Accessibility features reset to off because your device is designed to treat them as temporary adjustments, not permanent settings
Most devices — phones, tablets, computers — assume accessibility features are tools you turn on when you need them and turn off when you don't. This is the default behavior across Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and most assistive software. The system does not know whether you need a feature permanently or just for this moment, so it erases your choice when you restart, log out, or update the operating system.
The reset happens for several specific reasons: a restart or shutdown clears temporary settings in memory, a software update overwrites your preferences with factory defaults, you logged into a different user account or device, or the accessibility service crashed and the system disabled it as a safety measure. Each of these is a separate problem with a separate fix.
Key Takeaways
- Accessibility features turn off after restart or update because most devices treat them as temporary rather than saved settings.
- You can make most features permanent by saving them in your system settings, not just turning them on in the moment.
- Some features require you to enable them in two places: once in accessibility settings and again in the specific app or service that uses them.
- If a feature keeps crashing or disabling itself, the problem is usually a conflict with another program or a corrupted system file, not a setting you can fix alone.
Windows: Making accessibility features stick after restart
On Windows 10 and 11, open Settings, go to Accessibility, and turn on the features you need. The system should remember these choices after you restart — but only if you are logged into the same user account. If you restart and the features are off again, the problem is usually that the settings did not save properly or a system update reset them.
To force Windows to remember your choices, go to Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard, and turn on Sticky Keys if you use it. Then go to Settings > Accessibility > Display and confirm your color filter or high contrast mode is set to "On" rather than "Use my settings". Some features like Narrator (the screen reader) need to be turned on in Settings > Accessibility > Narrator, and you may also need to enable it in the sign-in screen by pressing Windows key + Enter before you log in.
If features still reset after restart, restart Windows in Safe Mode to see whether a third-party program is interfering. Press Windows key + R, type msconfig, go to the Boot tab, check "Safe boot", and restart. If the features stay on in Safe Mode, a program you installed is turning them off. Uninstall recent software one at a time and restart normally after each one to find the culprit.
Mac: Accessibility settings that survive restart and update
On macOS, go to System Settings > Accessibility and turn on the features you need. These should persist after restart. If they do not, the problem is usually that you are not logged into the same user account, or a system update reset the settings.
To protect your settings from being wiped by an update, create a backup of your accessibility preferences before you update macOS. Go to System Settings > Accessibility, take a screenshot of each section you have changed, and write down the exact settings. After the update, if your settings are gone, you can turn them back on quickly using your notes. Some features like VoiceOver (the screen reader) also have their own preferences file you can back up: open Finder, press Command + Shift + G, type ~/Library/Preferences, and look for files starting with "com.apple.universalaccess".
If a feature keeps turning off on its own even without restart or update, go to System Settings > General > Login Items and check whether any app is set to open at startup and disable accessibility features. Remove any suspicious entries.
iPhone and iPad: Accessibility features resetting after update or restart
On iOS and iPadOS, go to Settings > Accessibility and turn on the features you need. These should stay on after restart. If they reset after a software update, Apple has overwritten your settings with the new version's defaults — this is common when you update from one major iOS version to the next.
To avoid losing your settings during an update, back up your iPhone or iPad to iCloud before you update. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup and turn it on, then go to Settings > General > Software Update and install the update. After the update, your accessibility settings should restore from the backup. If they do not, go back to Settings > Accessibility and turn on the features again — they should stay on this time.
If a feature like VoiceOver or Magnifier keeps crashing or turning off on its own, restart your device by holding the power button and sliding to power off, then turning it back on. If the problem continues, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Reset > Reset All Settings. This erases your accessibility choices but fixes crashes caused by corrupted settings. You will need to turn your features back on afterward.
Android: Accessibility services that disable themselves
On Android, go to Settings > Accessibility and turn on the services you need. These should stay on after restart. If they turn off, the most common reason is that Android disabled them as a safety measure because the service crashed or stopped responding.
To see whether a service is disabled, go to Settings > Accessibility, look for the service you need, and check whether it says "Off" or shows a warning message. If it says the service was disabled, tap it and turn it back on. If it disables itself again within a few minutes, the service is crashing. Try restarting your phone first: hold the power button, tap "Power off", wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on.
If the service still crashes after restart, the problem may be a conflict with another app. Go to Settings > Apps, find the accessibility service that is crashing, tap "Storage", and tap "Clear cache". Then go back and turn the service on again. If it still crashes, uninstall any recently installed apps and try again.
Web browsers and apps: Accessibility features that do not carry over
Some accessibility features are built into your device, but others live inside specific apps or websites. A screen reader setting you turn on in Chrome does not automatically turn on in Firefox. A text size adjustment in one app does not carry over to another. This is by design — each app manages its own accessibility settings separately.
To make sure your accessibility features work in the apps you use most, go into each app's settings and look for an Accessibility or Display section. Turn on the features you need there as well as on your device. For example, if you use a screen reader, you may need to turn it on in your device settings and enable screen reader support in each app you use. If you use high contrast mode, turn it on in your device settings and also check whether the app has its own high contrast option.
If an app does not have its own accessibility settings, it should inherit your device's settings automatically. If it does not, the app may not support that feature. Check the app's help section or contact the developer to ask whether they plan to add support.
When accessibility features keep crashing or causing problems
If turning on an accessibility feature causes your device to freeze, crash, or become unusable, the problem is usually a conflict between that feature and another program or a corrupted system file. Do not keep turning the feature back on — this will make the problem worse.
Instead, restart your device in Safe Mode (or Recovery Mode on Mac and iPhone) and try turning the feature on there. If it works in Safe Mode, a third-party app is interfering. If it crashes in Safe Mode too, the feature itself is corrupted and you may need to reinstall your operating system or contact the device manufacturer for support.
Before you reinstall, try one more thing: go to your device's settings, find the accessibility feature that is crashing, and look for an option to reset it to defaults or clear its data. This sometimes fixes crashes caused by corrupted settings files.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my accessibility features turn off when I restart my computer?
Your device treats accessibility features as temporary settings by default, not permanent ones. When you restart, the system clears settings that were only stored in temporary memory. To fix this, make sure you are turning on the features in your system settings (not just in an app), and that you are logged into the same user account each time you restart.
Do software updates always erase my accessibility settings?
Not always, but major updates often do. When you update to a new version of Windows, macOS, iOS, or Android, the new version may overwrite your old settings with its defaults. Back up your settings before you update, and be ready to turn your features back on afterward if needed.
Why does my screen reader keep turning off by itself?
Screen readers often disable themselves if they crash or stop responding. Restart your device first. If the screen reader still crashes, clear its cache in your app settings or uninstall recently installed apps that might be interfering. If the problem continues, the screen reader software itself may be corrupted and need to be reinstalled.
Do I need to turn on accessibility features in both my device settings and in individual apps?
Sometimes. Device-level features like high contrast or text size usually carry over to apps automatically. But some features like screen reader support need to be enabled in both places. Check each app's settings to see whether it has its own accessibility options.
What should I do if an accessibility feature makes my device crash?
Stop turning it back on immediately. Restart your device in Safe Mode and try turning the feature on there. If it crashes in Safe Mode too, the feature is corrupted. Do not keep trying — contact your device manufacturer or the software developer for support instead.