Set up and use Messages with Assistive Access on iPhone
A person using Assistive Access on iPhone can use the Messages app 
to communicate with family, friends, and trusted supporters (such as caregivers). They can use an emoji-only keyboard or send video messages to communicate with audio or visuals rather than text. They can also use a standard text keyboard to send written messages. You can add the Messages app when you set up Assistive Access or anytime after.
Add the Messages app
Exit Assistive Access if it’s active.
Go to the Settings app
.Tap Accessibility, then tap Assistive Access.
Tap Manage Apps, then tap
next to Messages.Choose options for the app (described in the table below), including which people can be messaged.
Messages options
Option | Description | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Receive Messages From | Allow the person using Assistive Access to receive messages from anyone, from all contacts in the Contacts app, or from favorite contacts only (see Favorites below). | ||||||||||
Send Messages To | Allow the person using Assistive Access to send messages to anyone, all contacts in the Contacts app, or favorite contacts only (see Favorites below). If you allow messages to anyone, the person using Assistive Access can send a message to any contact, as well as reply to messages from anyone who has sent them a message. | ||||||||||
Favorites | Favorite contacts are shown on the first screen when the Messages app is opened in Assistive Access. To add a contact to Favorites, tap Select Contact, tap a contact, then choose a phone number or email address (if needed). To add people to the Contacts app, see Add and use contact information in the iPhone User Guide. | ||||||||||
Tap to Hear Message | Allow the person using Assistive Access to tap messages to hear them read out loud. This may be useful for people who prefer audio communication rather than text. Note: Tap to Hear Message isn’t available in all languages. See the Apple Support article iOS and iPadOS 26 Feature Availability. | ||||||||||
Conversation Details | Show details about messages in a conversation, such as dates and delivery status. | ||||||||||
| Send text messages using a standard keyboard. | ||||||||||
| Send video messages using the front-facing camera on iPhone. This may be useful for people who prefer audio or visual communication rather than text. | ||||||||||
| Send emoji messages using an emoji-only keyboard. This may be useful for people who prefer visual communication rather than text. | ||||||||||
Keyboard
Video Selfie
EmojiTip: Simplify Messages by turning on just one input method (like Video Selfie or Emoji). After the person using Assistive Access chooses which contact they want to send a message to, they can start creating a message without needing to choose an input method first.
Send messages
Enter Assistive Access if it’s not active, then go to the Messages app
.Do one of the following:
Send a message to a favorite contact: Tap a contact, then tap New Message.
Send a message to any contact: Tap Contacts, tap a contact, then tap New Message.
Reply to a recent conversation: Tap Recents, tap a conversation, then tap New Message.
If you don’t see the contacts you expect, make sure they’ve been added to the list of people that the person using Assistive Access is allowed to send messages to.
If more than one input method is available, tap the one you want to use (Keyboard, Video Selfie, or Emoji).
Do one of the following:
Send a video selfie: Tap Record, record the message, tap Stop, then tap Send.
Send a message with emoji or text: Enter the message, then tap Send.
If you turned on Show Notification Badges and the person using Assistive Access receives a message from a contact they’re allowed to reply to, the Lock Screen and the Messages app show a notification icon. To see who sent the message, go to the Messages app. If the message isn’t from a favorite contact, tap Recents.
On any screen in Assistive Access, the person using Assistive Access can always tap Back to return to the previous screen.