Using Braille displays with iPhone

How to pair

  1. Go to Settings>General>Bluetooth and make sure Bluetooth is switched on.
  2. Click the back button to move back to the General dialog, then scroll too and activate Accessibility.
  3. Scroll too and double tap on the “VoiceOver On” button to open the VoiceOver settings dialog.
  4. Scroll to the “Braille” option and double tap to open the Braille settings dialog.
  5. The iPhone should start searching for a Braille display. Turn your display on and scroll one item past “”Choose Braille device”. This will say “Searching”, while searching. The name of the Braille display will show here once it has been found.
  6. Once the Braille display is found, double tap the Braille displays name. This will launch the pairing dialog. On the iPhone type the pairing code and double tap the Done button in the top right corner to establish the connection.

Connection tips

Once the Braille display has been paired, if you wish to use Braille with the iPhone, Turn the Braille display on prior to bringing the iPhone out of standby and Braille will be automatically connected. Lock the iPhone before turning off the Braille display to allow for auto-connection the next time you wish to use Braille with the iPhone.

Navigation commands

Chord / Function
Dot 1 chord / Move to previous item
Dot 4 chord / Move to next item
Dot 2 chord / Pan Braille left
Dot 5 chord / Pan Braille right
Dot 1 2 3 / Move to the first element
Dot 4 5 6 / Move to the last element
Dot 1 3 4 / Scroll right one page
Dot 2 4 6 / Scroll left one page
Dot 2 3 4 chord / Moves to the status bar
Dot 2 3 chord / Select previous rotor setting
Dot 5 6 chord / Select next rotor setting
Dot 3 chord / Move to previous item using rotor setting
Dot 6 / Move to next item using rotor setting
Dot 1 2 5 chord twice quickly / Launches the Task Switcher

Reading commands

Chord command / Function
Dot 1 2 3 5 / Read all starting at selected item
Dot 2 4 5 6 / Read all, starting from the top
Dot 1 2 3 4 / Pause or continue speech

General commands

Chord command / Function
Dot 1 2 chord / Activates the Back button, if present
Dot 1 4 5 chord or dot 7 chord / Activates the Delete key
Dot 1 5 chord or dot 8 chord / Activates the return key
Dot 1 2 4 5 chord / Switch between contracted and uncontracted Braille
Dot 1 2 5 chord / Activates the Home button (twice quickly to launch the task switcher)
Dot 1 3 4 chord / Toggles speech on and off
Dot 2 3 4 5 chord / Activates the Tab key
Dot 3 5 6 chord / Select text
Dot 2 3 6 / Unselect text
Dot 3 4 5 chord / Volume up
Dot 1 2 6 chord / Volume down

Focus Blue specific commands

Command / Action
Left pan button / Pan Braille to the left
Left Rocker down / Move to next item, (determined by rotor setting)
Left Rocker up / Move to previous item, (determined by rotor setting)
Left Select button / Activates the selected item
Right Select / Activates the selected item
Right Rocker down / Move to next item
Right Rocker up / Move to previous item
Right Pan button / Pan Braille to the right
Left wiz wheel down / Pan Braille right
Left Wiz Wheel up / Pan Braille left
Left Wiz wheel pressed / Activates the selected item
Right Wiz Wheel down / Pan Braille right
Right Wiz Wheel up / Pan Braille left
Right Wiz Wheel pressed / Activates selected item

EasyLink or Braille pen specific commands

Command / Function
Right pan button / Pan Braille to the right
Left pan button / Pan Braille to the left
Joystick right / Move to next item
Joystick left / Move to previous item
Joystick up / Move to previous item using rotor settings
Joystick Down / Move to next item using rotor setting
Joystick action / Activates the selected item