Add new motion accessibility features to iOS. #178102

ksokolovskyi · 2025-11-06T09:59:43Z

Closes #177330
Contributes to #175878

Description

This PR implements support for three new iOS accessibility motion features.

Auto-Play Animated Images: Informs the app when the user has chosen to pause automatically playing GIFs and other animated content.
Auto-Play Video Previews: Informs the app when the user has disabled the automatic playback of video previews.
Prefer Non-Blinking Cursor: Informs the app that the user prefers a non-blinking text insertion indicator in editable text fields.

The original issue requested seven features. I was able to find and implement features with clear, public, and general-purpose APIs.

The remaining features were not included for the following reasons:

Vehicle Motion Cues: No public API found.
Auto-Play Message Effects: No public API found. This is likely a feature exclusive to the Messages framework.
Limit Frame Rate: No public API found.
Dim Flashing Lights: There is a public API available MADimFlashingLightsEnabled. It is intended for media playback frameworks. It's unclear if exposing this feature is necessary or actionable for a general-purpose application UI.

Feature Name	API	Flutter AccessibilityFeatures
Vehicle Motion Cues	-	-
Dim Flashing Lights	MADimFlashingLightsEnabled	-
Auto-Play Animated Images	animatedImagesEnabled	autoPlayAnimatedImages
Auto-Play Video Previews	isVideoAutoplayEnabled	autoPlayVideos
Auto-Play Message Effects	-	-
Prefer Non-Blinking Cursor	prefersNonBlinkingTextInsertionIndicator	deterministicCursor
Limit Frame Rate	-	-

The AccessibilityFeatures.swift was introduced to refactor all native iOS accessibility logic into a single, dedicated class. This change moves the responsibility of querying settings and observing notifications out of FlutterViewController.mm, which cleans up the controller, simplifies future maintenance, and makes logic unit-testable.

Demo

accessibility_features.mp4

Code sample

import 'package:flutter/material.dart';

void main() {
  runApp(
    MaterialApp(
      debugShowCheckedModeBanner: false,
      home: Screen(),
    ),
  );
}

class Screen extends StatefulWidget {
  @override
  State<Screen> createState() => _ScreenState();
}

class _ScreenState extends State<Screen> with WidgetsBindingObserver {
  @override
  void initState() {
    super.initState();
    WidgetsBinding.instance.addObserver(this);
  }

  @override
  void didChangeAccessibilityFeatures() {
    super.didChangeAccessibilityFeatures();
    if (mounted) {
      setState(() {});
    }
  }

  @override
  void dispose() {
    WidgetsBinding.instance.removeObserver(this);
    super.dispose();
  }

  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    final accessibilityFeatures = View.of(
      context,
    ).platformDispatcher.accessibilityFeatures;

    return Scaffold(
      body: Center(
        child: Column(
          spacing: 10,
          mainAxisAlignment: MainAxisAlignment.center,
          children: [
            for (final feature in [
              'accessibleNavigation: ${accessibilityFeatures.accessibleNavigation}',
              'invertColors: ${accessibilityFeatures.invertColors}',
              'disableAnimations: ${accessibilityFeatures.disableAnimations}',
              'boldText: ${accessibilityFeatures.boldText}',
              'reduceMotion: ${accessibilityFeatures.reduceMotion}',
              'highContrast: ${accessibilityFeatures.highContrast}',
              'onOffSwitchLabels: ${accessibilityFeatures.onOffSwitchLabels}',
              'supportsAnnounce: ${accessibilityFeatures.supportsAnnounce}',
              'autoPlayAnimatedImages: ${accessibilityFeatures.autoPlayAnimatedImages}',
              'autoPlayVideos: ${accessibilityFeatures.autoPlayVideos}',
              'deterministicCursor: ${accessibilityFeatures.deterministicCursor}',
            ])
              Text(feature),
          ],
        ),
      ),
    );
  }
}

Pre-launch Checklist

I read the Contributor Guide and followed the process outlined there for submitting PRs.
I read the Tree Hygiene wiki page, which explains my responsibilities.
I read and followed the Flutter Style Guide, including Features we expect every widget to implement.
I signed the CLA.
I listed at least one issue that this PR fixes in the description above.
I updated/added relevant documentation (doc comments with ///).
I added new tests to check the change I am making, or this PR is test-exempt.
I followed the breaking change policy and added Data Driven Fixes where supported.
All existing and new tests are passing.

gemini-code-assist

Code Review

This pull request introduces support for new iOS accessibility features: autoPlayAnimatedImages, autoPlayVideoPreviews, and nonBlinkingCursor. The implementation includes a good refactoring of the iOS accessibility feature handling by introducing a new AccessibilityFeatures.swift class, which encapsulates the logic for querying native accessibility settings. This improves code organization and readability. The changes are consistently applied across different parts of the engine. I have one suggestion to improve the clarity of the public embedder API. Also, the table in the pull request description seems to be a placeholder and could be filled out.

engine/src/flutter/shell/platform/embedder/embedder.h

engine/src/flutter/shell/platform/darwin/ios/framework/Headers/FlutterViewController.h

LouiseHsu · 2025-11-10T20:09:50Z

engine/src/flutter/shell/platform/darwin/ios/framework/Source/AccessibilityFeatures.swift

@@ -0,0 +1,217 @@
+// Copyright 2013 The Flutter Authors. All rights reserved.


