Nonfunctioning semantic announcements on Ubuntu desktop #172023
Description
Steps to reproduce
Flutter on Ubuntu Linux desktop doesn't seem to support semantic announcements or live regions. SemanticsService.isAnnounceSupported() outputs true.
- Create the default new Flutter application via VSCode
- Add a
SemanticsService.announceto the_incrementCounterfunction - Enable the screen reader on Ubuntu desktop
- Run the app
- Press the + button to increment the counter
- Observe the screen reader not announcing anything
In my example below, I've also added a live region and the output of SemanticsService.isAnnounceSupported().
I have no special settings for the screen reader or Ubuntu, everything should be near defaults.
Expected results
The screen reader should read aloud when a live region changes content, or when a semantics announcement is manually triggered.
Actual results
No announcements are read by the screen reader.
Code sample
Code sample
Slightly modified version of the default new application via VSCode:
import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
import 'package:flutter/semantics.dart';
void main() {
runApp(const MyApp());
}
class MyApp extends StatelessWidget {
const MyApp({super.key});
@override
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
return MaterialApp(
title: 'Flutter Demo',
theme: ThemeData(
colorScheme: ColorScheme.fromSeed(seedColor: Colors.deepPurple),
),
home: const MyHomePage(title: 'Flutter Demo Home Page'),
);
}
}
class MyHomePage extends StatefulWidget {
const MyHomePage({super.key, required this.title});
final String title;
@override
State<MyHomePage> createState() => _MyHomePageState();
}
class _MyHomePageState extends State<MyHomePage> {
int _counter = 0;
void _incrementCounter() {
setState(() {
_counter++;
});
SemanticsService.announce(
'Incrementing counter',
TextDirection.ltr,
); // doesn't actually say anything
}
@override
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
return Scaffold(
appBar: AppBar(
backgroundColor: Theme.of(context).colorScheme.inversePrimary,
title: Text(widget.title),
),
body: Center(
child: Column(
mainAxisAlignment: MainAxisAlignment.center,
children: <Widget>[
const Text('You have pushed the button this many times:'),
Semantics(
liveRegion:
true, // doesn't actually result in any expected behavior
child: Text(
'$_counter',
style: Theme.of(context).textTheme.headlineMedium,
),
),
Text(
'Supports announce: ${SemanticsService.isAnnounceSupported()}', // outputs true
),
],
),
),
floatingActionButton: FloatingActionButton(
onPressed: _incrementCounter,
tooltip: 'Increment',
child: const Icon(Icons.add),
),
);
}
}Screenshots or Video
Logs
Flutter Doctor output
Doctor output
$ flutter doctor -v
[✓] Flutter (Channel stable, 3.32.5, on Ubuntu 24.04.2 LTS 6.11.0-29-generic, locale en_US.UTF-8) [27ms]
• Flutter version 3.32.5 on channel stable at /home/[USERNAME]/fvm/versions/3.32.5
• Upstream repository https://github.com/flutter/flutter.git
• Framework revision fcf2c11572 (2 weeks ago), 2025-06-24 11:44:07 -0700
• Engine revision dd93de6fb1
• Dart version 3.8.1
• DevTools version 2.45.1
[✗] Android toolchain - develop for Android devices [33ms]
✗ Unable to locate Android SDK.
Install Android Studio from: https://developer.android.com/studio/index.html
On first launch it will assist you in installing the Android SDK components.
(or visit https://flutter.dev/to/linux-android-setup for detailed instructions).
If the Android SDK has been installed to a custom location, please use
`flutter config --android-sdk` to update to that location.
[✗] Chrome - develop for the web (Cannot find Chrome executable at google-chrome) [12ms]
! Cannot find Chrome. Try setting CHROME_EXECUTABLE to a Chrome executable.
[✓] Linux toolchain - develop for Linux desktop [117ms]
• Ubuntu clang version 18.1.3 (1ubuntu1)
• cmake version 3.28.3
• ninja version 1.11.1
• pkg-config version 1.8.1
! Unable to access driver information using 'eglinfo'.
It is likely available from your distribution (e.g.: apt install mesa-utils)
[!] Android Studio (not installed) [10ms]
• Android Studio not found; download from https://developer.android.com/studio/index.html
(or visit https://flutter.dev/to/linux-android-setup for detailed instructions).
[✓] VS Code (version unknown) [10ms]
• VS Code at /snap/code/current/usr/share/code
• Flutter extension can be installed from:
🔨 https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=Dart-Code.flutter
✗ Unable to determine VS Code version.
[✓] Connected device (1 available) [37ms]
• Linux (desktop) • linux • linux-x64 • Ubuntu 24.04.2 LTS 6.11.0-29-generic
[✓] Network resources [178ms]
• All expected network resources are available.
! Doctor found issues in 3 categories.Metadata
Metadata
Assignees
Labels
Important issues not at the top of the work listAccessibility, e.g. VoiceOver or TalkBack. (aka a11y)Found to occur in 3.32Found to occur in 3.33flutter/packages/flutter repository. See also f: labels.The issue has been confirmed reproducible and is ready to work onBuilding on or for Linux specificallyIssue is closed as already fixed in a newer versionOwned by the Linux platform teamTriaged by the Linux platform team