Quick answer
WhatsApp says it supports TalkBack and Select to Speak on Android, VoiceOver on iPhone and Mac, and NVDA on Windows. To make chat text bigger on Android, go to WhatsApp Settings > Chats > Font size; on iPhone, WhatsApp follows your phone’s Text Size. Profile photos missing? On iPhone, WhatsApp says Larger Accessibility Sizes hides profile photos and group icons.
Does this match what you see?
- Your screen reader isn’t reading WhatsApp, or you don’t know which one WhatsApp supports.
- WhatsApp text is too small or too big.
- Profile photos and group icons don’t show in WhatsApp on iPhone.
- The screen is hard to read in bright sunlight or low light.
iPhone & iPadAndroidComputer (browser)
Based on WhatsApp Help Center “About accessibility features on WhatsApp” (Android, iPhone, Windows, Mac), “How to use screen readers” (Android, iPhone, Mac, Windows, Web), “How to adjust text” (Android, iPhone), “How to change font size” (Android, iPhone, Mac), “How to make display adjustments” (Android, iPhone) and “How to use Switch Access/Switch Control” (Android, iPhone), supplied by the site owner, 2026-10-30. Setting names vary by phone.
Why this happens: the possible causes
Where each setting lives, according to WhatsApp’s pages.
| Feature | Where to change it |
|---|---|
| Screen reader | Your device’s accessibility settings |
| Chat text size | WhatsApp settings (Android) or your phone (iPhone) |
| Profile photos missing | Larger Accessibility Sizes (iPhone) |
| Contrast, colors, zoom | Your device’s accessibility settings |
- The setting is on your device, not in WhatsAppCheck this first
WhatsApp says you enable accessibility features through your phone’s settings.
Try these 60-second checks first
- Open your device’s Settings > Accessibility (Mac: System Settings > Accessibility).
- Update WhatsApp to the latest version.
How to fix it, step by step
Work through these in order. They start with the quickest, safest checks and only move to steps that sign you out or remove data later.
Fix 1: Turn on a screen reader
WhatsApp says it supports TalkBack and Select to Speak on Android, VoiceOver on iPhone and Mac, and NVDA on Windows.
iPhone & iPad
- Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver, turn on VoiceOver, then tap Use VoiceOver.
- To change how much VoiceOver reads out: Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver > Verbosity.
Android
- TalkBack reads on-screen text aloud: phone Settings > Accessibility > TalkBack, then turn it on.
- Select to Speak reads only text you highlight: Settings > Accessibility > Select to Speak, then turn on the Select to Speak shortcut.
Computer (browser)
- These steps cover the Mac and Windows apps and WhatsApp Web.
- Mac: Apple menu > System Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver, then turn it on. WhatsApp says you can also press Command + F5 to turn VoiceOver on and off.
- Windows: WhatsApp says it supports the NVDA screen reader. Download NVDA and turn it on (see NVDA Get Help (external site, opens in a new tab)).
- WhatsApp Web: WhatsApp says you can use a screen reader once you turn it on in your computer’s settings, using the Mac or Windows steps above.
WhatsApp’s iPhone page says VoiceOver can also guide you when you take a picture of yourself with the WhatsApp camera, and you can use Siri to send or read messages and place WhatsApp calls.
Did it work? Our check: your screen reader reads your chat list aloud.
Did Fix 1 solve it?
Great, you fixed it with Fix 1. Tell us it worked, or bookmark this page in case it happens again.
Fix 2: Change the text size
WhatsApp says custom fonts aren’t supported, but you can change the size.
iPhone & iPad
- WhatsApp says chat text size follows your iPhone settings: Settings > Display & Brightness > Text Size, then move the slider.
- Or Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size > Larger Text, turn it on, and move the slider. For even bigger text, turn on Larger Accessibility Sizes (but see the note below).
Android
- In chats: in WhatsApp, tap the menu > Settings > Chats > Font size, choose Small, Medium or Large, then tap OK.
- Everywhere else in WhatsApp: WhatsApp says other screens follow your phone’s setting: phone Settings > Accessibility > Display size and text (> Font size), then move the slider. The path may vary by phone.
