Detect doors, people, and furniture around you using Magnifier on iPad

If you’re blind or have low vision, you can use the Magnifier app on iPad to get helpful information about:

Doors, including their attributes and how to open them
People, and how close they are to help you maintain physical or social distance
Furniture, when chairs or sofas are detected, and whether they’re occupied

Important: Detection Mode should not be relied on in high-risk or emergency situations, in circumstances where you may be harmed or injured, or for navigation. Detection of doors, people, and furniture is only available on supported iPad models.

The Magnifier app is open and a door is being detected. A description shows how far away the door is.

Detect doors, people, and furniture near you

Go to the Magnifier app on your iPad.
Tap to start Detection Mode.
If you don’t see , you can add it. See Customize controls.
Touch and hold , then select any of the following:
- People
- Furniture
- Doors
Position iPad so the rear camera can detect your surroundings. When doors, people, or furniture are detected nearby, you’re notified with sounds or speech feedback. The feedback becomes more frequent as you get closer.
If you don’t hear sound or speech feedback, make sure Silent mode isn’t on. See Adjust the volume.
To temporarily pause detection, double-tap the screen with two fingers. Double-tap again with two fingers to resume detection. To stop Detection Mode, tap .

Customize the settings for detecting doors

Go to the Magnifier app on your iPad.
Tap , then tap Detect.
Tap Doors, then customize any of the following:
- Units: Choose Meters or Feet.
- Sound pitch distance: Tap or to adjust the distance for sound feedback. When a door is detected within this distance, the pitch of the sound feedback increases.
- Feedback: Turn on any combination of Labels, Sounds, and Speech. If you turn on Speech, iPad speaks the distance between you and the door.
- Color: Select a color to outline detected doors.
- Door Attributes: Turn on any combination of door attributes, such as the size of the detected door, how to open the door, and if the door is currently open.
- Door Decorations: Turn on Door Decorations to get information about text and signs on or near the detected door, such as a sign for an accessible entrance or a restroom.
When you’re finished, tap , tap it again, then tap .

Customize the settings for detecting people

Go to the Magnifier app on your iPad.
Tap , then tap Detect.
Tap People, then customize any of the following:
- Units: Choose Meters or Feet.
- Sound pitch distance: Tap or to adjust the distance for sound feedback. When people are detected within this distance, the pitch of the sound feedback increases.
- Feedback: Turn on any combination of Labels, Sounds, and Speech. If you turn on Speech, iPad speaks the distance between you and another person.
When you’re finished, tap , tap it again, then tap .

Customize the settings for detecting furniture

Go to the Magnifier app on your iPad.
Tap , then tap Detect.
Tap Furniture, then customize any of the following:
- Units: Choose Meters or Feet.
- Sound pitch distance: Tap or to adjust the distance for sound feedback. When furniture is detected within this distance, the pitch of the sound feedback increases.
- Feedback: Turn on any combination of Labels, Sounds, and Speech. If you turn on Speech, iPad speaks the distance between you and the furniture.
- Announce Seat Occupancy: Turn on Announce Seat Occupancy to get information about the number of people occupying chairs and sofas.
When you’re finished, tap , tap it again, then tap .

Helpful?

iPad User Guide

Detect doors, people, and furniture around you using Magnifier on iPad

Detect doors, people, and furniture near you

Customize the settings for detecting doors

Customize the settings for detecting people

Customize the settings for detecting furniture