When Going Back a Screen, VoiceOver Does Not Return to the Element Previously in Focus

When going back a screen (such as a webpage in Safari or a screen in an app), VoiceOver focus is usually placed at the top of the screen, instead of back on the element previously in focus. This occurs both in Safari and in various first- and third-party applications.

• Current Behavior: When going back a screen, VoiceOver focus is placed at the top of the screen instead of at the element which had previously been activated. For example, a user activates a link on a webpage, then goes back to the previous page. Instead of VoiceOver remembering their place on the previous page and placing focus there, VoiceOver focus is placed at the top of the page. This significantly hinders efficiency as now the user must manually find where they were before continuing on.
  • The example given is for Safari, but this behavior also occurs in many first- and third-party apps.
• Expected Behavior: When going back a screen, VoiceOver focus will be placed on the element the user was last on before changing screens; such as a link, element, or button.
  • In Safari, VoiceOver should go back to the link that was previously in focus.
  • In an app, VoiceOver should go back to the element that was previously in focus.