{"id":68814,"date":"2020-12-07T14:12:49","date_gmt":"2020-12-07T20:12:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/?p=68814"},"modified":"2020-12-07T14:12:54","modified_gmt":"2020-12-07T20:12:54","slug":"back-tap-handy-ios-14-feature","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/68814-back-tap-handy-ios-14-feature\/","title":{"rendered":"Back Tap: Automate Your Life with this Handy iOS 14 Feature"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Exploring the features of a new OS release is like visiting a part of the world you\u2019ve never seen before. One feature I recently discovered in iOS 14 is Back Tap<\/strong>. It\u2019s an accessibility tool but surprisingly useful in many ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Does It Work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The feature senses a double- or triple-tap on the back of an iPhone (iPhone 8 and later). It uses that gesture to perform a task that is assigned to it. Say you want to bring up Spotlight for a search or run a Shortcut you’ve created. Just enable the feature, then assign a System function, Accessibility function, scroll gesture, or a Shortcut to the gesture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enabling Back Tap <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Enabling the feature is simple. Launch Settings, scroll to Accessibility and open it with a touch. Under \u201cPhysical and Motor,\u201d select Touch. Once the Accessibility Touch screen is visible, scroll to the bottom and select Back Tap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The setup screen before functions are assigned.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Initially, there are no functions assigned to double or triple taps, so the function appears as \u201cNone.\u201d To assign a function to these gestures, tap the appropriate button. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Assigning Functions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A list of functions and shortcuts appears. Want to assign the screenshot gesture on the iPhone to a double-tap on the back of the phone. Under the list of System functions is Screenshot \u2014 tap that, and a checkmark appears to the right to indicate that it has been selected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Assigning
Assigning the Screenshot function to a double tap<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Tap the back arrow to get back to the list of functions and shortcuts. At this point, any double-tap on the back of the iPhone takes a screenshot. There\u2019s also a triple-tap gesture that can be assigned a function in a similar manner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other functions that can be triggered by a double or triple tap include App Switcher, Control Center, Home, Lock Screen, Mute, Notification Center, Reachability, Shake, Siri, Spotlight, Scroll down or up, and up or down volume. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accessibility functions include AssistiveTouch, Classic or Smart Invert, Magnifier and People Detection, Speak Screen, VoiceOver and Zoom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Assigning Shortcuts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When the Shortcuts<\/strong><\/a> app was added to iOS 12 two years ago, The Rocket Yard ran a series on how to use this handy feature to automate functions on the iPhone<\/a>. For those who aren’t familiar with Shortcuts, this four-part series can be your first step towards streamlining your daily iPhone use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
A short list of Shortcuts to assign to a triple tap<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Any shortcut that has been created on your iPhone appears under the Shortcuts header on the Double Tap or Triple Tap screen. For example, the screenshot above shows three Shortcuts from my list:<\/p>\n\n\n\n