Accessibility - cognitive
Assistive Access
Most people call this a much simpler version of the whole iPhone.
Assistive Access replaces the entire interface with large buttons, high contrast and a small set of apps, designed for people with cognitive disabilities.
This setting is present on your iPhone.
- We have this path on file but have not yet confirmed it against an official source.
Where to find it - iOS 17 and later
- Settings
- Accessibility
- Assistive Access
What it does
A trusted supporter sets it up, choosing which apps are available and how they behave. Calls, Messages, Camera, Photos and Music are simplified into large, forgiving screens. Leaving requires a passcode.
What changes
When it is on
The entire interface is replaced with the simplified one.
When it is off
The standard iPhone interface returns.
Should you turn it on?
Good reasons to turn it on
- Far less to go wrong for the person using it.
- The supporter controls which apps appear.
- Emergency calling still works.
Good reasons to turn it off
- Most standard apps are unavailable.
- Setup requires thought and a conversation with the person using it.
Battery
No real change
Privacy
No real change
Performance
No real change
Cellular data
No real change
Storage
No real change
Out of the box: Off.
Can cause real problems
What your iPhone needs
- Needs iOS 17 or later
Questions people actually ask
- What is Assistive Access for?
- It is a simplified iPhone for people with cognitive disabilities, with large buttons and only the apps a supporter has chosen.
If it is not working
- Triple click the side button and enter the Assistive Access passcode to exit.
- Set it up with the person, not for them. Which apps matter is their decision.
- The passcode is separate from the device passcode.