While this is quite nice and clean, is there a reason we are doing this pretty significant refactoring in this PR? it seems a bit out of scope, for this feature.

Also tagging @hannah-hyj who I seem to remember did some work refactoring accessibility flags for potential input

Thanks for taking a look at this PR!

The new iOS 18 features require Apple's AccessibilitySettings API, which is Swift-only.

Since I had to add a Swift file to use this new API, I chose to consolidate all accessibility logic into it. The alternative would have been to split the logic across both FlutterViewController.m and this new Swift file, which felt less maintainable.

This approach keeps all related code in one place and makes the logic testable. Happy to discuss splitting it out if you still think it's best.

engine/src/flutter/lib/ui/window/platform_configuration.h

chunhtai · 2025-11-17T18:43:46Z

engine/src/flutter/lib/ui/window.dart

+  /// Always returns `true` on other platforms.
+  // This index check is inverted (== 0 vs != 0) since most of the platforms
+  // don't have an option to disable animated images auto play.
+  bool get autoPlayAnimatedImages => _kNoAutoPlayAnimatedImagesIndex & _index == 0;


Does this also apply to gifs? If so we may need to wire this up to image widget. but that should probably be a separate PR cc @justinmc since you worked on that widget recently

Looks like yes this is for gifs: https://developer.apple.com/documentation/accessibility/animated-images

I've created an issue: #180395

engine/src/flutter/shell/platform/darwin/ios/framework/Source/AccessibilityFeatures.swift

chunhtai · 2025-12-30T22:00:48Z

google test failure doesn't seem related, @ksokolovskyi can you try rebase again?

LouiseHsu

ios parts lgtm!

chrisbobbe · 2026-01-08T21:45:37Z

Thanks everyone! 🎉

…r#178102)

