Description
I've encountered a consistent hang/freeze issue in SwiftUI applications when using nested LazyVStack containers with Accessibility Inspector (simulator) or VoiceOver (physical device) enabled. The application becomes completely unresponsive and must be force-quit.
Importantly, this hang occurs in a minimal SwiftUI project with no third-party dependencies, suggesting this is a framework-level issue with the interaction between SwiftUI's lazy view lifecycle and the accessibility system.
Reproduction Steps
I've created a minimal reproduction project available here: https://github.com/pendo-io/SwiftUI_Hang_Reproduction
To Reproduce:
- Create a SwiftUI view with the following nested
LazyVStackstructure:
struct NestedLazyVStackView: View {
@State private var outerSections: [Int] = []
@State private var innerRows: [Int: [Int]] = [:]
var body: some View {
ScrollView {
LazyVStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: 24) {
ForEach(outerSections, id: \.self) { section in
VStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: 8) {
Text("Section #\(section)")
// Nested LazyVStack
LazyVStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: 2) {
ForEach(innerRows[section] ?? [], id: \.self) { row in
Text("Section #\(section) - Row #\(row)")
.onAppear {
// Load more data when row appears
loadMoreInner(section: section)
}
}
}
}
.onAppear {
// Load more sections when section appears
loadMoreOuter()
}
}
}
}
}
}
-
Enable Accessibility Inspector in iOS Simulator:
- Xcode → Open Developer Tool → Accessibility Inspector
- Select your running simulator
- Enable Inspection mode (eye icon)
-
Navigate to the view and start scrolling
-
Result: The application hangs and becomes unresponsive within a few seconds of scrolling
Expected Behavior
The application should remain responsive when Accessibility Inspector or VoiceOver is enabled, allowing users to scroll through nested lazy containers without freezing.
Actual Behavior
- The application freezes/hangs completely
- CPU usage may spike
- The app must be force-quit to recover
- The hang occurs consistently and is reproducible
Workaround 1: Replace inner LazyVStack with VStack
LazyVStack {
ForEach(...) { section in
VStack { // ← Changed from LazyVStack
ForEach(...) { row in
...
}
}
}
}
Workaround 2: Embed in TabView
TabView {
NavigationStack {
NestedLazyVStackView() // ← Same nested structure, but no hang
}
.tabItem { ... }
}
Interestingly, wrapping the entire navigation stack in a TabView prevents the hang entirely, even with the nested LazyVStack structure intact.
Questions for Apple
- Is there a known issue with nested
LazyVStackcontainers and accessibility traversal? - Why does wrapping the view in a
TabViewprevent the hang? - Are there recommended patterns for using nested lazy containers with accessibility support?
- Is this a timing issue, a deadlock, or an infinite loop in the accessibility system?
- Why that happens?
Reproduction Project
A complete, minimal reproduction project is available at: https://github.com/pendo-io/SwiftUI_Hang_Reproduction