[iOS][Accesibility] Accessibility roles and states which are polyfilled by React Native aren't translated to device language
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Description
Description
This issue is partially related to https://github.com/react/react-native/issues/43266
On React Native 0.85.3 it seems that polyfilled accessibility roles (e.g. checkbox or radio) and states (e.g. expanded, checked, unchecked) are now correctly assigned to the native components and announced by VoiceOver. However, the announcement is correct only in english as despite being localized strings the assigned values aren't correctly translated to any other language
In one of the comments under that issue it's stated that it does work differently in OSS and internal and hasn't been released externally. Is there any plan for it? This issue severely affects accessibility user experience and is rather difficult to spot since I suppose many developers are testing using VoiceOver with english
Steps to reproduce
- Install the provided reproduction application on an iOS device
- Ensure your device language is set to english (incl. VoiceOver)
- Enable VoiceOver and run the application
- Observe how in english custom checkbox component is correctly announced ("one, checkbox, checked")
- Switch device and VoiceOver language to something else than english
- Enable VoiceOver and run the application
- Observe how this time
aria-label("1") is correctly announced in the selected language, but "checkbox" and "checked" is still announced in english
React Native Version
0.85.3
Affected Platforms
Runtime - iOS
Output of npx @react-native-community/cli info
System:
OS: macOS 26.3
CPU: (14) arm64 Apple M4 Pro
Memory: 173.83 MB / 24.00 GB
Shell:
version: "5.9"
path: /bin/zsh
Binaries:
Node:
version: 24.7.0
path: /Users/patrykmleczek/.nvm/versions/node/v24.7.0/bin/node
Yarn:
version: 3.6.4
path: /Users/patrykmleczek/.nvm/versions/node/v24.7.0/bin/yarn
npm:
version: 11.5.1
path: /Users/patrykmleczek/.nvm/versions/node/v24.7.0/bin/npm
Watchman: Not Found
Managers:
CocoaPods:
version: 1.16.2
path: /opt/homebrew/opt/ruby/bin/pod
SDKs:
iOS SDK:
Platforms:
- DriverKit 25.5
- iOS 26.5
- macOS 26.5
- tvOS 26.5
- visionOS 26.5
- watchOS 26.5
Android SDK:
API Levels:
- "31"
- "33"
- "34"
- "36"
Build Tools:
- 30.0.3
- 31.0.0
- 33.0.0
- 33.0.1
- 34.0.0
- 35.0.0
- 36.0.0
System Images:
- android-33 | Google APIs ARM 64 v8a
- android-34 | Google APIs ARM 64 v8a
- android-34 | Google APIs Intel x86_64 Atom
- android-34 | Google Play ARM 64 v8a
- android-36 | Google APIs ARM 64 v8a
- android-36 | Google Play ARM 64 v8a
Android NDK: Not Found
IDEs:
Android Studio: 2025.1 AI-251.27812.49.2514.14217341
Xcode:
version: 26.5/17F42
path: /usr/bin/xcodebuild
Languages:
Java:
version: 17.0.17
path: /opt/homebrew/opt/openjdk@17/bin/javac
Ruby:
version: 3.4.7
path: /opt/homebrew/opt/ruby/bin/ruby
npmPackages:
"@react-native-community/cli": Not Found
react:
installed: 19.2.3
wanted: 19.2.3
react-native:
installed: 0.85.3
wanted: 0.85.3
react-native-macos: Not Found
npmGlobalPackages:
"*react-native*": Not Found
Android:
hermesEnabled: Not found
newArchEnabled: Not found
iOS:
hermesEnabled: Not found
newArchEnabled: Not found
Stacktrace or Logs
No crash
MANDATORY Reproducer
https://github.com/pmleczek/accessibility-translation-issue-repro
Screenshots and Videos
Correct behavior (with english):
https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/60a76149-ffa1-45a8-b4ac-d6c185d56ab6
Incorrect behavior (on example of polish language) - still reads english words for "checkbox" and "checked":
https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/cad73311-ea19-473a-ae75-e6a61c3593c0
Contributor guide
First steps
- Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
- Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
- Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
- Open a pull request that references the issue number.
Research direction
Start with the mandatory reproducer and the related issue 43266, then reproduce the VoiceOver announcement in English and Polish or another non-English language. Done means polyfilled accessibility roles and states such as “checkbox” and “checked” are announced in the selected device and VoiceOver language rather than remaining in English.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- react-native
- Domain
- accessibility, mobile
- Issue type
- Bug
- Difficulty
- 4/5
- Estimated time
- 3-5 days
- Activity status
- Quiet
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 45/100