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Minecraft: Java Edition - New Accessibility Features

We have a ton of updates coming to Java Edition in our next release to continue improving accessibility. These are available in snapshot right now, and we would love to hear your feedback! 

As a quick refresher, here's a quick breakdown of what's new:

  • Added an accessibility onboarding screen for players launching the game for the first time
  • Added arrow key navigation
  • The Resource Pack screen is now keyboard-navigatable
  • Auto-Jump is now off by default
  • Changed how tooltips in the menu UI are positioned so buttons are still readable
  • Added a new "Notification Time" accessibility option
    - Changes how long notifications such as unlocked recipes, advancements, subtitles and selected item names are visible for
  • Added two new options in the Accessibility menu for adjusting the speed and transparency of enchantment glints
  • Added a new option in the Accessibility menu called Damage Tilt for controlling the amount of camera shake when being hurt 
  • Added a tooltip in the Key Binds screen that specifies which keybinds are conflicting
  • Added a built-in resource pack that enhances the contrast of UI elements
    - The resource pack can be enabled in the Accessibility Options screen or manually in the Resource Pack screen
    - This is only available in the menus for now, but we’ll be looking to bring this to gameplay UIs in the future as well

Tell us what you think in the comments, and don't forget that if you do experience any issues or bugs, you can let us know through our official bug tracker!

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  • 0
    Registered User commented
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    I think accessibility comes as well from common shortcuts like Ctrl+A that work, unfortunately it don't with other keyboard layout like the French's one AZERTY. This bug is reported since 2017 (MC-121278). I think accessibility can be greatly improve for others layout users with the fix of this.

  • 4
    Registered User commented
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    I think there needs to be more accessibility! More subtitles, more narration, and more visual differences like potion liquid variants, enchantment book covers, and a font for dyslexic!

  • 3
    Registered User commented
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    Overall these changes are positive! One thing to add is I think glint transparency should be able to go higher to 150%. Outside of these changes, I think the accessibility screen needs a unique menu with icons and titles. Currently from a neurotypical player's view, it is overwhelming and can be difficult to understand at a glance.

  • 2
    Registered User commented
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    Minecraft is still not accessible when using controller/touchscreen input. Java Edition even has a "Touchscreen Mode" setting, but it just doesn't work... So, it would be great to have parity with Bedrock in this area.

  • 2
    Registered User commented
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    One part where minecraft really lacks asseciblity in my opinion is on the investory screen and the way items look. For me it often feels like too much information that ends up overstimulating my brain. 

    The small sprites of items can also be really confusing to diferenciate in between themselves and creates a lot of confusion.

    For me one thing that would be really helpful would be for there to be a toggles to help make the invesntory screen bigger so that each sprite stands out more and also a toggle to colour code itens (maybe having diferent types of item have a diferent colour of background while on the inventory)

  • 2
    Registered User commented
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    Improvements so far. Following the request for options to help the dyslexic, having some more visual tweaks to textures that are only colour-based like potions and dyes would greatly aid the colourblind and useful for everyone to detect at a glance (as opposed to having to go by the item texts).

  • 2
    Registered User commented
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    Please add a dark mode option for the UI. The default light grey can still be quite bright for some eyes, and it would use less monitor light.

  • 3
    Registered User commented
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    I think it's a great thing, you should continue in this direction, and make the game more enjoyable and more accessible. Accessibility options can also be useful for people without disabilities.

    A list of accessibility modifications would be appreciated : 

    • Changes in egg textures to use distinct texture, for colour blind people and in the context of increasing egg quantity it becomes difficult to find the right one.
    • Also for the effects of potions, a simple way to know the potion for the visually impaired, or colour blind
    • For block commands, to be able to have a larger text area, a command can be very long but the "command block" text area is very small. An interface similar to Bedrock, see the command on several lines
    • In the key configuration menu, the addition of button to quickly change between QWERTY and AZERTY, By default Minecraft defines the confugiration for "American" keyboards.
    • For the key menu add a search bar. To search by "Key" or by "Label".
    • A global search bar in the settings to search among all minecraft options.
      It is once again in a context where the number of new functionalities is added, it becomes more and more complicated to know where a configuration is. In which menu/submenu it is located.So clearly an easier way to quickly find a parameter.
    • For minecraft enchantments a simple way to be able to discern which books give which effects without having to look at the description of the item, simply visually
  • 1
    Registered User commented
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    Add the option to be able to see your armor and tool durability in the corner of the screen at all times like some third party clients do