by Anthony Corona
With iOS 26 and iPadOS 26, Apple introduced something we do not see very often: brand-new system apps. One of those apps is Preview, and as a blind VoiceOver user I was immediately curious about what this could mean for accessible document reading, reviewing, and everyday workflow on the iPhone and iPad.
Preview has long been a staple on the Mac, offering a simple but powerful way to open PDFs and images, review documents, add annotations and make quick edits. With iOS 26 Preview, which lives directly on the home screen of both iPhone and iPad, it has quickly become one of the most useful new tools I have explored as a blind and low-vision user.
Before iOS 26, PDFs and images typically opened inside the Files app. While this worked, it often mixed file management with document interaction. Preview changes that dynamic by offering a focused space designed specifically for reading, reviewing, and editing documents. Preview now acts as a dedicated hub for PDFs and images. Instead of navigating folders while trying to read content, Preview keeps the document front and center. For VoiceOver users, this matters. Fewer layers and more predictable navigation result in a smoother and less fatiguing experience.
When opening a PDF, VoiceOver immediately recognizes text structure headings and page flow. Swiping through pages feels consistent and responsive. Toolbars are clearly labeled and key actions such as search markup and sharing are easy to locate.
On iPad, Preview feels especially strong. With a larger screen and support for external keyboards, navigating long documents feels closer to a desktop experience without sacrificing accessibility. Low-vision users benefit as well. Preview respects system-wide display settings, supports Zoom gestures, and presents images cleanly for inspection or editing.
I now use Preview regularly for reviewing PDFs from email, reading conference materials, checking image-based flyers, and preparing documents for sharing. Instead of guessing which app will open a file, I know Preview is built for this job.
If you are blind or low vision and running iOS 26 or iPadOS 26, Preview is well worth exploring. Open a few PDFs, explore the toolbar with VoiceOver, try the search feature and see how it fits into your workflow.
Preview may not grab headlines, but it represents something more important: a thoughtful refinement of how we access information and get work done. Sometimes the most meaningful changes are the ones that simply make things easier.
Search Features in Preview
Using Search Effectively with VoiceOver:
Search is one of the most powerful features in Preview, especially for blind and low vision users working with long or complex documents.
When a PDF contains searchable text, VoiceOver announces results clearly and allows quick movement between matches. This makes it far more efficient than swiping through page after page.
Search can also locate labeled form elements when they are properly tagged. This can include headings, signature fields, buttons, and some dropdown menus.
Examples of effective search use include searching for headings such as Terms, Scope, or Signatures to jump quickly in contracts or reports; locating signature fields labeled Sign Here to move focus to the signing area; finding form labels like Name, Address, or Date to jump to the first field. In interactive PDFs with labeled buttons such as Submit or Continue, Search can help locate those controls quickly.
Search also pairs well with Live Text. When Preview detects text in scanned or image-based PDFs, Search may surface those results, allowing VoiceOver users to locate phone numbers, names, or addresses that would otherwise require manual exploration.
Using partial words often works best. Typing Sig may find Signature. Typing Addr may locate Address fields. Experimentation is encouraged.
Key Functions in the Preview App That Matter for Accessibility
Preview is designed for interaction, not just storage.
Navigation controls remain consistent across documents. Search, markup, page navigation and sharing tools stay in predictable locations. This reduces the learning curve and cognitive load.
Preview also remembers where you left off, often reopening documents at the same page or location.
Preview Versus Files: Why the Difference Matters
Files excels at storage and organization. Preview excels at reading, reviewing, and editing.
Opening PDFs in Files often blends folder navigation with document interaction. Preview separates those roles cleanly. For VoiceOver users, this separation results in more predictable navigation and a clearer sense of purpose.
Creating a PDF From Word Pages or Spreadsheets: How Preview Fits Into the Workflow
Preview can absolutely be part of creating a PDF from documents like Word or Pages and from spreadsheets such as Numbers or Excel, but it is important to understand the role it plays.
Preview does not replace Word, Pages, Numbers, or Excel for creating or editing the original document. Preview becomes the destination for the PDF after you export it.
The simplest workflow is to create or edit your document in the original app, then export to PDF, then open that PDF in Preview for reviewing, searching, annotating, signing, and sharing.
This is especially useful when you want to produce a clean final PDF and then add a signature, notes, highlights, or other markup before sending it out.
