Article 3 of 4 in Screen Readers
What Is a USSD Code?
If you have ever dialled something like *170# or *110# on your phone to access mobile money, then you have already used a USSD code. USSD stands for Unstructured Supplementary Service Data — but honestly, you do not need to remember that. What matters is what it does.
When you dial a USSD code, your network sends a menu straight to your screen. You then pick an option by typing a number, and the conversation continues back and forth until your task is done. No internet needed. No app to download. Just your phone and a short code.
Some common USSD codes you will come across in Ghana include:
- *170# — MTN Mobile Money (MoMo)
- *110# — Telecel Mobile Money
- *110# — AirtelTigo Money
- *124# — Check your MTN airtime balance
These services are used every day for sending money, paying bills, buying airtime, and a lot more. Being able to use them independently on your iPhone is a really big deal — and that is exactly what this article is going to help you do.
One Thing You Need to Know Before We Start
If you have used USSD on an Android phone before, the iPhone works a little differently and it is good to know this upfront so it does not catch you off guard.
On iPhone, the keyboard does not open by itself when a USSD menu appears. You have to trigger it manually by tapping a button first. The buttons on the screen also change their position depending on whether the keyboard is open or closed. We will explain all of this clearly as we go through the steps.
The good news is that once you do it a few times, the pattern becomes very natural very quickly.
How to Use a USSD Menu on iPhone with VoiceOver
Step 1: Dial the USSD Code
Open your Phone app and go to the keypad. Type in the USSD code for the service you want to use and then tap the green Call button to dial.
Within a few seconds, a pop-up dialog will appear on your screen. That is the USSD menu sent to you by your network.
Step 2: Listen to the Menu
As soon as the dialog appears, VoiceOver will start reading it out to you. Take a moment to listen carefully to all the options before you do anything else. A typical mobile money main menu might look something like this:
1. Transfer Money
2. Pay Bill
3. Airtime & Bundles
4. Cash Out
5. My Account
# for next
If VoiceOver does not read the full menu straight away, just drag your finger slowly across the screen and it will announce whatever it lands on. Take your time — there is no rush yet.
At this point, you will see two buttons on the dialog:
- The Reply button is near the bottom left corner
- The Cancel button is near the bottom right corner
Step 3: Tap Reply to Open the Keyboard
To type your response, you need to open the keyboard first — and the way you do that is by tapping the Reply button at the bottom left.
Drag your finger toward the bottom left area of the screen until VoiceOver announces “Reply, button” and then double-tap to activate it. The keyboard will now open.
Step 4: Switch to Numbers on the Keyboard
When the keyboard opens, it defaults to the alphabet layout. Since USSD menus require you to type a number to select an option, you need to switch to the numbers layout first.
Feel around the bottom left area of the keyboard for the key that switches to numbers. VoiceOver will announce it as something like “numbers” or “symbols.” Double-tap it and the keyboard will switch to numbers.
Now type the number for the option you want. For example, type 1 to select Transfer Money.
Step 5: Send Your Response
Once you have typed your number, you need to send it. This is where the button position change comes in. When the keyboard is open, the Reply button moves from the bottom left up to the top right corner of the screen, and it now acts as your Send button.
You do not need to swipe to find it. Simply drag or rotate your finger up toward the top right area of the screen. VoiceOver will announce “Reply, button” when your finger lands on it. Double-tap to send your input.
Just be careful — the Cancel button is now at the top left corner. As you move toward the top right, make sure you go far enough to the right. Tapping Cancel by mistake will close the whole session and you will have to start all over again.
Step 6: Keep Going Until You Are Done
After sending your input, the next menu appears and everything resets back to the start position. The Reply button goes back to the bottom left and Cancel goes back to the bottom right.
Listen to the new menu, tap Reply at the bottom left to open the keyboard, type your choice, then drag your finger to the top right to send. You keep repeating this same pattern at every step all the way through to the end.
A Real Example: Sending Money Using Mobile Money on iPhone
Let us walk through a complete example from start to finish. The exact menus will look slightly different depending on your network, but the steps and the process are the same across all networks. Say you want to send some money to a friend.
- Dial your network’s mobile money USSD code and press Call.
