[
    {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "How%20do%20you%20make%20it%20so%20that%20Voiceover%20does%20not%20say%20search%20when%20on%20the%20page%20selector%3F"
    },
    {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "Could you clarify what you mean by \u201cpage selector\u201d (on iPhone, iPad, Mac, in an app or browser)? And when you say VoiceOver says \u201csearch,\u201d do you mean:\n\n- It says \u201cSearch\u201d (or \u201csearch field\u201d), or \u201cdouble tap to search\u201d?\n- It\u2019s reading the label of a tab or a page (e.g. \u201cSearch tab, 2 of 3\u201d)?\n- It\u2019s some overlay or dialog announcing \u201cSearch\u201d?\n\nIn general, there\u2019s no built-and-true toggle that specifically turns off VoiceOver announcing \u201csearch\u201d (or \u201csearch field\u201d) *only* when on a page or tab. What you can do is adjust settings so VolumeOver gives less feedback, or customize how UI elements are labeled, when you're developing an app. Here are some ways that might help:\n\n---\n\n### \ud83d\udd27 Possible Solutions\n\n1. **Reduce Verbosity / Announcements**  \n   On Mac with VoiceOver Utility:  \n   - Open VoiceOver Utility \u2192 \u201cVerbosity\u201d \u2192 \u201cAnnouncements\u201d tab. You can tweak what kind of UI events are verbally announced. If \u201csearch\u201d is part of an announcement you don\u2019t want (say, when focus moves to a search field), you may turn off some related announcements.  \n   - Also: \u201cText Attributes,\u201d \u201cUI Elements,\u201d etc., under Verbosity. ([apple.com](https://www.apple.com/ie/voiceover/info/guide/_1128.html?utm_source=openai))\n\n2. **Disable Helpful Hints or On-screen Labels**  \n   On iOS / iPadOS:  \n   - Go to **Settings \u2192 Accessibility \u2192 VoiceOver**.  \n   - Look for settings like *Hints* or *VoiceOver Hints*; turning off \u201cHelpful Hints\u201d stops it from saying \u201cdouble-tap to edit\u201d etc., which may reduce similar announcements.  \n   - Also check *Rotor* settings: sometimes you can remove \u201cSearch field\u201d or similar from the rotor so it doesn\u2019t show up or get announced as often. ([support.apple.com](https://support.apple.com/en-mo/guide/iphone/iphe4ee74be8/ios?utm_source=openai))\n\n3. **If You\u2019re Developing an App**  \n   If you have control over the app/web page:  \n   - You can change the accessibility label of elements so it doesn\u2019t say \u201csearch\u201d where you don\u2019t want it.  \n   - Use custom announcements via accessibility notifications, so that VoiceOver says what you want when the page changes (e.g. after switching tabs), and suppress default ones. For example, in SwiftUI using `.onChange` of tab selection and posting a `.screenChanged` notification with a custom message. ([iifx.dev](https://iifx.dev/en/articles/460112114/overriding-default-voiceover-behavior-in-swiftui-tabview-content?utm_source=openai))\n\n4. **Check iOS Version Differences**  \n   Sometimes newer versions change VoiceOver behavior. If this \u201csearch\u201d announcement started recently, it might be part of a new default behavior. Checking the latest version\u2019s VoiceOver settings may reveal new toggles. For instance, iOS 26 has re-organized \u201cSpoken Content,\u201d \u201cRead & Speak,\u201d etc., under Settings \u2192 Accessibility. ([itechguides.com](https://www.itechguides.com/how-to-stop-the-iphone-15-from-speaking-text-a-guide/?utm_source=openai))\n\n---\n\nIf you tell me exactly where you see this (\u201cpage selector\u201d) and what device + OS you are using, I can give you more precise steps. Do you want me to walk you through how to try to disable the \u201csearch\u201d announcement based on your device?"
    },
    {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "sorry%2C%20I%27m%20referring%20to%20when%20one%20is%20on%20the%20home%20screen%2C%20the%20page%20switcher%20between%20the%20dock%20and%20the%20last%20app%20on%20the%20screen."
    },
    {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "When VoiceOver is saying \u201cSearch\u201d instead of announcing the page number (like \u201cPage 1 of 3\u201d) on the home screen switcher (between the dock and the last app), it\u2019s probably because you have the \u201cSearch\u201d widget/button turned on above your Home Screen pages. That button changes how VoiceOver perceives the page switcher. To change that so VoiceOver stops announcing \u201cSearch,\u201d you\u2019ll want to turn off that Search button.\n\nHere\u2019s how to do that:\n\n---\n\n## \u2705 Steps to Turn Off the Home Screen Search Button\n\n1. Open **Settings** on your iPhone.  \n2. Scroll down and tap **Home Screen**.  \n3. Look for the **Search** section.  \n4. Toggle **Show on Home Screen** to **Off**. ([osxdaily.com](https://osxdaily.com/2022/11/03/how-remove-search-button-home-screen-iphone/?utm_source=openai))\n\nOnce you do this, the \u201cSearch\u201d button that appears above the dock will disappear, and you will get back the old page indicator dots (or the familiar \u201cPage X of Y\u201d announcements) in its place. VoiceOver should then announce the page switcher properly (e.g. \u201cPage 1 of 3\u201d), not \u201cSearch.\u201d ([iphonelife.com](https://www.iphonelife.com/content/how-to-remove-search-button-home-screen?utm_source=openai))\n\n---\n\n## \u26a0\ufe0f Things to Note\n\n- Turning off **Show on Home Screen** doesn\u2019t *disable* Spotlight Search. You can still swipe down from the middle of the Home Screen to bring up Search. ([osxdaily.com](https://osxdaily.com/2022/11/03/how-remove-search-button-home-screen-iphone/?utm_source=openai))  \n- If your iPhone is running **iOS 16 or newer**, this setting is available. If your phone is on an older version, this feature (and setting) may not be present. ([osxdaily.com](https://osxdaily.com/2022/11/03/how-remove-search-button-home-screen-iphone/?utm_source=openai))  \n- Sometimes, even with dots, VoiceOver may say \u201cSearch\u201d if an item is focused that\u2019s labeled \u201cSearch.\u201d If that\u2019s still happening after turning the setting off, try checking your Home Screen with VoiceOver gestures to make sure focus lands on the \u201cdots/page indicator\u201d rather than Search or something named like Search.  \n\n---\n\nIf you tell me which **iOS version** you have (e.g. 16, 17, 18, 25, or 26), I can give you instructions tailored exactly for your setup."
    }
]