Mobile Accessibility Testing

Overview

The Mobile Accessibility Testing feature allows you to identify accessibility issues within your native iOS and Android apps before they go live. Whether you're a developer, designer, QA engineer, or product manager, this solution provides an efficient and integrated way to test mobile accessibility early in the development lifecycle.

With platform-specific workflows designed for both Android and iOS, Mobile Accessibility Testing helps you:

• Get accessibility insights during development
• Share actionable reports with your team
• Prevent costly accessibility issues post-release
• Support your compliance efforts with WCAG and local legislation

Android: On-Device Accessibility Testing App

How it works

The Android solution consists of an installable app that enables in-app accessibility audits through a floating action button. Once installed, the app can be used to capture screens and test real-time user flows in development builds or production apps with accessibility permissions enabled.

Key Features

• Run accessibility checks in your native Android apps
• Capture one or multiple screens in a flow
• View detected accessibility issues by WCAG criteria
• Share downloadable reports with your team
• Works across roles: developers, PMs, designers, and testers

Getting Started

1. Install the App – Download the app via the internal link or Google Play (coming soon).
2. Log In – Use your Siteimprove credentials to authenticate.
3. Grant Accessibility Permissions – Enable required accessibility permissions in your device settings.
4. Start Testing – Use the floating action button to capture screens as you interact with the app.
5. Generate Reports – Once done, export and share the report with your team.

For detailed installation and usage steps, see: Android Mobile Accessibility Testing – Configuration and Usage

iOS: Command-Line Based Accessibility Testing

How it works

The iOS solution is a command-line tool (macOS only) that integrates with Appium to connect to iOS simulators or real devices. By capturing screen states via terminal commands, developers can generate accessibility audits for specific flows.

Key Features

• Supports iOS simulators and real devices
• CLI-driven automation for flexible integration
• No app code changes required
• Compatible with CI/CD environments
• Generate and share audit reports for each flow

Getting Started

1. Install Prerequisites – Make sure you have Xcode, Appium v2, and Homebrew installed.
2. Install the Tool – Download the .dmg file and install the si-a11y tool.
3. Authenticate – Provide your Siteimprove credentials via CLI arguments or environment variables.
4. Capture Screens – Use CLI commands to define your app ID, flow name, and screen state.
5. Generate Report – The output is a downloadable report that highlights WCAG compliance issues.

For detailed installation and usage steps, see: iOS Mobile Accessibility Testing - Installation and usage

Report Details

Both platforms generate a report that includes:

• Number and severity of issues
• Affected elements
• Recommendations to remediate issues

Each report can be exported and shared as part of your QA or release workflow, enabling collaborative resolution of accessibility issues across your team.

FAQs

Q: Is the Mobile Accessibility Testing feature available to all Siteimprove users?

A: Access is limited to beta users during the initial rollout. Contact your Customer Success Manager to request early access.

Q: Are these tests automated or manual?

A: The feature enables automated issue detection during manual exploration of your app’s flows.