At its online-only WWDC event, Apple officially unveiled iOS 14 for the iPhone. This update has many attention-grabbing and small, but not so obvious features. Apple typically skips minor updates at the WWDC keynote and only makes major changes. Back Tap accessibility is one example of such a feature. It is an accessibility feature that adds double or triple taps to the back of your iPhone. This allows Siri Shortcuts automation and navigation around iOS. You can read the entire post to learn more about Back Tap, including how to use it to launch apps or run Siri Automation shortcuts.
Back Tap is easily one of the coolest features in iOS 14. You can open multiple apps and perform system actions like turning up/down volume, taking screenshots, wakeing Siri up, scrolling up/down, or even turning off the sound. Siri Shortcuts integration adds the cherry on top and allows for customization. Back Tap works on all iPhones. Even if your iPhone has a case, the double/triple tap shortcut works.
Read: How to Install iOS 14 Public Beta on iPhone
How to Use Back Tap on iPhone
Unfortunately, Apple has buried the Back Tap menu deep inside the Settings menu. It is not accessible from Control Centre or Today View. To access, edit, or use the Back Tap function, you must go to Settings. These are the steps to enable the Back Tap feature on your iPhone.
Step 1: Open the Settings app on the iPhone.
Step 2: Scroll down and open the Accessibility menu.
Step 3: From the following menu, navigate to Physical And Motor > Touch.
Step 4: Scroll down to the bottom and you will find the Back Tap option.
Step 5: Here you will find two options to choose from – Double Tap and Triple Tap.
Step 6: Go to Double Tap menu and you will see the list of functions, gestures, shortcuts, you can access with Double Tap on the back of the iPhone. You find the same options on the Triple Tap menu.
Each person’s use case situation is different. The Back Tap function can be used in a variety of ways. It is up to each user to decide how they want to use it. These are the most popular choices that can be found in Triple and Double Tap menus. I’ll show you how to use them.
I have always found it inconvenient to use the combination of volume up and power button to take a screenshot on the iPhone. Most times, my phone locks up. My Android days were lacking one thing: the ability to take screenshots quickly. That’s why my iPhone has been programmed to automatically take screenshots when I double-tap on its back.
Follow the above steps and then, from the Double Tab Menu, tell the system that you want to capture a screen shot with a double tap on the backside of your iPhone.
Using Back Tap and Siri Shortcut to Open Apps
As I said, the back tap gestures can also be used to activate Siri Shortcuts. To open Google Search, I created a Siri Shortcut and gave it the triple tap shortcut.
If your daily routine includes scrolling through social media apps such as Instagram, Twitter or Facebook, then the Back Tap gestures can be used to scroll up and down within any app. With a single or triple tap, you can wake Siri up by tapping twice/three times on the iPhone’s back. You can use Back Tap to do endless things with your iPhone’s Siri Shortcut support.
Where Can You Use the Back Tap Function on iPhone?
Apple doesn’t restrict double- and triple-tap gestures to lock screens or the home screen. They can be used in any app. If your iPhone screen has been turned off, gestures can not be used. To use this function, you must turn the iPhone screen on.
The majority use the iPhone with a case and the good news is, you can use the Back Tap feature when the iPhone is inside the case. My iPhone XR has the triple/double tap gestures and a silicon cover. There have been no glitches so far. You might have to give up if you use a Spigen leather or thick case.
Back Tap function is just the tip of the iOS 14 iceberg. Don’t forget to check out the 100+ new iOS 14 features for iPhone that we have discovered so far. Have you installed the iOS 14 beta on your primary device? What’s your overall experience? Do you feel excited about the iPhone’s new Back Tap controls? Which purpose are they intended for? Comment below.