Accessibility for menu bar apps VoiceOver and App Store Accessibility Nutrition Labels
Parent: macOS Menu-Bar App Design · Published reference · snapshot 2026-10-02
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Source-anchored research for Accessibility for menu bar apps VoiceOver and App Store Accessibility Nutrition Labels. Run status: COMPLETED.
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How it works
- Apple's criteria require that the VoiceOver activation (VO+Space) trigger the same behavior as a click, that all mouse-operable controls work under VoiceOver, that state and values be exposed through traits and value, and that non-default actions (context menus, long press) be offered as custom actions. (medium confidence) [source]
How-to and procedures
- To claim VoiceOver support, users must complete all common tasks using only VoiceOver, without sighted help. Every control needs a concise, accurate label; label text must not include the control type or state. (high confidence) [source]
Facts and statements
- Accessibility Nutrition Labels are optional. A developer may answer 'No' for support, and no mandatory date is stated in Apple's pages. (high confidence) (verified as of 2025-09-15) [source]
- The label covers nine features: VoiceOver, Voice Control, Larger Text, Dark Interface, Differentiate Without Color Alone, Sufficient Contrast, Reduced Motion, Captions, Audio Descriptions. (high confidence) [source]
- Support is declared per device in App Store Connect (App Accessibility sidebar), so a Mac app declares separately from iPhone or iPad. Answers save as drafts, publish only for devices with a live version, can change without a new submission, and may take up to 24 hours to show. (medium confidence) (verified as of 2026-10-02) [source]
- A status item whose button shows a bare SF Symbol or unlabeled template image is announced as the symbol's built-in name (e.g. 'Increase Brightness') or just 'image'. Set the button accessibilityLabel/accessibilityValue (and image accessibilityDescription) to the app name plus live status. (medium confidence) (verified as of 2026-05-07) [source]
- With a SwiftUI MenuBarExtra window-style item, the status button had nil target and action, so VO+Space (AXPress) and Voice Control did not open the popover, while real mouse clicks did. The reporter's fix was an AppKit NSStatusItem whose button has a target/action that toggles the popover. (low confidence) (verified as of 2026-10-02) [source]
- Popover content rows, progress bars and charts need explicit accessibility: group related text with accessibilityElement(children: .combine), expose percentages as accessibilityValue, and expose selection state on switcher buttons. (low confidence) (verified as of 2026-05-07) [source]
- The label is self-declared; App Review reportedly acts only on intentionally misleading labels, so accuracy is the developer's responsibility and drifts if not retested each release. (medium confidence) (verified as of 2025-06-30) [source]
Children
- No children recorded.