- The main menu appears. VoiceOver reads the options out to you — something like:
Listen carefully, then drag your finger to the bottom left to find the Reply button and double-tap it to open the keyboard.1. Transfer Money
2. Pay Bill
3. Airtime & Bundles
4. Cash Out
5. My Account
# for next - Switch the keyboard to numbers, type 1 for Transfer Money, then drag your finger to the top right, find the Reply button and double-tap to send.
- A sub-menu appears showing your transfer options — for example:
Drag to the bottom left, tap Reply to open the keyboard, type your choice — for example 1 for Mobile Money User — then drag to the top right and tap Reply to send.1. Mobile Money User
2. Non Mobile Money User
3. Other Networks
4. Bank Account
# for next - You will be asked to enter the recipient’s phone number. Tap Reply at the bottom left, type the phone number, then drag to the top right and tap Reply to send.
- A prompt appears asking you to confirm the phone number you entered. Tap Reply at the bottom left, type 1 to confirm, then drag to the top right and tap Reply.
- You are asked to enter the amount you want to send. Tap Reply at the bottom left, type the amount, then drag to the top right and tap Reply.
- A prompt asks for a reference — a short note describing what the money is for, like “transport” or “food.” Tap Reply at the bottom left, type your reference, then drag to the top right and tap Reply.
- A confirmation screen appears showing the name of the person you are sending to, the amount, and the other details. Listen carefully to make sure everything is correct.
- You will then be asked to enter your mobile money PIN to authorise the transaction. Tap Reply at the bottom left, type your PIN on the numeric keyboard, then drag your finger to the top right and tap Reply to complete the transaction.
- A final message appears confirming that your transfer was successful. You are done!
The One Pattern That Makes It All Click
No matter which network you are on or which USSD service you are using, the button behaviour on iPhone always follows the same pattern:
- Keyboard closed: Reply is at the bottom left. Cancel is at the bottom right.
- Keyboard open: Reply moves to the top right. Cancel moves to the top left.
Keep that in mind and the whole process will feel very straightforward.
How Does This Compare to Android?
On Android phones, the Send and Cancel buttons sit directly on the USSD dialog and do not move around. On many newer Android devices — like Samsung phones and phones running recent Android versions — the keyboard also opens automatically as soon as the USSD dialog appears, so you can start typing straight away without any extra steps.
On iPhone, you always have to tap Reply first to bring up the keyboard, and the buttons change position once the keyboard is open. It is a couple of extra steps, but once you know the pattern it is just as manageable.
A Few Tips to Help You Along
- Listen to the full menu first. Let VoiceOver finish reading all the options before you reach for the Reply button. That way you already know what number to type the moment the keyboard opens.
- Do not take too long between steps. USSD sessions time out if you leave them idle for too long. With practice you will move through the steps much faster and this will not be an issue.
- Start with something simple. Before using USSD for a money transfer, try dialling a simple balance check code first. It is a short session with very few steps and it gives you a feel for the flow without any pressure.
- Watch out for the Cancel button at the top left. When the keyboard is open and you are dragging your finger toward the Reply button at the top right, just make sure you do not drift too far to the left. Tapping Cancel by mistake ends the session immediately.
- Use touch exploration — it is your friend. You do not have to swipe through every element on screen to find a button. Just place your finger anywhere and drag it around the screen. VoiceOver will announce whatever is under your finger as you move, and that is often the fastest and most natural way to locate the Reply button.
Wrapping Up
Using USSD on an iPhone with VoiceOver is completely achievable once you understand how the interface works. The keyboard does not open on its own — you tap Reply at the bottom left to trigger it. You switch to numbers, type your choice, and then drag your finger up to the top right to find the Reply button and send your response. That same pattern repeats at every step.
Give yourself a little time to practise and it will feel very natural before long. The process is the same regardless of which network you are on — MTN, Telecel, AirtelTigo — so once you learn it once, you can apply it everywhere.
If this guide helped you, please share it with someone in your community who might need it. And if you want to keep building your skills with your iPhone and assistive technology, check out our accessible technology courses at IAT — designed with you in mind from the very beginning.
Have a question or something to add from your own experience? Drop a comment below or reach out to us directly. We would love to hear from you.