We can't be sure whether or not we've selected our phone numbers or emails for FaceTime and iMessage because VoiceOver doesn't tell us this in the settings. To test, activate VoiceOver, open your iPhone's settings, and then go to the Messages section, either by searching at the bottom of the screen or using the Apps button. In the Send & Receive section, look for the area where you can receive and reply to iMessages from, and try double-tapping a number or email. VoiceOver should say the word "selected" for selected items and nothing when they are unselected, but the reader says nothing. A workaround is to simply tap a few times on the contacts, and when the deactivation alert appears, we'll know that the item was selected. It's worth noting that the same behavior occurs in FaceTime settings, in the "Ways to contact you on FaceTime" section.
Comments
I can verify this behavior and it's crazy making
Hi, Thank you for posting this. I'm so sorry you're similarly afflicted but I've been complaining about this since the mid-Summer betas. I just reported it again last week. All that to say it's not just happening to you. I've also seen this behavior in settings, phone when selecting call screening behavior. It'll say selected when you double tap on a choice but if you swipe away and back or back out of the screen and return, that which has been selected is not reported. And it's not exactly the same, but does have to do with selecting. I've also noted that when double tapping more to select messages in an iMessage conversation, if selecting more than one, at least for me, multiples are not deleting. Strange indeed.
Resolved in iOS 26.1
Hi there,
I'm on the iOS 26.1 beta and this issue is resolved in the release candidate. The public release should drop this week or next week.
Hope this helps.