the grid

    Hide grid

    Removes the grid.

Scroll

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    Scroll

    Scroll down

    Also up, left or right.

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    Scroll an item

    Scroll down on item

    Scrolls only the named content.

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    To the top or bottom

    Scroll to top

    Also “Scroll to bottom”.

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    Swipe through

    Swipe forwards

    Also “Swipe backwards”.

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    Swipe with the grid

    Swipe 5 up

    Swipes starting from the named cell.

Text

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    Edit text

    Start editing

    Also “Stop editing”.

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    Type

    Type hello

    Or just say the words in the field. Punctuation: “period”.

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    Undo

    Undo

    Also “Redo”.

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    Select all

    Select all text

    Also “Unselect all text”.

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    Delete

    Delete all

    Also “Delete” followed by a word or phrase.

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    Cut, copy, paste

    Copy

    Also “Cut” and “Paste”.

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    Start or end

    Go to the beginning

    Also “Go to the end”.

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    New line

    New line

    Inserts a line break.

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    Keyboard

    Show keyboard

    Also “Hide keyboard”.

Device

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    Lock the screen

    Lock screen

    Locks the phone.

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    Screenshot

    Take screenshot

    Takes a screenshot.

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    Quick Settings

    Show Quick Settings

    Opens Quick Settings.

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    Wi-Fi

    Turn on Wi-Fi

    Also “Turn off Wi-Fi”.

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    Bluetooth

    Turn on Bluetooth

    Also “Turn off Bluetooth”.

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    Volume

    Turn up volume

    Also “Turn down volume”.

  • SpeechAndroid · Voice Access

    Mute

    Mute

    Also “Unmute”.

Platform comparisons

The tables compare equivalent commands. They are most useful when you test the same journey on several platforms.

Voice commands on the four platforms

  • Tap an item

    iPhone
    Tap item name
    Mac
    Click Done
    Windows
    Click item name
    Android
    Tap OK

  • Open an app

    iPhone
    Open app name
    Mac
    Open Mail
    Windows
    Open app name
    Android
    Open app

  • Go to Home

    iPhone
    Go home
    Mac
    —
    Windows
    Go to desktop, Go home
    Android
    Go home

  • Go back

    iPhone
    —
    Mac
    —
    Windows
    —
    Android
    Go back

  • Show numbers

    iPhone
    Show numbers
    Mac
    Show numbers
    Windows
    Show numbers
    Android
    Show numbers

  • Show the grid

    iPhone
    Show grid
    Mac
    Show grid
    Windows
    Show grid
    Android
    Show grid

  • Show names

    iPhone
    Show names
    Mac
    Show names
    Windows
    —
    Android
    Show labels

  • Scroll

    iPhone
    —
    Mac
    Scroll down
    Windows
    Scroll down
    Android
    Scroll down

  • Screenshot

    iPhone
    Take screenshot
    Mac
    —
    Windows
    —
    Android
    Take screenshot

  • List commands

    iPhone
    Show commands
    Mac
    Show commands
    Windows
    —
    Android
    —

  • Stop listening

    iPhone
    Attention setting
    Mac
    Go to sleep, Stop listening
    Windows
    Voice access sleep, Mute
    Android
    Stop listening

  • Resume listening

    iPhone
    —
    Mac
    Wake up, Start listening
    Windows
    Voice access wake up, Unmute
    Android
    Activation button, “Hey Google”

  • Commands only or dictation

    iPhone
    Command mode, Dictation mode
    Mac
    Command mode, Dictation mode
    Windows
    Commands mode, Dictation mode
    Android
    Start editing, Stop editing

“—” means the official page consulted does not list that command: it does not mean it does not exist. On iPhone the Attention option (Face ID models) pauses Voice Control when you look away: it is a setting, not a command. For complete lists, use “Show commands” on iPhone and Mac, and the voice access commands page on Windows.

Sources and limits

The descriptions are rewritten from the official guides; the animations are original.

Commands can change with the system version, the screen reader version and the manufacturer. Before a test or an audit, try them on the device: on iPhone with VoiceOver Practice, on Android with the TalkBack tutorial (four-finger tap).