Safari/VoiceOver (iOS): VO resets focus to the top of the page after using the file input element

[querkmachine]

Upstream bug: https://bugs.webkit.org/show_bug.cgi?id=273620
Date: 2024-05-02
Reported by: @querkmachine
Related to: alphagov/govuk-frontend#4965

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Overview

After selecting a file for a file input control, VoiceOver on iOS may intermittently reset focus back to the top of the page.

This was originally reported as happening on an iPhone 8 running iOS 16.5, and was successfully reproduced on an iPhone 14 Pro running iOS 17.4. I couldn't reproduce the issue with Safari and VoiceOver on macOS, so this is likely an iOS/iPadOS-specific issue.

This was also reported as happening with TalkBack on an Android 13 phone, though I don't have the means to reproduce it and thus haven't raised a bug report.

Expected result

Focus should return to the file input that prompted the user to select a file.

Actual result

Focus is reset back to the top of the page, requiring users to manually navigate back to their previous position on the page.

RPReplay_Final1714650002.MP4

[selfthinker]

It's worth noting that VoiceOver also interrupts itself. You can hear at 0:23 of the above video that it starts to say "button" but only manages to say "bu...".
I had something similar in my testing of a different form where it started saying "cancel bu..." and then interrupted itself and moved the focus to the top of the app.