iOS 26 Beta 2 Releases Accessibility Nutrition Labels on the App Store

The iOS 26 Beta 2 update, released in June 2025, introduced a transformative feature for the App Store: Accessibility Nutrition Labels.


image source: Apple Developer

Designed to mirror the simplicity of nutrition labels on food packaging, these labels provide users with a quick, clear snapshot of an app’s accessibility features. Whether it’s support for VoiceOver or Larger Text, this initiative empowers users—particularly those with disabilities—to make informed choices before downloading an app. Building on Apple’s long history of accessibility innovation, which began with features like VoiceOver on the first iPhone, this move marks a significant step toward a more inclusive digital world.

Why Accessibility Labels Matter

The core mission of Accessibility Nutrition Labels is to simplify the process of finding apps that cater to specific accessibility needs. Imagine a user searching for an app compatible with VoiceOver or one that offers adjustable text sizes up to 200%. With these labels, such information is readily available, sparing users the frustration of downloading incompatible apps. This not only saves time but also enhances the overall user experience.

For developers, the benefits are equally compelling. By showcasing their app’s accessibility features, they can reach a wider audience, boost user satisfaction, and potentially improve ratings and downloads. In a crowded marketplace, this transparency offers a competitive advantage.

What’s Included: Features and Standards

Accessibility Nutrition Labels highlight a variety of features, each backed by strict evaluation criteria to ensure reliability. Here’s a breakdown of the key features covered:

To earn these labels, developers must rigorously audit their apps against App Store standards. This includes ensuring that users can complete common tasks using these features, adhering to App Review Guideline 2.3, and testing across different devices with a detailed matrix.

Benefits for Users and Developers

For users, especially those with disabilities, Accessibility Nutrition Labels are transformative. They can now easily identify apps that support their specific accessibility needs, reducing the frustration of downloading incompatible apps. For example, a user who relies on VoiceOver can search for apps that support this feature, ensuring a seamless experience. This is particularly important given the significant portion of the population that requires accessible technology, as highlighted by Eric Bridges, president and CEO of the American Foundation for the Blind, who stated, “Consumers deserve to know if a product or service will be accessible to them from the very start”.

Developers also stand to benefit. By highlighting their app's accessibility features, they can attract a broader audience, leading to higher user satisfaction, better app ratings, and increased downloads. This initiative provides a means to differentiate between apps that prioritize accessibility and those that do not, potentially giving a competitive edge to developers who invest in inclusive design.

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Future Implications and Industry Impact

Apple's introduction of Accessibility Nutrition Labels is likely to set a new standard for inclusivity in the tech industry. By providing transparent information about app accessibility, Apple is not only addressing the needs of users with disabilities but also encouraging other platforms and app stores to adopt similar practices. This could lead to a more accessible digital landscape, where technology is designed with all users in mind.

The initiative aligns with Apple's history of leading in accessibility, as seen in previous features like Privacy Nutrition Labels introduced in 2020. Given Apple's influence, it seems probable that other companies will follow suit, potentially leading to innovations in how accessibility is implemented across platforms. However, the long-term impact will depend on developer adoption, user feedback, and how effectively these labels integrate into the broader app ecosystem, which is still unfolding as of June 2025.

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Conclusion

Apple’s Accessibility Nutrition Labels are more than a feature—they’re a statement. By making accessibility transparent and searchable, Apple empowers users with disabilities while nudging developers toward inclusivity. The potential ripple effect is enormous, but its success depends on execution. Will developers rise to the challenge? Will other platforms take note? Only time will tell, but this could be a turning point for digital accessibility.