Step-by-Step VoiceOver Instructions
To export a Word or Pages Document to PDF and Open in Preview:
- Open Microsoft Word or Pages.
- Open the document you want to convert.
- Find and activate the Share button.
- Look for an option such as Export, Send a Copy, or Share as.
- Choose PDF as the format.
- Choose where to send or save the PDF.
- If you see an option to open in Preview, choose it.
- If you save it to Files or another location, open the Preview app, then open the PDF from there.
Once the PDF is in Preview, you can search, copy text, add notes, sign, and share the finalized document.
Step-by-Step VoiceOver Instructions
To export a spreadsheet to PDF and open in Preview:
- Open Numbers or Excel.
- Open the spreadsheet you want to share as a PDF.
- Activate Share.
- Choose Export or Send a Copy.
- Choose PDF.
- Choose where to save or send the exported PDF.
- Open the exported PDF in Preview.
Preview will not edit spreadsheet cells, but it is excellent for reviewing the exported layout, adding comments, highlighting specific figures, signing, and sharing.
Step-by-Step VoiceOver Instructions:
Create a PDF Using the Print to PDF Workflow and Send to Preview
This method is often useful when an app does not clearly offer Export to PDF, but does offer Print.
- Open the document in the app you are using.
- Activate Share.
- Choose Print.
- When the print screen appears, locate the share option on that screen.
- Activate Share.
- Choose an option such as Save to Files or Open in Preview if available.
- If you save it, open the Preview app and open the PDF.
This creates a PDF without needing a printer and gives you a file ready for Preview.
Signing Documents with Preview
Signing PDFs in Preview is significantly more accessible than before. Markup tools make it straightforward to add a signature, place it, and save or share the document.
VoiceOver users can create or reuse signatures and position them confidently. Completing this task independently, without third-party apps, is a meaningful accessibility win.
Taking Notes and Adding Annotations
Preview supports comments, text annotations, and highlights directly within PDFs.
Annotations are clearly announced by VoiceOver and easy to navigate later. This makes Preview useful not just for reading but for active review and collaboration.
Copy and Paste From PDFs Using Preview
Preview handles copy and paste reliably when text is selectable. VoiceOver users can select text using the rotor, copy it and paste it into Mail, Notes, Messages, or Word-style documents
This is especially helpful for extracting addresses, directions, contact lists or schedules from PDFs.
Using the Clipboard
Three-Finger Quadruple Tap: VoiceOver users can simplify copy and paste workflows using the clipboard.
After copying text, perform a three-finger quadruple tap to open the clipboard. From here, previously copied items can be reviewed and pasted without reselecting text. This is especially useful when pulling multiple pieces of information from a PDF.
Copying Text From Uneditable PDFs
Some PDFs are image-based and do not contain selectable text. Preview can still help using Live Text.
When Live Text detects text, VoiceOver may announce selectable elements. If text is detected, standard copy steps apply.
If not sharing the page to Notes or another OCR-enabled app, it can allow text extraction. Results vary based on document quality, but Preview paired with Live Text increases independence.
Opening PDFs Directly From Email
When receiving a PDF attachment in Mail Preview, you can open it directly. This avoids saving the file to Files first. Documents open ready for reading, signing, or annotating. This is especially helpful for time-sensitive materials.
Step-by-Step VoiceOver Instructions
To open a PDF attachment from Mail in Preview:
- Open the Mail app.
- Open the message with the PDF attachment.
- Navigate to the attachment.
- Activate it to open.
- If you are offered Open in Preview, choose it.
- The document opens in Preview ready for review and edits.
Sharing and Sending Edited PDFs
Edited PDFs can be shared directly from Preview. Use the Share option to send via Mail, Messages, AirDrop, or other apps. All edits, annotations, and signatures remain intact.
Preview supports smooth end-to-end workflows without app switching.
Step-by-Step VoiceOver Instructions
To send an edited PDF from Preview by email:
- Open the PDF in Preview.
- Navigate to the Share button and activate it.
- Choose Mail.
- Address the email, add a subject if exploring the Preview app from a VoiceOver user perspective you like, and send.
- The PDF sends with your edits included.
Moving Forward
Preview is still new and will continue to evolve. Even now it represents a meaningful shift in how Apple approaches document interaction on iOS and iPadOS.
For blind and low-vision users, Preview is worth learning and incorporating into daily routines.
Tools that are not just accessible but thoughtfully designed for real world use.