Reset Accessibility Settings to Default in macOS 13

macOS 13 Ventura does not feature a single "Reset to Default" button within its accessibility menu, but you can completely restore factory defaults using built-in Terminal commands or by manually reconfiguring your preferences. This guide provides clear, direct steps to reset your accessibility configurations, clear application accessibility permissions, and return macOS 13 to its original out-of-the-box state.

Using Terminal is the fastest and most thorough way to clear modified preference files and restore system defaults.

  1. Open Terminal on your Mac (press Command + Space, type "Terminal", and press Return).

  2. Reset the general accessibility preference files by entering the following command and pressing Return:

    defaults delete com.apple.Accessibility

  3. Reset Universal Access settings by running:

    defaults delete com.apple.universalaccess

  4. Reset the list of applications granted accessibility control permissions by running:

    tccutil reset Accessibility

  5. Restart your Mac by clicking the Apple menu () > Restart to apply the changes and force macOS to recreate the default configuration files.

Method 2: Manually Revert Settings in System Settings

If you prefer not to use Terminal, you can manually disable customized accessibility features within macOS 13's redesigned interface.

  1. Click the Apple menu () in the top-left corner of the screen and select System Settings.
  2. Click Accessibility in the left sidebar.
  3. Review each category under Vision, Hearing, and Motor:
    • Display: Turn off "Invert colors", set "Display contrast" to Normal, and turn off color filters.
    • Zoom: Turn off keyboard shortcuts and trackpad gestures for zooming.
    • VoiceOver: Ensure VoiceOver is toggled off.
    • Spoken Content: Turn off speak selection and speak screen.
    • Pointer Control: Reset cursor size to the far left (Normal) and disable alternative pointer actions.
    • Keyboard: Turn off "Sticky Keys" and "Slow Keys".
  4. Scroll to the General section, click Accessibility Shortcut, and uncheck any features you do not want enabled via the triple-touch Touch ID or shortcut prompt.

Method 3: Reset Application Permissions

If your goal is to revoke third-party app control over your Mac without affecting visual or motor settings:

  1. Go to Apple menu () > System Settings.
  2. Click Privacy & Security in the left sidebar.
  3. Select Accessibility from the list on the right.
  4. Select each app listed and click the minus (–) button at the bottom of the list to remove its permissions completely.