Accessibility in Microsoft SwiftKey Keyboard

1 - High Contrast Theme

Microsoft SwiftKey provides a high contrast theme that meets WCAG 2.0 AAA colour contrast requirements. This is a free theme, and there is no need to download it. However, you will need to actively select it to set as your keyboard theme. To access this theme, please follow the below steps:

1. Open the SwiftKey app

2. Tap 'Themes'

3. Scroll down until you find the 'High Contrast' theme

4. Tap the theme to set as your keyboard theme

2 - Updated Languages

Languages in your Microsoft SwiftKey Keyboard are now displayed in the format "<locale name> / <native name>" and sorted in alphabetical order so that TalkBack will always be able to read the locale name.

3 - Keyboard resizing options

Microsoft SwiftKey provides you with the option to change the size of your keyboard. To resize your keyboard, please do the following:

1. Tap the three dots ... in your Toolbar

2. Tap the ‘Resize’ button

3. Choose your desired size

For more information, please see the following article:

How to resize your Microsoft SwiftKey Keyboard

4 - Explore By Touch

When Explore By Touch is enabled you're able to take advantage of the following functionality:

• To type simply slide your finger on the keyboard until you find your desired key and lift your finger off the screen to insert the text/press the button.

• To enter secondary characters, slide and wait on a key until TalkBack announces 'Alternative characters available’. Then slide over the additional character popup and release your finger to insert. To cancel the additional character selection, release and then slide your finger elsewhere on keyboard.

• If you'd previously enabled more than one language that uses different language layouts in Microsoft SwiftKey, then enabling Explore By Touch will change the way you switch between them from the keyboard. Instead of swiping left or right on the spacebar to change language layout, you will need to long press the spacebar to cycle through the different layouts.

• Flow and gestures such as slide left to delete, or slide down to minimise the keyboard are now disabled.

• It will not be possible to use the keyboard 'undocked'. If you are currently using Microsoft SwiftKey undocked, then enabling Explore by Touch will cause your keyboard to be docked.

5 - TalkBack

What is TalkBack?

TalkBack is the screen reader by Google that works by giving spoken feedback without looking at the screen. 

How to turn it on

If not already enabled you can turn TalkBack on by navigating to your device Settings > Accessibility.

Google provides more information about the feature here.

How to use TalkBack

Microsoft SwiftKey has been configured to work with TalkBack features within the keyboard and keyboard settings area within the app. 

The below list runs through a number of basic typing examples:

How to enable caps lock

• Navigate to the lower left corner to tap the shift key. Once enabled, you will hear "Caps lock enabled.

How to access numbers and symbols

• Navigate to the lower left corner to tap the 123 button below the shift key. Once enabled, you will hear "Symbols and Numbers, showing Microsoft SwiftKey symbols and number keyboard."

How to access the SwiftKey Keyboard menu

• Right below the text entry field to the left edge of the keyboard you can expand the Toolbar.

• Tap to expose the Toolbar.

How to enter emoji 

• In the lower right corner tap the emoji keyboard. Once selected you will hear "emoji, showing SwiftKey emoji keyboard."

• To return to the standard layout, tap the abc button in the lower left hand corner. Once you'll hear "showing SwiftKey letters keyboard."

6 - Android Magnification

Microsoft SwiftKey is not currently compatible with Android's magnification feature. As a result, tapping the screen 3 times in quick succession will cause the display to zoom in and surround the area in a blue border.
 

Magnification should be switched off by default, but if you find it's been enabled please follow the steps below to disable it:

1. Navigate to your Android settings menu

2. Tap 'Accessibility'

3. Uncheck the 'Magnification' (or 'Magnification gesture') option

Please note these steps may vary depending on your Android device.