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Imagine if your iPhone had a secret button that empowered you to do almost anything with it. Maybe the button opens an app, sends a text message, shows notifications, takes a screenshot, calls your best friend, opens the camera, shows the weather forecast, or performs another helpful task.
How cool would that be?
Way cool.
Great news! With iOS 14, your iPhone has the equivalent of not one, but two secret buttons for you to command your iPhone to perform tasks instantly.
Okay, well they’re not actual buttons. They’re more like virtual buttons, called Back Tap that let you perform tasks by tapping the back of your phone.
About Back Tap
Back Tap is an accessibility feature that Apple added to iPhones in iOS 14 and turns the back of your phone into a virtual button. By tapping the back of your phone either two or three times, you can have your phone perform tasks instantly.
You can use Back Tap to have your iPhone perform tasks that you do often, such as opening your favorite app, calling a loved one, sending a text message, or adjusting settings on your phone. Back Tap is especially helpful because you can use it silently and without looking at your phone.
You can assign two different tasks using Back Tap. Assign one task for two taps and a different task for three taps.
Back Tap works with Shortcuts so you can tap your phone to perform a task for which you’ve set up a shortcut in the Shortcuts app.
What You Can Do with Back Tap
Back Tap is so very handy that you may want inspiration on what to use it for. Remember, you have two choices for Back Tap tasks.
Here are some ideas for what you can do with Back Tap:
- Take screenshots
- Take a photo
- Call a loved one
- Send a text
- Share your location
- Adjust the volume up or down
- Play a playlist on Apple Music
- Open the Magnifier
- Launch Siri
Your Back Tap options expand greatly by adding shortcuts using the Shortcuts app.
Double tap the back of the iPhone to launch Google Assistant? Yes please. #iOS14 pic.twitter.com/FeKOlD0WL5
— patrick. (@imPatrickT) June 23, 2020
How to Set Up Back Tap on Your iPhone
Setting up Back Tap on your iPhone takes just a few minutes but will save you much more time than that when you use this handy feature.
To set up Back Tap, go to Settings => Accessibility => Touch => Back Tap.
You’ll see a choice for double or triple tap. Choose either one.
A screen will open showing available tasks for Back Tap. You’ll also see a list of shortcuts you’ve set up in the Shortcuts app (if any).
Choose one, then tap the back arrows to go back to Settings to set up the other Back Tap.
Testing Back Tap
When you first start using Back Tap, test it with a simple task such as opening a favorite app. Use Back Tap for a few days to get used to it.
What you don’t want to do with Back Tap is have it work accidentally. Perhaps your iPhone gets bumped in your purse or pocket and triggers Back Tap unintentionally. Or maybe you drop your phone on the bed that indicates tapping to Back Tap.
By testing Back Tap on your phone, you can avoid accidentally placing calls, taking photos, or sending text messages when you didn’t intend to.
If you find that you’re triggering Back Tap unintentionally, try setting Back Tap with three taps instead of two taps to see if that works better for you.
My Use of Back Tap
I have Back Tap set for two taps opening the Apple TV remote. I use Apple TV for streaming YouTube TV, Netflix, Hulu, etc. so I use the Apple TV remote on my iPhone frequently (I’m NOT a fan of the remote that comes with Apple TV).
Back Tap with three taps on my iPhone turns on the Flashlight. I set up this task in the Shortcuts app.
If I need the Flashlight in the dark, tapping three times is a handy way to open it. Because turning on the Flashlight accidentally would drain the battery quickly, I have this task set to three taps. I also added vibration to the shortcut so my phone will vibrate when Back Tap turns on the Flashlight.
So far, I have been using Back Tap often and have found it incredibly handy. My iPhone has a thick case but that hasn’t prevented Back Tap from recognizing my taps. Back Tap hasn’t accidentally been triggered since I started using it.
What Else You Need to Know About Back Tap
Back Tap is available on iPhones running iOS 14 or later and that use FaceID.
If Back Tap doesn’t seem to work for your phone, take the case off and try again. Thicker cases may prevent Back Tap from working properly.
Not all apps work with Back Tap. When you set up Back Tap in Settings, you’ll see a list of apps that work with Back Tap.
As mentioned above, Back Tap works with shortcuts in the Shortcuts app. Explore the Shortcuts app to find other helpful tasks you can accomplish with Back Tap.
Your Thoughts
Did you know about Back Tap on your iPhone? Have you set up Back Tap? What tasks have you set up for Back Tap?
Share your thoughts in the Comments section below!
Interesting feature that I’ve never heart about it, but it sounds pretty useful, after setup properly.
Hi David, Yes, I have found this to be very useful when I’m wearing a mask and using my phone. You do have to jump through some hoops to use this feature but if you wear a mask often, you could save a lot of time and frustration by setting this up.