a man in a wheelchair is holding a smartphone the screen shows the liftboy app that controls the lift

Liftboy app: control lifts contactlessly with your smartphone

All station buildings in the Wiener Linien network are equipped with lifts. With the new Liftboy app, users can now conveniently call lifts using their smartphone. They can also extend the door opening time so that they can board without stress.

New Liftboy app: controlling lifts with a smartphone via Bluetooth

A wheelchair user in front of a lift with a smartphone in their handGetting the lift with the app
© Wiener Linien/Max Döringer

Hans-Jürgen Groß, Group Accessibility Officer at Wiener Stadtwerke, with the Liftboy app on his smartphone

People in wheelchairs, people who are not able to walk well and people travelling with pushchairs are all dependent on accessibility when using public transport. This is why all 109 station buildings in the Wiener Linien network are equipped with a total of 291 lifts. A new app now makes it even easier to use these lifts.

Call a lift from 10 to 15 metres away, keep lift doors open for longer

The app establishes a connection to the lift via Bluetooth so that the lift can be called from a distance of 10 to 15 metres. This enables convenient and fast operation without direct contact with the lift. Users can also extend the door opening and closing time of the lift from three to up to twelve seconds. This function makes it easier to get in and out of the lift, especially for people with wheelchairs, walking frames or pushchairs. All lifts in the public transport network should be available with the new function by the end of 2025.

The name of the app is reminiscent of the lift boys who used to ride in the lift and operate it in the past, when lifts were not yet equipped with buttons that passengers could operate themselves. The new app is also intended to help reduce waiting times and make the operation of lifts more efficient. The app is available for Android and iOS devices.

Accessible app based on the multi-sensory principle, optimised for screen readers

The Liftboy app is accessible and developed based on the multi-sensory principle and is optimised for use with screen readers. As communication between the lift and the app takes place via Bluetooth, the app also works without an internet connection. However, Bluetooth and location must be activated on the mobile phone. iOS devices require at least iOS version 14.0 to use the app; Android devices require at least version 9.

As part of the lift upgrade, the voice announcement on the lift call pillars will also be expanded. When users press the call button, the announcement will inform them in German and English if the lift is unavailable due to a fault.

This is what you need to use the Liftboy app:

  • Download the Liftboy app to your smartphone (Apple or Android). With an Apple device, you need at least iOS version 14.0 to be able to use the app. For an Android device, you need at least version 9.
  • Bluetooth and location must be activated on your smartphone so that you can use the app.
  • You do not need an internet connection to use the Liftboy app. The app communicates with the lift via Bluetooth.

Download the Liftboy app for iOS

Download the Liftboy app for Android

How to call the lift with the Liftboy app:

a person in a wheelchair is standing in front of a lift
© Wiener Linien/Max Döringer
Drive to the lift and look for the sticker on the door.
A sticker with a combination of letters and numbers of a lift and the words Accessible control for lifts and a QR code as well as the URL wienerlinien.at/Liftboy
© Wiener Linien/Max Döringer
The sticker bears the name of the lift.
two hands are holding a smartphone on the screen you can see the liftboy app that controls the lift
© Wiener Linien/Max Döringer
Call the lift with the smartphone in the Liftboy app. Note: Bluetooth and location must be activated on the mobile phone.
a hand of a person in a wheelchair is holding a smartphone with the liftboy app's control buttons for the lift
© Wiener Linien/Max Döringer
The Liftboy app shows you the lift's control commands - including the emergency call.
two hands are holding a smartphone with the liftboy app's control buttons for the lift
© Wiener Linien/Max Döringer
Use the Liftboy app to control the lift.
a man in a wheelchair gives a thumbs-up and a person with a twin pram in the lift
© Wiener Linien/Max Döringer
People in wheelchairs and people with pushchairs have priority in the lift!

a wheelchair user in the lift holds a smartphone in his hand the Liftboy app can be seen on the screen in the background the emergency call button of the lift which can also be seen on the mobile phone screen
© Wiener Linien/Max Döringer
You can also operate the emergency call in the Liftboy app.
Image of the pillar in front of the lift indicating that the lift is out of service
© Wiener Linien/Max Döringer
This lift is out of service.
The control panel on a lift shows two red illuminated signs that the lift is out of service
© Wiener Linien/Max Döringer
This lift is out of service.

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