Computer (browser)
- Mac app: WhatsApp’s shortcuts are Command + to make chat text larger, Command - to make it smaller, and Command 0 to go back to the default size. For your Mac’s own text size, WhatsApp points to Apple’s Mac Help article (Apple Support (external site, opens in a new tab)).
- Windows app: WhatsApp lists Ctrl + to zoom in, Ctrl - to zoom out and Ctrl 0 to reset the zoom. You can also change text size in Windows Settings.
Did it work? Our check: chat text is a comfortable size.
Did Fix 2 solve it?
Great, you fixed it with Fix 2. Tell us it worked, or bookmark this page in case it happens again.
Profile photos and group icons missing on iPhone
WhatsApp says if you turn on Larger Accessibility Sizes (Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size > Larger Text), you can’t see profile photos and group icons in WhatsApp. Our tip: turn it off if you’d rather see them, and use the regular Larger Text slider instead.
Our note: photos missing for only some people? That’s usually their privacy settings: see can’t see someone’s profile photo.
High contrast, color filters, inverted colors and zoom
WhatsApp says these settings can make text easier to read if you have visual or cognitive impairments, and help in bright sunlight or low light.
Android
- Color correction, Color inversion and High contrast text: phone Settings > Accessibility > Visibility enhancements (our note: the name may differ on your phone).
- Magnification: Settings > Accessibility > Magnification, then turn on the Magnification shortcut.
iPhone
- Color Filters, Increase Contrast, and Classic Invert or Smart Invert: Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size. WhatsApp says Smart Invert reverses colors except for images, media and some apps that use dark color styles.
- Zoom: Settings > Accessibility > Zoom, turn it on, then double-tap with three fingers to zoom in or out.
Windows and Mac
- Windows: WhatsApp says in Windows Settings you can change text, display and window size, apply color filters, turn on high contrast, magnify part of the screen, and turn on Narrator to hear text read aloud.
- Mac: WhatsApp says in Mac settings you can change text size, use keyboard navigation and keyboard shortcuts, use VoiceOver, and turn on high contrast.
Use WhatsApp with switches (Switch Access or Switch Control)
WhatsApp says these features help people with limited mobility use their phone without the touchscreen, using external switches such as physical buttons, adaptive devices or even facial gestures.
- Android (Switch Access): Settings > Accessibility > Switch Access, turn on Use Switch Access, choose Camera Switch, then tap Next.
- iPhone (Switch Control): Settings > Accessibility > Switch Control, turn it on, then tap OK.
WhatsApp says a setup wizard then helps you assign a physical or camera switch for actions like scanning and selecting, and choose a scanning method such as linear or row-column scanning.
Keyboard shortcuts on a computer
WhatsApp says keyboard shortcuts let you do things you’d usually do with a mouse. Press the keys at the same time.
WhatsApp Web
- New chat: Ctrl Alt N (Mac: Cmd Ctrl N). New group: Ctrl Alt Shift N (Mac: Cmd Ctrl Shift N). Close chat: Escape.
- Search chat: Ctrl Alt Shift F (Mac: Cmd Ctrl /). Extended search: Alt K (Mac: Cmd K).
- Mark as unread: Ctrl Alt Shift U (Mac: Cmd Ctrl Shift U). Mute: Ctrl Alt Shift M (Mac: Cmd Ctrl Shift M). Archive: Ctrl Alt Shift E (Mac: Cmd Ctrl Shift E). Pin: Ctrl Alt Shift P (Mac: Cmd Ctrl Shift P).
- Emoji, GIF and sticker panels: Ctrl Alt E, G or S (Mac: Cmd Ctrl E, G or S). Profile and About: Ctrl Alt P (Mac: Cmd Ctrl P). Settings (Mac): Cmd Ctrl comma. Lock screen: Ctrl Alt L (Mac: Cmd Ctrl L).
Windows app
- New chat: Ctrl Alt N. New group: Ctrl Shift N. Next / previous chat: Ctrl ] / Ctrl [. Open chat 1–9: Ctrl 1 to 9. Close chat: Esc.
- Search: Ctrl Alt /. Search chat: Ctrl Shift F. Extended search: Alt K. Open chat info: Alt I.
