In today's digital landscape, ensuring that mobile apps are accessible to everyone is crucial for success. With over 70 million U.S. adults—1 in 4—reporting having a disability, it's essential to design user-friendly experiences for people with disabilities as well. The United States alone has 310 million smartphone users, and globally, 16% of the population, or 1.3 billion people, have significant disabilities. As the World Health Organization expects this number to nearly double by 2050, it's clear that accessible mobile app design is more vital than ever.

To ensure your mobile app meets accessibility standards like WCAG 2.1 Level AA and provides a seamless user experience for all users, manual testing approaches are essential. These include:

  • Keyboard navigation testing: Verifying that alternative input methods can be assessed with keyboard inputs.
  • Screen reader compatibility check: Testing the application with widely used screen readers like TalkBack (Android) and VoiceOver (iOS).
  • Zoom and color contrast evaluation: Ensuring the application remains functional when zoomed in or out, and assessing color contrast to ensure content remains readable for users with visual impairment and blindness.
  • Touch target size and spacing checks: Verifying that elements like buttons and links are appropriately sized and spaced to reduce the risk of accidental taps and improve accessibility for users with motor impairments.
  • Alternative Text (Alt Text) and Labeling review: Ensuring proper application of form components, verifying alternative text for photos is present and accurate, and providing clear information to screen reader users.

To conduct mobile accessibility testing effectively, follow these steps:

  1. Understand Compliance Standards: Ensure your testing aligns with WCAG 2.1 Level AA to meet compliance benchmarks.
  2. Establish Testing Environment: Configure the testing setup with key assistive tools like screen readers and color contrast analyzers. Utilize an online device farm to test across multiple devices and screen sizes.
  3. Manual and Automated Testing Integration: Leverage automated testing tools, such as Axe and Google Accessibility Scanner, to quickly identify compliance gaps and detect issues like color contrast problems or missing Alt text.
  4. Check and Fix Bugs: Prioritize essential issues, find and fix errors quickly, retest the app, and ensure no new issues arise.
  5. Documentation: Keep detailed test documentation that includes methodologies, findings, and bug fixes to support stakeholder reviews and compliance auditing.

Several mobile app accessibility testing tools are available, with some designed for Android, others for iOS, and a few supporting cross-platform testing. Some of the most widely used tools include:

  • Google Accessibility Scanner: A free tool from Google that scans Android apps for common accessibility issues like missing labels, small touch targets, and color contrast problems.
  • TalkBack Accessibility: A built-in screen reader for Android devices that allows testers to evaluate app interactions for visually impaired users.
  • BrowserStack App Accessibility Tool: Provides access to TalkBack screen readers on real Android devices, allowing testers to evaluate screen reader compatibility more effectively.

In conclusion, mobile app accessibility testing is no longer optional; it's a necessity in building inclusive digital experiences. By combining manual testing methods with automated tools, teams can identify and resolve issues that hinder usability. Investing in accessibility testing not only improves the user experience but also ensures compliance with accessibility standards like WCAG 2.1.