A black box around icons on your iPhone means VoiceOver is turned on. The box is the VoiceOver cursor, and it shows which item the phone is reading out loud. The fastest way to turn it off is to ask Siri, “Turn off VoiceOver.” You can also go to Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver and turn it off.
This guide covers iPhones running iOS 27. It explains why the phone suddenly feels hard to use, four ways to turn VoiceOver off, how it probably got turned on, and other settings that can put boxes or dark backgrounds around icons. Steps come from Apple’s iPhone User Guide and support articles, checked in October 2026.
Why the iPhone Feels Hard to Use Right Now
Apple’s Turn on and practice VoiceOver guide explains that VoiceOver is a gesture-based screen reader, and that when it’s on, you must use VoiceOver gestures to operate iPhone. From Apple’s VoiceOver gestures guide, the ones you need right now are:
- Tap once to select an item and hear its name. The black box moves to it.
- Double-tap anywhere to open or press the selected item.
- Swipe with three fingers to scroll a page.
- Split-tap: touch and hold an item with one finger, then tap the screen with another finger, instead of double-tapping.
If a double-tap doesn’t work, Apple suggests trying a quicker movement.
How to Turn Off VoiceOver and Remove the Black Box
Option 1: Ask Siri
Press and hold the side button (or say “Siri” or “Hey Siri”), then say “Turn off VoiceOver.” Apple lists Siri as one of the ways to turn VoiceOver on or off, and it’s the easiest because you don’t need any special gestures.
Option 2: Use Settings
- Tap Settings once to select it, then double-tap to open it. Result: Settings opens.
- Tap Accessibility, then double-tap. Result: Accessibility settings open.
- Tap VoiceOver, then double-tap. Result: VoiceOver settings open.
- Tap the VoiceOver switch, then double-tap to turn it off. Result: the black box disappears and single taps work normally again.
Option 3: Triple-click the side button
If the Accessibility Shortcut is set to VoiceOver, triple-click the side button (or the Home button on iPhones with one) to turn it off.
Option 4: Use Control Center
Apple notes you can also turn VoiceOver off from Control Center if you’ve added the VoiceOver control there.
How VoiceOver Got Turned On
It’s usually the Accessibility Shortcut. A triple-click of the side button can turn VoiceOver on by accident. To stop that, go to Settings > Accessibility > Accessibility Shortcut and uncheck VoiceOver.
Not VoiceOver? Other Boxes and Dark Icons
A box that moves when you press keys
If you use a Bluetooth or Magic Keyboard, Full Keyboard Access may be on. Apple’s external keyboard guide says it highlights the item that has focus. Turn it off in Settings > Accessibility > Keyboards & Typing > Full Keyboard Access.
Outlines or underlines around buttons
If you see underlines or shapes around buttons and links, but no black box and no voice, that’s Button Shapes. Apple describes it in Use display and text size preferences. Turn it off in Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size > Button Shapes.
App icons with black backgrounds
If the icons themselves look dark rather than boxed, your Home Screen is probably set to a dark appearance. Apple’s Home Screen customization guide explains: touch and hold the Home Screen background until the icons jiggle, tap Edit, then choose Customize. Dark gives icons a dark look all the time, and Auto switches to dark at night. Choose the light appearance instead if you want the colorful icons back.
Colors look reversed everywhere
That’s Invert Colors. Apple says to go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size and turn off Smart Invert or Classic Invert.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will turning off VoiceOver delete anything?
No. It only turns off the screen reader. Your apps and data aren’t affected.
Can I practice VoiceOver instead of turning it off?
Yes. Apple’s VoiceOver Tutorial and VoiceOver Practice options are in Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver.
Does Apple Watch have the same feature?
Yes. See how to turn on VoiceOver on Apple Watch. If apps on your watch are hard to find, here’s how to switch your Apple Watch to list view.
Related: what the bell or moon next to a text message means and how to use Zoom on iPhone.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are tested on current devices or checked against official product documentation, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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