How to Read YouTube Comments With VoiceOver as a Blind Person: A Full Guide

In this guide, we'll walk you through the process of accessing and reading YouTube comments using the VoiceOver feature on your iPhone, making it easier for you to engage with content on the go.

What do we need?

To seamlessly read YouTube comments with VoiceOver on your iPhone, let's get started with a simple preparation step and then dive into the process. Here's what you need and how to proceed:

• Your iPhone with VoiceOver screen reader capability.

Preparing your phone

1. Prepare Your iPhone: Hold your iPhone with the charging port facing downwards. This port is a rectangular slot at the bottom of your phone where the charging cable fits.
2. Check VoiceOver Status:

2.A: If your iPhone has a Home button (a round-shaped button located below the touchscreen): Press and hold the Home button for about one second. You'll feel two short vibrations indicating the activation prompt.

2.B: If your iPhone lacks a Home button, use the Side button instead: This button is found on the right side of the iPhone. Press and hold it for about one second to feel two short vibrations, signaling the activation prompt.

3. Activate VoiceOver:After feeling the vibrations, simply say, "Turn VoiceOver on." VoiceOver will then be activated, allowing you to interact with your iPhone using voice commands and gestures tailored for accessibility.

Step 1: opening the YouTube app.

Now, let’s open the YouTube app.

• Make sure you are on the home screen.
• When you swipe to the right with your finger on the touchscreen, you cycle between the apps on your phone.
• Swipe right on the screen until you hear ‘YouTube’.
• If you went too far, no problem. When you swipe left with your finger on the screen, you will cycle back through your apps. Swipe left until you hear ‘YouTube’ again.
• Now tap 2 times fast with 1 finger on the screen. The YouTube app will now be opened.

Step 2: Searching for a video.

• Inside the YouTube app, swipe to the right until you hear ‘search’.
• Tap 2 times fast with 1 finger on the screen. The search field will now unfold.
• Swipe right again until you hear ‘voice search’.
• Tap 2 times fast with 1 finger on the screen to activate this option.
• YouTube might ask if it is allowed to use the microphone. This will only happen once.
• Swipe to the right until you hear ‘allow’.
• Tap 2 times fast with 1 finger on the screen to confirm this.
• When you press the voice-search button, you will hear a beep.
• Now say the name of the video.
• When you are done speaking the name of your video and wait about 1 second, you will hear another beep.
• Swipe right with your finger on the screen to cycle between the available video’s.
• When you Voice-Over say the right name, tap 2 times fast with 1 finger on the screen. The video will now start playing.

Step 3: opening and reading comments.

• You are now inside the video player. You have multiple options.
• Swipe right with your finger on the screen until you hear ‘comments’ followed by the amount of comments. This might take quite some swipes.
• Tap 2 times fast with 1 finger on the screen to open the comments.
• Swipe right to cycle through the comments. You don’t have to tap 2 times with 1 finger on the screen, as Voice-Over reads the content of the comment automatically. 

Congratulations! You now know how to read comments on YouTube by using Voice-Over. Hopefully you found It useful! Don't forget to share it with your friends and see you in the next article!