Texting With Low Vision | Veronica With Four Eyes

When I was in middle school, I received my first-ever text message from one of my friends after I told them about my new cell phone. The message said “Can you read texts?”, which makes sense because I was the only visually impaired student at my school and neither of us knew much about how blind or low vision users read text messages at the time. Over the years, I have met several people who were surprised that I could read text messages with low vision, or who asked me if they had to text me in braille or write in all caps so I could read their messages (short answer: no), which has led to many interesting conversations about accessible texting for blind and low vision users. Here is a list of tips and strategies for texting with low vision, including helpful accessibility settings for texting and tips for texting visually impaired users.

How do you read texts with low vision on a phone?

I have an Android smartphone with large print enabled, so all of my text messages are displayed in a large font size that I can read; with the Messages app, I can also pinch-to-zoom to further enlarge text if needed. For iPhone users, Dynamic Text can be used to enable large font sizes as well, and users can adjust the font size of the Messages app specifically. Emoji are displayed as large icons, but can be hard to see visually.

For Android, I use a third-party app called Big Font to make my phone’s font size even larger than the default large print size, and shared a screenshot of a long message from a friend about the large print books at the library below. I often use a larger font size if I am tired or am working on another visually intensive task and don’t want to strain my eyes.

Another option for reading texts is to use text-to-speech to listen to messages; I have Select-to-speak as an accessibility shortcut at the bottom right side of my screen, which can be used to read part or all of my screen (the icon looks like a person). If I wanted to have all information on my screen read out loud, all the time, I would use a screen reader like TalkBack (Android) or VoiceOver (iOS). Screen readers can read texts and emoji names out loud, and are an essential accessibility tool for blind users who access information nonvisually.

Can you read texts in braille?

Refreshable braille displays can be connected to phones so users can read text messages in braille. Braille is a code, not a language, and the display converts on-screen text content and emojis to braille characters. Some people use both screen readers and braille displays to read texts.

One common misconception is that braille displays will show emoji or display emoticons as raised images on a braille display. Instead of showing a picture, braille displays will display the name of the emoji (e.g., blue heart emoji) unless the user has configured their braille display to ignore emoji.

Reading texts with low vision and making texts easier to see

There are more options for reading text messages than just looking at my phone screen, and texting for visually impaired users isn’t limited to just using a phone. Here are some examples of other accessible texting options that my friends and I have used for reading texts.

Reading large print iMessages on iPad or computer

For iPadOS or Mac users, iMessage is an instant messaging service exclusively for Apple users that can be connected to a phone number (for iPhone) or email address. With iMessage, I can send messages to my friends with iPhones/iMessage and type on an external keyboard, while reading messages in large print or listening to them with Speak Selection. I find it easier to read long text messages on the horizontal iPad display, but I have to be connected to wifi to receive messages since I don’t have a cellular plan.

Receive text messages on Windows computer

With Phone Link for Windows, Android users can send and receive text messages and picture messages from their Windows PC with their phone number, which can be used with a screen reader or with screen magnification software. Phone Link has more limited support for iOS devices and can only send and receive text messages (no pictures or group messages). Phone Link is free to use; users will need to download the Phone Link app to their smartphone.

Google Messages for web

For Android users, Google Messages for web is a web application (no downloads required) that can be used for sending and receiving text messages, MMS messages, and RCS messages from a computer. Users can also get notifications for text messages on their computer. Before texting from the computer, users will need to pair their phone to the web browser by scanning a QR code (found in Messages > Device Pairing)

Google Messages is different from Google Voice, which creates a separate phone number that can be accessed through the iOS/Android app, or through the Google Voice web application.

Using third-party messaging apps

Several of my blind friends use WhatsApp and Messenger for texting because they can type with a full keyboard and use screen readers and/or braille displays to read messages; while I have not personally used it, others have also used MightyText for Android phones with a screen reader, which is a paid app. Some friends also use the iPad or tablet versions of messaging apps when texting at home.

Options for writing text messages with low vision

On my Android phone, I use the default GBoard keyboard with large print enabled (GBoard > Settings > Preferences > Appearance > Font size) and frequently type with both of my thumbs. I have also used the BroadBoard large print Android keyboard that offers an extra-large display and can be useful for users who are learning to type. That said, I am very cautious with third-party keyboards as they often have ambiguous privacy policies or data storage policies and can leak sensitive information like passwords to other users.

Another option for writing texts with low vision is to use an external keyboard, like a Bluetooth keyboard. While I don’t carry a keyboard with me at all times (though some people do!), I do have a wireless keyboard that I can connect to my computer at home and use to type messages. Another option is to use an alternative input device, such as the Tap wearable keyboard.

