Modern iPhones rely entirely on swiping gestures and the touchscreen to navigate the operating system. However, if you are wearing gloves, holding a cup of coffee, or simply need to trigger an action instantly without looking at the screen, swiping can be cumbersome.
To solve this, Apple buried a powerful Accessibility feature inside iOS called “Back Tap.” This feature transforms the entire rear glass panel of your iPhone into a giant, invisible hardware button.
How to Enable Back Tap
This feature utilizes the internal accelerometer to detect distinct physical taps on the back of the device.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and tap on Accessibility.
- Under the “Physical and Motor” section, tap on Touch.
- Scroll all the way down to the very bottom of the page and tap Back Tap.
You will now see two options: Double Tap and Triple Tap. You can assign a completely different shortcut to each.
Assigning the Shortcuts
- Tap on Double Tap.
- Scroll through the massive list of available system actions.
- Tap the action you want to trigger. A blue checkmark will appear next to it.
Some highly recommended shortcuts for the Double Tap gesture include:
- Flashlight: Instantly turn on your phone’s LED flashlight in the dark without needing to wake the screen or swipe down the Control Center.
- Camera: Launch the camera app instantly so you never miss a fast-moving subject.
- Screenshot: Take a screenshot without needing to awkwardly squeeze both the volume and power buttons simultaneously.
- Mute: Instantly silence your device during a meeting.
Once assigned, you can test it immediately. Simply use your index finger to firmly tap the Apple logo on the back of your phone twice in rapid succession. The accelerometer will detect the vibration and instantly trigger your chosen shortcut. (Note: This feature works perfectly even if you have a thick, protective case installed on your phone).