Your iPhone has a secret button on the back - here's how to unlock it

2 hours ago 4
iPhone 17 Pro
Kerry Wan/ZDNET

Follow ZDNET: Add america arsenic a preferred source connected Google.


ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

  • Back Tap lets you trigger actions with treble oregon triple taps.
  • You tin customize it to unfastened apps, controls, oregon shortcuts.
  • It works connected astir iPhones and adjacent done galore cases.

The iPhone has a fastener connected its back. You can't spot it, but with a treble oregon triple pat connected the Apple logo, you tin unfastened an app, entree a strategy menu, oregon motorboat a shortcut. This diagnostic is called Back Tap, and it's really been disposable since iOS 14. The champion portion is it's wholly customizable. You tin acceptable it to bash immoderate you want, and alteration it astatine immoderate time.

I archetypal tried Back Tap years ago, and it rapidly became 1 of those features I usage each day. Instead of swiping done menus oregon hunting for apps, I conscionable pat the backmost of my phone. It's 1 of the fastest ways to get things done.

How to usage Back Tap connected iPhone

What you'll need: An iPhone 8 oregon newer moving the latest mentation of iOS.

1. Go to Accessibility successful  Settings
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET
2. Open the Touch menu
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

Scroll to the bottommost and prime Back Tap. Now you tin commencement customizing the backmost fastener connected your iPhone.

Show more

3. Select Back Tap
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

You'll spot 2 options: Double Tap and Triple Tap. You tin usage 1 oregon both, and delegate antithetic actions to them.

Show more

Choose Double Tap oregon  Triple Tap
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

There should beryllium a agelong database of actions disposable nether Double Tap and Triple Tap, including strategy controls, accessibility features, and adjacent immoderate apps. Pick one, and it'll instantly beryllium active. Just pat the backmost of your telephone to trigger it.

Tip: Tap straight connected the Apple logo (or adjacent the halfway of the backmost of your telephone if you're utilizing a case), and beryllium speedy and deliberate with your taps.

Show more

5. Assign an action
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

What tin I bash with Back Tap?

Back Tap supports a wide scope of actions, but the champion setup truly depends connected however you usage your phone.

At a basal level, you tin power strategy features, similar opening Control Center and Notification Center. You tin besides trigger a screenshot, fastener rotation, oregon set volume. Accessibility features are disposable arsenic well, including VoiceOver, Zoom, AssistiveTouch, and Background Sounds. Popular apps are supported, too, including ChatGPT, Snapchat, Amazon, and more.

Also: Your iPhone's USB-C larboard is truthful versatile - 14 features beyond charging

The astir almighty enactment is astir apt Shortcuts. If you make a customized shortcut, Back Tap tin tally it instantly. That means you tin harvester aggregate actions into 1 tap. For example, you could unfastened ChatGPT and commencement a dependable session, oregon instrumentality a screenshot and prevention it to a circumstantial folder. This is wherever Back Tap goes from convenient to genuinely utile and amusive to customize.

You get some treble pat and triple tap, truthful you tin usage them differently. For example, you mightiness usage treble pat for thing you bash constantly, similar opening Snapchat, and triple pat for thing little frequent, similar triggering a shortcut.

Back Tap shortcuts
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

Will Back Tap enactment with the lawsuit connected my iPhone?

Yes. It works done most cases, including thicker ones, though sensitivity tin alteration slightly. If you person a PopSocket oregon different grip covering the backmost of your phone, however, you apt won't beryllium capable to trigger Back Tap.

Also: How to crook connected Lockdown Mode connected iPhone

Why is Back Tap not moving for me?

Your taps request to beryllium speedy and deliberate. Slower taps, oregon tapping excessively lightly, tin forestall Back Tap from triggering.

Is determination immoderate feedback erstwhile Back Tap activates?

There is nary haptic feedback, but you tin alteration a banner notification successful the Back Tap paper to corroborate it has been triggered.

Also: How to escaped up your iPhone retention astir immediately

How bash I crook Back Tap off?

Go backmost to the Back Tap paper successful Settings and acceptable some Double Tap and Triple Tap to "None."

Show more

Editorial standards
Read Entire Article