For braille users, both iOS and Android support options for braille input. For iOS, Braille Screen Input can be configured in VoiceOver for typing braille directly on the screen, no external display needed. For Android, users can configure the TalkBack braille keyboard. These braille keyboards do not type braille characters, so the messages themselves are not sent in braille.

Autocorrect and keyboard accessibility features for typing with low vision

I have autocorrect enabled on all of my keyboards to help with minimizing spelling errors; I have another condition called dysgraphia that affects how I write and type. I don’t use word prediction because I can’t see the word recommendations and don’t like how the recommendations take up space on the screen. Other accessibility features for typing with low vision that I use include:

Custom dictionary for typing names and common phrases
Text expanders and text replacement tools. These can be used to expand acronyms or write common phrases/sentences; for example, typing “omw” will auto-expand to “On my way!”
Check spelling, which can be helpful for visually locating misspelled words (assuming they don’t resemble other words)

There are also ways to configure on-screen keyboards for screen reader users, and I have learned about several VoiceOver accessible keyboards through the AppleVis website.

Sending text messages with dictation

Many of my friends use dictation to send text messages, also known as speech-to-text. With dictation, users compose messages by speaking out loud, including the names of punctuation and emoji names as appropriate, so that they don’t have to look at the keyboard and can type hands free.

Here are examples of how someone might text with dictation:

“I have no idea where my backpack went period”
“Why are you asking me about my backpack question mark”
“The last time I saw it was in my room comma or maybe it was in my closet”
“Oh shoot exclamation point I left my backpack in my English class exclamation point”

Here is how those messages are typed (assuming no spelling mistakes):

I have no idea where my backpack went.
Why are you asking me about my backpack?
The last time I saw it was in my room, or maybe it was in my closet
Oh shoot! I left my backpack in my English class!

The most important thing to remember when using dictation is to proofread messages and check words letter-by-letter if needed; dictation will often insert words that sound similar, or add homonyms/homophones. In one frightening example, a friend sent me a message written with dictation that said “police call when you can” instead of “please call when you can.” For this reason, I recommend that users have another option for typing messages when possible that isn’t just dictation.

Sometimes, my friends will send messages with several errors and I have to read the message out loud or with text-to-speech if I am not sure what they meant to say. This doesn’t bother me, but I will often respond by sending a copy of how I read the message prefaced with “is this what you meant to say?” or I will ask another clarifying question. I never want to make someone feel embarrassed or shamed for sending messages in a way that is accessible to them, and don’t blame the person for the error, but rather the technology.

Are audio messages accessible for visually impaired users?

As audio messages have become more popular, many friends have switched from using dictation to audio messages that record their voices, which make it much easier to send longer messages. Many smartphones and apps support automatic transcripts for audio messages, which can be displayed in large print but may be prone to transcription errors. Some people prefer their conversation partner to respond with voice messages, while others might be fine with texts; the visually impaired person should mention if they prefer a specific message format.

Multimedia messages: Sending and receiving messages with pictures, gifs, and more

With low vision, I can view pictures and videos on my phone and zoom in to make details larger, or extract text from screenshots. That said, I might not always recognize what is in an image if it is low resolution, there are a lot of similar colors, or if I am having a bad vision day; for example, I couldn’t see a photo of my friend’s cat sitting on a blanket that was the same color as the cat.

I often use tools like alt text and image descriptions to get context about what is in an image or to clarify what I am looking at; since alt text can’t be embedded in images sent as text messages, my friends will often add a short description of an image so that I know what I am looking at. This is even more crucial for blind users or users who cannot see images at all.

The goal of an image description is to answer these three questions:

What is in the image?
Why is this relevant?
What would someone need to know about this image in order to understand it?

Here are some examples of simple image descriptions my friends have sent along with photos:

I saw a bunny when walking back from the gym!
The lasagna just came out of the oven.
(Friend’s name) dropped by for a visit today, and has short hair now!
The grass seems more brown where (dog’s name) is sitting
I saw this poster on campus and it made me think of you! The accessible karaoke event is this Friday at 6 PM.
Fit check: Does this black-and-white dress look good with green shoes?

These descriptions give me an idea of what to focus on in the image, which can be especially helpful if there is bad lighting or if something blends into the background.

Sending and receiving gifs

This is an individual preference, but I avoid sending and receiving gifs in text messages because I get disoriented from strobe lights and flashing lights, and many gifs are low resolution and hard to see. While I have settings like auto-play turned off, I ask friends to avoid sending gifs and do not send gifs myself since the gif keyboard contains auto-play images that cannot be turned off.

Some gifs have alt text or image descriptions embedded so screen reader users can get a basic description of the gif or search for gifs. When in doubt, include a basic image description of the gif and send it as a text message.

