Interacting with dense spreadsheets, complex web pages, architectural schematics, or fine system settings on an iPad display can present accessibility hurdles for users with low vision or eye strain. While standard display zoom magnifies the entire screen—displacing surrounding context—Apple provides a specialised accessibility feature called Hover Text.
When combined with the Apple Pencil Hover capability on supported iPad models (including iPad Pro with M2 or M4 processors and iPad Air with M2), Hover Text allows users to inspect fine text, labels, and icons simply by hovering the stylus tip above the glass without making physical contact.
Supported Hardware and Apple Pencil Hover Requirements
Hover Text with Apple Pencil requires an iPad equipped with electromagnetic digitiser hardware capable of detecting the Apple Pencil tip suspended up to 12 mm above the display:
- iPad Pro 11-inch (4th generation or later).
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th generation or later).
- iPad Pro 11-inch and 13-inch (M4).
- iPad Air 11-inch and 13-inch (M2).
- Apple Pencil (2nd generation) or Apple Pencil Pro.
Enabling Hover Text in iPadOS Accessibility Settings
To activate Hover Text on your iPad:
- Open the Settings app on your iPad.
- Scroll down the left navigation panel and tap Accessibility.
- In the Vision section, tap Hover Text.
- Toggle the switch labelled Hover Text to On.
Once enabled, an on-screen magnification window will appear whenever the Apple Pencil tip hovers near interactive text, interface buttons, or application menus.
Customising Font Size, Colours, and Window Placement
iPadOS provides comprehensive customisation controls to tailor the magnified readout to your visual preferences:
- With the Hover Text configuration pane open, tap Display Style:
- Text Size: Drag the slider to adjust the magnified text size from 16 pt up to 128 pt.
- Font: Choose a high-legibility typeface (such as System Rounded, Seravek, or Avenir).
- Text Colour: Select an easily distinguishable text colour (white, yellow, cyan, or custom palettes).
- Background Colour: Set the contrasting background shade of the magnification loupe (black, dark grey, or high-contrast tones).
- Border Colour: Configure an optional accent border around the active Hover Text box.
- Tap Anchor Position to determine where the magnified text box renders:
- Dynamic: Follows the Apple Pencil tip across the screen automatically.
- Top / Bottom / Docked: Locks the magnified readout box to a fixed screen quadrant to prevent it from obstructing underlying artwork or document paragraphs.
Interacting with Documents and Safari Using Apple Pencil Hover
Hover Text operates across system applications and third-party software seamlessly:
- Browsing in Safari: Hover the Apple Pencil tip over hyperlinks, breadcrumbs, and small footer text to read clear, magnified previews before tapping to navigate.
- Reviewing Spreadsheets: In Numbers or Microsoft Excel, hover across packed data tables to inspect cell values, mathematical operators, and formula definitions without manually altering worksheet zoom levels.
- Reading eBooks and PDFs: In Apple Books and Files, hover over footnotes, citations, and dense paragraph text to review content with reduced eye fatigue.