Roll Flutter from 01d37bc to 73769a2 (65 revisions) flutter/flutter@01d37bc...73769a2 2026-01-10 engine-flutter-autoroll@skia.org Roll Dart SDK from 5e855c2bb3ef to 87fbfd5381b6 (1 revision) (flutter/flutter#180800) 2026-01-10 engine-flutter-autoroll@skia.org Roll Skia from b2b109f0e980 to f39cc645b1dd (2 revisions) (flutter/flutter#180796) 2026-01-10 engine-flutter-autoroll@skia.org Roll Dart SDK from b7963905e6a2 to 5e855c2bb3ef (2 revisions) (flutter/flutter#180794) 2026-01-10 ahmedsameha1@gmail.com Make sure that a CupertinoTabScaffold doesn't crash in 0x0 environment (flutter/flutter#179824) 2026-01-10 engine-flutter-autoroll@skia.org Roll Dart SDK from d25ad331b7ea to b7963905e6a2 (2 revisions) (flutter/flutter#180783) 2026-01-10 ahmedsameha1@gmail.com Make sure that a Container doesn't crash in 0x0 environment (flutter/flutter#180350) 2026-01-10 ahmedsameha1@gmail.com Make sure that an Expansible doesn't crash in 0x0 environment (flutter/flutter#180478) 2026-01-10 98614782+auto-submit[bot]@users.noreply.github.com Reverts "Enabled some disabled impeller fragment shader dart tests (#180759)" (flutter/flutter#180785) 2026-01-09 dkwingsmt@users.noreply.github.com Merge `widget_tester_leaks_free_test.dart` into `widget_tester_test.dart` (flutter/flutter#180600) 2026-01-09 codefu@google.com fix: there are no riscv fuchsia artifacts (flutter/flutter#180779) 2026-01-09 engine-flutter-autoroll@skia.org Roll Skia from 7386219151e6 to b2b109f0e980 (1 revision) (flutter/flutter#180771) 2026-01-09 chinmaygarde@google.com Re-prioritize pipeline compile jobs and perform them eagerly instead of waiting. (flutter/flutter#180022) 2026-01-09 30870216+gaaclarke@users.noreply.github.com Enabled some disabled impeller fragment shader dart tests (flutter/flutter#180759) 2026-01-09 engine-flutter-autoroll@skia.org Roll Fuchsia Linux SDK from rxeg-6UB678HKJ4UQ... to 83Favz_zzMzdVuOHg... (flutter/flutter#180765) 2026-01-09 jhy03261997@gmail.com [A11y ] Add `clearSemantics`in table (flutter/flutter#180665) 2026-01-09 chinmaygarde@google.com Update CODEOWNERS to remove chinmaygarde. (flutter/flutter#180703) 2026-01-09 vhaudiquet343@hotmail.fr [ Tool ] Add support for linux riscv64 architecture (flutter/flutter#178711) 2026-01-09 engine-flutter-autoroll@skia.org Roll Skia from e9b3264ade0c to 7386219151e6 (12 revisions) (flutter/flutter#180754) 2026-01-09 engine-flutter-autoroll@skia.org Roll Dart SDK from fe2ba2c5dd50 to d25ad331b7ea (10 revisions) (flutter/flutter#180741) 2026-01-09 98614782+auto-submit[bot]@users.noreply.github.com Reverts "Unpin google_mobile_ads (#180573)" (flutter/flutter#180761) 2026-01-09 koichi20021217@gmail.com Fix typo in dropdown_menu.dart (flutter/flutter#180172) 2026-01-09 engine-flutter-autoroll@skia.org Roll Packages from 039a026 to 51fe1d9 (1 revision) (flutter/flutter#180742) 2026-01-09 goderbauer@google.com Unpin google_mobile_ads (flutter/flutter#180573) 2026-01-09 evanwall@buffalo.edu Update flutter changelog for 3.38.6 (flutter/flutter#180708) 2026-01-08 98614782+auto-submit[bot]@users.noreply.github.com Reverts "Fix iOS xattr removal to clear all extended attributes (#180355)" (flutter/flutter#180709) 2026-01-08 ahmedsameha1@gmail.com Make sure that an EditableText doesn't crash in 0x0 environment (flutter/flutter#180457) 2026-01-08 matt.kosarek@canonical.com Implementation of tooltip windows for win32 (flutter/flutter#179147) 2026-01-08 mdebbar@google.com [web] Don't serve files outside of project (flutter/flutter#180699) 2026-01-08 engine-flutter-autoroll@skia.org Roll Skia from 837be28dd218 to e9b3264ade0c (1 revision) (flutter/flutter#180702) 2026-01-08 sokolovskyi.konstantin@gmail.com Add new motion accessibility features to iOS. (flutter/flutter#178102) 2026-01-08 104009581+Saqib198@users.noreply.github.com Fix iOS xattr removal to clear all extended attributes (flutter/flutter#180355) 2026-01-08 bkonyi@google.com [ Widget Preview ] Move widget_preview_scaffold tests to `dev/integration_tests/widget_preview_scaffold` (flutter/flutter#180658) 2026-01-08 30870216+gaaclarke@users.noreply.github.com De-interleaves engine dart test output (flutter/flutter#180651) 2026-01-08 zhongliu88889@gmail.com [web] Fix SemanticsService.announce not working inside dialogs (flutter/flutter#179958) 2026-01-08 engine-flutter-autoroll@skia.org Roll Skia from 42233226ac56 to 837be28dd218 (2 revisions) (flutter/flutter#180693) 2026-01-08 iinozemtsev@google.com Roll Dart SDK to 3.11.0-296.2.beta (flutter/flutter#180685) 2026-01-08 116356835+AbdeMohlbi@users.noreply.github.com Improve code quality in `AndroidTouchProcessorTest.java` (flutter/flutter#180583) 2026-01-08 1961493+harryterkelsen@users.noreply.github.com Revert "Reverts "[reland] Unify canvas creation and Surface code in S…kwasm and CanvasKit (#179473)" (#180152)" (flutter/flutter#180610) 2026-01-08 engine-flutter-autoroll@skia.org Roll Skia from a0c407bce408 to 42233226ac56 (4 revisions) (flutter/flutter#180688) 2026-01-08 bkonyi@google.com [ Tool ] Fix flake in overall_experience_test.dart (flutter/flutter#180655) 2026-01-08 engine-flutter-autoroll@skia.org Roll Packages from 9705815 to 039a026 (6 revisions) (flutter/flutter#180684) 2026-01-08 104147021+MohammedTarigg@users.noreply.github.com flutter_tools: Auto-generate ExportOptions.plist for manual iOS code signing (flutter/flutter#177888) 2026-01-08 engine-flutter-autoroll@skia.org Roll Skia from 58837e160874 to a0c407bce408 (2 revisions) (flutter/flutter#180679) 2026-01-08 engine-flutter-autoroll@skia.org Roll Skia from 1e3266fdba86 to 58837e160874 (1 revision) (flutter/flutter#180677) 2026-01-08 engine-flutter-autoroll@skia.org Roll Skia from 3c47ea10638f to 1e3266fdba86 (4 revisions) (flutter/flutter#180675) 2026-01-08 engine-flutter-autoroll@skia.org Roll Fuchsia Linux SDK from dTvN_JVSCfGFRasvH... to rxeg-6UB678HKJ4UQ... (flutter/flutter#180673) ...

ksokolovskyi added 3 commits November 5, 2025 16:08

Add new motion accessibility features to iOS.

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ksokolovskyi added 3 commits November 6, 2025 11:09

Fix FlutterAccessibilityFeature enum.

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Fix AccessibilityFeatureFlag.

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justinmc mentioned this pull request Dec 30, 2025

AccessibilityFeatures.autoPlayAnimatedImages should affect animated gifs #180395

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		@@ -0,0 +1,217 @@
		// Copyright 2013 The Flutter Authors. All rights reserved.

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Add new motion accessibility features to iOS. #178102

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