- Reply: Alt R. Reply privately: Ctrl Alt R. Forward: Ctrl Alt D. Star message: Alt 8. Edit last message: Ctrl Up arrow. Attachments: Alt A.
- Voice message (PTT): start with Ctrl Alt Shift R, pause with Ctrl Enter. Speed up a selected voice message: Shift period.
- Mark as unread: Ctrl Shift U. Mute: Ctrl Shift M. Archive: Ctrl Shift A. Pin: Ctrl Alt Shift P. Block chat: Ctrl Shift B.
- Emoji, GIF and sticker panels: Ctrl Alt E, G or S. Profile and About: Ctrl Alt P. Settings: Alt S. Lock app: Alt L. Zoom: Ctrl +, Ctrl - and Ctrl 0.
- Incoming call while minimized: WhatsApp says you’ll get a notification; press Windows Shift V to interact with it.
Mac app
- New chat: Command N. New group chat: Command Shift N. Next / previous chat: Command Shift ] / Command Shift [. Hide chat: Command Shift W.
- Search chats, calls and status: Command Option F. Search messages in a chat: Command F. Archived chats: Command Shift E. Settings: Command comma.
- Chat text size: Command + (larger), Command - (smaller), Command 0 (default).
- During a call: Command Control M to mute or unmute; Command Control V to turn the camera on or off in a video call.
Report an accessibility problem
WhatsApp says to report accessibility-related issues or share suggestions, you can use its accessibility contact form (external site, opens in a new tab). For help with your device’s own settings, WhatsApp points to the Google Help Center (external site, opens in a new tab), Apple Support (external site, opens in a new tab) or Microsoft Support.
How to know it worked
- Our check: WhatsApp is readable and usable with the settings you chose.
Still not working? Your next steps
- Keyboard, spell check or predictive text not working? See keyboard problems.
Official help routes
SocialAppFix can’t see or change your account. For account decisions, recovery and appeals, only the platform’s own tools can help. These links go to the official sites.
- WhatsApp Help Center: How to use screen readersWhatsApp Help Center (external site, opens in a new tab)
- WhatsApp Help Center: How to change font sizeWhatsApp Help Center (external site, opens in a new tab)
- WhatsApp Help Center: How to make display adjustmentsWhatsApp Help Center (external site, opens in a new tab)
Frequently asked questions
Which screen readers work with WhatsApp?
WhatsApp says it supports TalkBack and Select to Speak on Android, VoiceOver on iPhone and Mac, and NVDA on Windows. On WhatsApp Web, you use the screen reader on your computer.
How do I make WhatsApp text bigger?
On Android, WhatsApp says go to Settings > Chats > Font size and pick Small, Medium or Large. Other screens follow your phone’s Display size and text setting. On iPhone, it says chat text follows your phone’s Text Size or Larger Text setting.
Can I use a custom font in WhatsApp?
No. WhatsApp says custom fonts aren’t supported.
Why can’t I see profile pictures in WhatsApp on iPhone?
WhatsApp says if you turn on Larger Accessibility Sizes, you can’t see profile photos and group icons. If only some photos are missing, it may be those people’s privacy settings.
Did this solve your problem?
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Sources and how we checked this guide
We base steps on the platforms’ own help pages and the phone makers’ official guides. Menu names change often and can differ by device, app version and region. Where a platform page could not be independently read, we link it so you can check the current wording yourself.
- About accessibility features on WhatsApp (external site, opens in a new tab)
- How to use screen readers (external site, opens in a new tab)
- How to adjust text (external site, opens in a new tab)
- How to change font size (external site, opens in a new tab)
- How to make display adjustments (external site, opens in a new tab)
- How to use Switch Access / Switch Control (external site, opens in a new tab)
- About keyboard shortcuts (external site, opens in a new tab)
Last reviewed 30 October 2026 by the SocialAppFix editorial team against the sources above. Next scheduled review: 30 April 2027. How we write and review guides.
What changed
- 30 October 2026: First published.
SocialAppFix is an independent guide and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Meta or WhatsApp. We never ask for passwords, login codes or payment to fix an account.