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How to Use iPhone Back Tap Controls for Shortcuts and More

Tap the back of your phone to access this iOS 14 accessibility feature

By Jerri Ledford Jerri Ledford Writer, Editor, Fact Checker Western Kentucky University Gulf Coast Community College Jerri L. Ledford has been writing, editing, and fact-checking tech stories since 1994. Her work has appeared in Computerworld, PC Magazine, Information Today, and many others. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on March 8, 2021 Reviewed by Jerrick Leger Reviewed by Jerrick Leger Jerrick Leger is a CompTIA-certified IT Specialist with more than 10 years' experience in technical support and IT fields. He is also a systems administrator for an IT firm in Texas serving small businesses. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email iPhone & iOS Switching from Android

What to Know

Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap. Tap Double Tap and choose the action you want to trigger when you double-tap the back of your phone. Tap Triple Tap and to set an action for when you triple-tap the back of the phone. This article explains how to enable and use Back Tap controls on iOS 14 and later running on an iPhone 8 or newer.

How to Enable Back Tap on iOS 14

In iOS 14, Apple introduced a feature called Back Tap with almost no fanfare. The feature, part of the accessibility option on iOS 14, allows you to tap the back of your iPhone to trigger an action, such as opening a program or taking a screenshot. Before you can use Back Tap, you'll need to enable it. Here's how: Go to Settings > Accessibility. Tap Touch in the Accessibility options, under Physical and Motor. In the Touch options, swipe to the bottom of the list of options and tap Back Tap. The Back Tap option open. Tap Double Tap and choose the option you would like to trigger when you double-tap the back of your phone. You'll find a good list of available options, including accessibility options and even scrolling gestures or shortcut options. Then, tap Triple Tap and choose the action you would like to happen when you triple-tap the back of the phone with your finger. When you've finished, you can return to the Home screen, and your options will be saved.

What Can Back Tap Trigger

Back Tap sounds like a simple gesture, right? It is, but it's also a powerful tool to keep your most frequently used apps or functions at your fingertips. For example, you can enable Back Tap to open your camera when you double-tap the back of your phone. Or to take a screenshot when you triple tap. If those are options that you don't use often, don't worry. You can also enable shortcuts with your Back Tap, which means anything you can create a shortcut for, you can trigger with a double or triple tap on the back of your phone. For example, you can create a shortcut that allows you to connect to an AirPlay speaker in your home, then assign it to a double-tap. The next time you're listening to music and you want to send it to that speaker, just double-tap the back of your phone.

Does Back Tap Work With a Case

Yes. You need to make sure you are tapping with enough force, but the feature does work. The key appears to be tapping the phone solidly on the back. If your case isn't too thick, then solid taps should trigger the sensors and hardware inside the phone. Some users also report that the double-tap works better than the triple tap, so experiment with it to see if one or both of them work well for you. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire Can You Delete the Apps That Come With the iPhone? How to Use Google Assistant on iPhone How to Change the Color of Apps on iOS 14 How to Use AssistiveTouch on Your iPhone How to Take a Screenshot on iPhone 11 How to Schedule a Text Message on an iPhone The iPhone Orange Dot: What It Is and How to Get Rid of It How to Use Siri on iPhone 12 How to Create and Use iPhone X Shortcuts How to Remove the Grey Home Bar at the Bottom of an iPhone 3 Ways to Take a Scrolling Screenshot on iPhone How to Turn Off RTT on iPhone How to Use iPhone Low Power Mode How to Pause AirPods How to Change the Instagram Icon in iOS and Android The Many Uses of the iPhone Home Button Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies