iOS 26
iOS 18
iOS 17
iOS 16
Modifying this control will update this page automatically

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

If you’re blind or have low vision, you can use the Magnifier app on iPhone 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 iPhone 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

  1. Go to the Magnifier app on your iPhone.

  2. Tap the Detection Mode button to start Detection Mode.

    If you don’t see the Detection Mode button, you can add it. See Customize controls.

  3. Touch and hold the Detection Mode button, then select any of the following:

    • People

    • Furniture

    • Doors

  4. Position iPhone so the rear camera can detect your surroundings. When doors, people, or furniture are detected nearby, you’re notified with sounds, speech, or haptic 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.

  5. 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 the Detection Mode button.

Customize the settings for detecting doors

  1. Go to the Magnifier app on your iPhone.

  2. Tap the Settings button, then tap Detect.

  3. Tap Doors, then customize any of the following:

    • Units: Choose Meters or Feet.

    • Sound pitch distance: Tap the Decrement button or the Increment button 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, Speech, and Haptics. If you turn on Speech, iPhone speaks the distance between you and the door.

    • Color: Select a color to outline detected doors.

    • Back tap: When you double-tap the back of your iPhone, you can hear more information about doors around you.

    • 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.

  4. When you’re finished, tap the Back button, tap it again, then tap the Done button.

Customize the settings for detecting people

  1. Go to the Magnifier app on your iPhone.

  2. Tap the Settings button, then tap Detect.

  3. Tap People, then customize any of the following:

    • Units: Choose Meters or Feet.

    • Sound pitch distance: Tap the Decrement button or the Increment button 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, Speech, and Haptics. If you turn on Speech, iPhone speaks the distance between you and another person.

  4. When you’re finished, tap the Back button, tap it again, then tap the Done button.

Customize the settings for detecting furniture

  1. Go to the Magnifier app on your iPhone.

  2. Tap the Settings button, then tap Detect.

  3. Tap Furniture, then customize any of the following:

    • Units: Choose Meters or Feet.

    • Sound pitch distance: Tap the Decrement button or the Increment button 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, Speech, and Haptics. If you turn on Speech, iPhone 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.

  4. When you’re finished, tap the Back button, tap it again, then tap the Done button.

See alsoGet live descriptions of your surroundingsDetect text around you and have it read out loud using Magnifier on iPhoneMagnify or describe things around you with Magnifier on iPhoneAccessibility features for vision on iPhone
Morty Proxy This is a proxified and sanitized view of the page, visit original site.
Helpful?
Character limit: 250
Maximum character limit is 250.
Thanks for your feedback.
Morty Proxy This is a proxified and sanitized view of the page, visit original site.