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Build accessible and inclusive Windows applications with improved functionality and usability for people of all abilities. There are three core pillars to making your app accessible:
- Programmatic access — Expose accessible names, roles, and values for all UI elements so that assistive technologies like screen readers can interpret your app.
- Keyboard navigation — Ensure every part of your app can be operated with a keyboard for users who cannot use a mouse or touchscreen.
- Color and contrast — Support high contrast themes and ensure your text meets minimum contrast ratios (4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text).
For design principles and guidelines on building inclusive apps, see Accessibility overview and Designing inclusive software.
Implementation guides
Screen readers and UI Automation
| Article | Description |
|---|---|
| Expose basic accessibility information | Set accessible names, roles, and values so assistive technologies can interpret your UI. |
| Landmarks and headings | Use UI Automation landmarks and headings to help users navigate content efficiently. |
| Screen readers and hardware system buttons | Handle hardware button events for screen readers such as Narrator. |
| Custom automation peers | Implement automation peers for custom controls to provide UI Automation support. |
| Control patterns and interfaces | Reference for UI Automation control patterns and provider interfaces. |
Keyboard navigation
| Article | Description |
|---|---|
| Keyboard accessibility | Implement tab order, arrow-key navigation, access keys, and keyboard activation. |
Visual accessibility
| Article | Description |
|---|---|
| Contrast themes | Ensure your app works with high contrast themes using theme resources and resource dictionaries. |
| Accessible text requirements | Meet contrast ratios, use correct text element roles, and support text scaling. |
Testing and verification
| Article | Description |
|---|---|
| Accessibility testing | Test with Accessibility Insights, Inspect, and Narrator to verify your app is accessible. |
| Accessibility checklist | Step-by-step checklist to ensure your app meets accessibility requirements, including Store declaration. |
Samples
Download and run full Windows samples that demonstrate various accessibility features and functionality.
The new samples browser replacing the MSDN Code Gallery.
Windows App SDK samples on GitHub
These samples demonstrate the API usage patterns for Windows App SDK and WinUI.
This app demonstrates the various WinUI controls supported in the Fluent Design System.
Videos
Various videos covering how to build accessible Windows applications to general accessibility concerns and how Microsoft addresses them.
Microsoft's Accessibility API
Introduction to disability and accessibility
Other resources
Blogs and news
The latest from the world of Microsoft accessibility.
Community and support
A place where Windows developers and users meet and learn together.
Collaborate with us on GitHub
The source for this content can be found on GitHub, where you can also create and review issues and pull requests. For more information, see our contributor guide.
Windows developer