Preserving image resolution

Sometimes, my friends will send images or videos that appear blurry or pixelated on my phone due to image compression, especially if the image/video was sent while my phone was turned off. Resending messages with images or videos as RCS messages has been the easiest fix; I just ask my friends to resend images/videos when my phone is turned on again. Other options include:

For iOS devices, open the Messages menu in the Settings app and make sure low quality image mode is turned off
Ensure that RCS messages are turned on in the texting application
Send larger files as a view-only link through apps such as iCloud, Google Photos, or Microsoft OneDrive; this allows the recipient to view or download the content in full resolution
For social media posts or web links, send a direct link to the content that can be opened in a new tab
If the devices are in close proximity to each other, use AirDrop, Bluetooth, or NFC to send content wirelessly
Instead of using text messaging, send content through email or a third party app such as WhatsApp or Messenger.

Are other types of text messages accessible for visually impaired users?

Here are some other types of messages that I am commonly asked about:

Contacts or vCards (virtual contact files): Yes
QR codes: Yes, but indicate message has a QR code and what it links to.
Location coordinates: Yes
Link previews: Yes, but link preview image may not be visible to screen reader users
Decorative fonts, emoji memes, or ASCII images: No, can be hard to read with low vision and may appear as jumbled text for screen reader users.
Stickers: Sometimes. The images can appear large, but may not have a meaningful label for screen reader users.

What to know about texting blind people (or texting low vision people)

Visual impairment is a spectrum, and everyone has their own preferences for how they prefer to access text messages. That said, there’s no need to communicate with blind or low vision people in a special way or in a way that is different from sighted users. Here are some general things to keep in mind to ensure that text messages are accessible and easy to read:

Typing in ALL CAPS to ensure a message is visible is not necessary; there are other settings for large print that the user can enable on their device if needed.
When possible, avoid sending excessive emoji, especially multiple emoji in the middle of a message, as screen readers or braille displays will repeat the name of the emoji each time. For example, typing the eye emoji four times would be read as “eye emoji eye emoji eye emoji eye emoji”
Although abbreviations and acronyms like “lol” or “GMU” will be read by screen readers, it can be helpful to separate letters in an unfamiliar acronym, especially if it spells out a commonly used word or if someone is reading it for the first time. For example, writing “G M U” would guarantee that each letter would be read separately.

If I need someone to change how they are texting or if I prefer to communicate in a different way, I will let them know. This can be as simple as “can you resend that without emoji?” or “Decorative text is hard to see, what does that say?”

Strategies for organizing text messages with low vision

I use several strategies for keeping text messages organized and finding conversations quickly, including:

Pin conversations to the top of the inbox for quick access.
On Android, use the Archive tool to hide text message conversations from the inbox. They will automatically appear back in the inbox when someone sends a new message.
Set custom ringtones or text tones for specific contacts to get notified about messages quickly.
Avoid patterned or visually complex message or inbox backgrounds, which can be hard to focus on.

Another strategy I use for iMessage and Apple messages specifically is to set the Message History to keep messages forever, so that important or sentimental messages are not deleted. I want to remain in control of when/if messages are deleted.

More tips for texting with low vision

Not all text messages I receive are legitimate, and learning how to identify phishing and scam messages is an important skill to practice. Learn more in How To Recognize Phishing Attempts With Low Vision and Online Safety For Visually Impaired Users: Safer Internet Day
Wondering how I access emails? Read How I Organize Emails In College With Low Vision
To make emoji easier to distinguish, I often will use a different color for a thumbs up emoji and a thumbs down emoji so I can identify them by color. This is much easier than straining my eyes to look at detailed images.
Looking for a funny strategy for teaching skills like text replacement to students with visual impairments? Check out April Fool’s Day Prank Lessons For Low Vision Assistive Technology

Published August 4, 2017. Updated August 2026

Reference

Lewis, Veronica. (2017). Texting and Low Vision. Veroniiiica. https://veroniiiica.com/texting-and-low-vision/ (Accessed on August 11, 2026)

Texting and Low Vision

How do you read texts with low vision on a phone?

Can you read texts in braille?

Related links

Reading texts with low vision and making texts easier to see

Reading large print iMessages on iPad or computer

Receive text messages on Windows computer

Google Messages for web

Using third-party messaging apps

Related links

Options for writing text messages with low vision

Autocorrect and keyboard accessibility features for typing with low vision

Related links

Sending text messages with dictation

Are audio messages accessible for visually impaired users?

Related links

Multimedia messages: Sending and receiving messages with pictures, gifs, and more

Sending and receiving gifs

Preserving image resolution

Are other types of text messages accessible for visually impaired users?

Related links

What to know about texting blind people (or texting low vision people)

Related links

Strategies for organizing text messages with low vision

More tips for texting with low vision

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