Missing Switch Element Label

iOS switch controls must have an accessibility label that describes the setting they toggle.

WCAG Reference

Maps to: WCAG 1.3.1 Info and Relationships | Applies to: WCAG 2.0, WCAG 2.1, WCAG 2.2 Introduced in: WCAG 2.0 | Level: A | Read the official specification →

What this rule checks

The scanner flags UISwitch and Toggle (SwiftUI) elements that have no accessibility label, leaving VoiceOver to announce only "Switch, on" or "Switch, off" without context.

Why it matters

Hearing "Switch, off" tells the user the state but not what the switch controls. Without a label, users cannot make informed decisions about whether to toggle the switch.

Common failure patterns

• UISwitch elements in table cells where the label text is in a separate UILabel not programmatically linked
• settings screens where switches are visually paired with labels but not associated in the accessibility tree
• custom switch implementations that do not expose an accessible name

Remediation guidance

• set accessibilityLabel on the UISwitch to describe the setting (e.g., "Dark mode", "Push notifications")
• use UITableViewCell's built-in textLabel as the accessibility label for the cell when the switch is the cell's accessory view
• in SwiftUI, the Toggle("Label text") initializer automatically provides a label — ensure it is always populated
• test with VoiceOver to confirm the full announcement includes both the setting name and the state

Related docs

• iOS Rule Repository
• Accessibility Issue Remediation Guide