Voiceover on my iPhone 16 Max locked me out

Re: Locked out with VoiceOver enabled.

" Then I discovered I was locked out and none of the buttons or swipes work to get me back in. "

See if Apple Support's online article : How to: Operate iPhone when VoiceOver is on - Apple Support can help.

Eg: says:

" When VoiceOver is on, you need to use special gestures to unlock iPhone, go to the Home Screen, open Control Center, switch apps, and more."

"Unlock iPhone

• On an iPhone with Face ID:
• Wake iPhone and glance at it, then drag up from the bottom edge of the screen until you feel a vibration or hear two rising tones.
• On an iPhone with Touch ID: Press the Home button using the finger you registered with Touch ID.

If prompted, enter your passcode. To avoid having your passcode spoken as you enter it, enter your passcode silently using handwriting mode or type onscreen braille."

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Re: "It wouldn't stop so I closed then opened the phone.

That linked article at the top also explains the gestures to use when VoiceOver is turned on, so you can be in control..

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Another article: TTurn on and practice VoiceOver on iPhone - Apple Support

Explains more, and says:

Turn VoiceOver on or off

Important: VoiceOver changes the gestures you use to control iPhone. When VoiceOver is on, you must use VoiceOver gestures to operate iPhone.

To turn VoiceOver on or off, do any of the following:

• "Go to Settings  > Accessibility > VoiceOver, then turn VoiceOver on or off.
• Use Control Center if you’ve added VoiceOver there.
• Use the Accessibility Shortcut if you’ve set it up to turn on VoiceOver.

Siri: Say something like: “Turn on VoiceOver” or “Turn off VoiceOver.” Learn how to use Siri."