iPhone Back Tap: A Hidden Feature You Need to Know About

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Michael Collins

Have you heard of the iPhone’s back tap feature? It’s a cool trick that can make your life a whole lot easier. In essence, you can double or triple tap the back of your iPhone to perform specific actions like taking a screenshot or opening the control center. It’s like having a magic wand at the back of your phone! Don’t worry; I’ll walk you through how to set it up and use it effectively.

Step by Step Tutorial: Setting up iPhone Back Tap

Before we jump into the steps, let’s talk about what we’re aiming to achieve here. The back tap feature is part of the iOS accessibility settings, designed to help people with disabilities use their iPhone more easily. But it’s such a handy feature that anyone can use it. Here’s how to set it up:

Step 1: Open the Settings app

First things first, you’ll need to open the Settings app on your iPhone.

In the Settings app, you’ll find a plethora of options to customize your iPhone experience. You’ll want to scroll down a bit to find the option we need for back tap.

Step 2: Navigate to Accessibility

Once in Settings, scroll down and tap on Accessibility.

Accessibility is where Apple keeps all the features that make the iPhone easier to use for people with various disabilities. But again, these features can be useful for everyone.

Step 3: Select Touch

Under the Accessibility menu, you’ll find an option called Touch – that’s where the back tap feature lives.

The Touch menu has several options to adjust how your iPhone responds to touch. It’s not just about the back tap; you can explore this menu later to see if there’s anything else you’d find helpful.

Step 4: Scroll down to Back Tap

Scroll down to the bottom of the Touch menu, and you’ll see Back Tap.

It’s not immediately visible, so make sure you scroll all the way down.

Step 5: Choose your desired back tap action

You can choose between Double Tap and Triple Tap, and assign an action to each.

You might want to set one of these to take a screenshot, for example, while the other could be set to lock your screen. It’s all about what’s most convenient for you.

After you’ve set up the back tap actions, you’ll be able to perform those actions just by tapping the back of your iPhone. It’s a simple gesture that can save you time and make using your iPhone a smoother experience.

Tips for Using iPhone Back Tap

Let’s go over some tips to make the most of the back tap feature:

  • Make sure the back of your iPhone is exposed; a thick case might interfere with the feature.
  • You can assign a wide range of actions to back tap, including launching Siri or the Magnifier, so pick the ones that will be most useful to you.
  • If you find that you’re accidentally triggering the back tap, you may want to switch from triple tap to double tap or vice versa.
  • Remember that the back tap feature also works if your iPhone is in a case, as long as it’s not too thick.
  • You can even set shortcuts as back tap actions. If you’ve created shortcuts in the Shortcuts app, these can be very powerful tools when assigned to a back tap.

Frequently Asked Questions about iPhone Back Tap

Does the back tap feature work on all iPhones?

The back tap feature is only available on iPhone 8 and later models running iOS 14 or newer.

Can the back tap feature drain my battery?

No, the back tap feature is designed to be energy-efficient and should not cause significant battery drain.

What if I have a case on my iPhone, will back tap still work?

Yes, the back tap feature works through most cases, but very thick cases may reduce sensitivity.

Can I use back tap if my iPhone is in Low Power Mode?

Yes, the back tap feature is available even when your iPhone is in Low Power Mode.

Is it possible to turn off the back tap feature?

Yes, you can turn off the back tap feature at any time by going back to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap and selecting ‘None.’

Summary of Steps

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Navigate to Accessibility.
  3. Select Touch.
  4. Scroll down to Back Tap.
  5. Choose your desired back tap action.

Conclusion

The iPhone back tap feature is a hidden gem that can revolutionize how you interact with your device. Whether you’re looking to enhance your productivity or just want to show off a neat trick to your friends, back tap is worth setting up. Remember to play around with the different actions you can assign to it and find what works best for you. And don’t forget, if you ever change your mind or find the feature too sensitive, you can always adjust or disable it in the settings. So, give it a try and tap into the full potential of your iPhone!