Download the app & use Guided Access

SpeakAnyWay runs in any web browser, so you can start using it today on whatever device is already in front of you. If you want a real app icon on an iPhone or iPad, it's also in the Apple App Store — download SpeakAnyWay AAC or search for SpeakAnyWay. On iPad, you can pair it with Guided Access to lock your communicator into the app, the same way other AAC apps work.

An Android version (Google Play Store) is in the works and will land in the next few months.

What you'll need

• An iPhone or iPad running a recent version of iOS / iPadOS.
• The email and password for your SpeakAnyWay account (or your communicator's username and password, if they sign in separately).
• For Guided Access: about two minutes the first time, to turn it on in Settings.

Install on iPhone or iPad

1. Open this link on your iPhone or iPad: SpeakAnyWay AAC on the App Store. (Or open the App Store app and search for SpeakAnyWay.)
2. Tap Get to install. It's the same account and same boards as the website — signing in pulls everything in.
3. Open the app and sign in.

You don't have to use the app to use SpeakAnyWay. The browser version at app.speakanyway.com works the same way and stays in sync. The app is mostly nicer if you want a home-screen icon and a full-screen experience on a dedicated device.

Use Guided Access on iPad (or iPhone)

Guided Access is a built-in iOS feature that locks the device into one app until you turn it off with a passcode or Face/Touch ID. Lots of families use it with AAC apps so a communicator can't accidentally swipe out into YouTube or Settings.

Turn Guided Access on (one-time setup):

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Accessibility → Guided Access.
3. Toggle Guided Access on.
4. Tap Passcode Settings and set a Guided Access passcode (or turn on Face ID / Touch ID so you can exit with your face or fingerprint).

Start a Guided Access session in SpeakAnyWay:

1. Open the SpeakAnyWay app and sign in.
2. Navigate to the board your communicator will be using.
3. Triple-click the side button (or home button on older devices).
4. Tap Start in the top right corner.

The iPad is now locked to SpeakAnyWay. Taps work as normal inside the app — buttons, voice playback, switching between boards — but swiping away to another app won't work.

End a Guided Access session:

1. Triple-click the side button (or home button) again.
2. Enter your Guided Access passcode (or use Face ID / Touch ID).
3. Tap End in the top left.

What to expect

• Same account everywhere. The app, the browser, and a shared MySpeak link all read from the same boards and the same voice settings. Edit on your laptop, the change shows up on the iPad.
• Guided Access is an iOS setting, not a SpeakAnyWay setting. That means it works with any app you point it at — and the steps above are the same ones you'd use for any other AAC app on an iPad.
• Triple-click can feel tricky at first. If nothing happens, try clicking faster. The iPad expects three clicks within about a second.
• No Android app yet. On Android phones and tablets, use the browser version at app.speakanyway.com. Android's equivalent of Guided Access is called App Pinning (Settings → Security → Advanced → App Pinning). It works with the browser tab.

Common questions

• Is the iOS app free? The app itself is free to download. Your SpeakAnyWay plan is what determines what's unlocked — same as on the web. See Plans & slot limits.
• Do I have to use the app? No. The browser version at app.speakanyway.com has the same features. The app is a nicer experience on a dedicated iPad, but it's not required.
• When will the Android version be out? We're aiming for the next few months. In the meantime, Android devices work great in the browser — open app.speakanyway.com in Chrome or any other browser, and add it to your home screen if you want a quick-launch icon.
• Will Guided Access turn off the voice? No, voice playback works normally inside Guided Access. If the volume keeps muting itself, check the Volume Buttons option on the Guided Access start screen.
• My communicator can't exit Guided Access — is that a problem? That's the whole point of it. Only someone who knows the passcode (or whose Face ID / Touch ID is enrolled) can end the session. If you're worried about being locked out, write the passcode down somewhere safe before you start.
• Does the iPad app work offline? Not yet. SpeakAnyWay needs an internet connection to load boards and speak, in the app and in the browser. Offline mode is on the roadmap.

Still stuck?

Email hello@speakanyway.com — real person, usually within a day. If it's an install or sign-in issue, mention the device (iPad model, iOS version) and the email on your account.