The Best Hidden Feature Of iOS 14: Back Tap

Back Tap is a handy feature that allows you to set custom actions for when you tap on the back of your iPhone. You can set two actions, one for double and one for triple taps. You can choose from a list, or create your own actions in the Shortcuts app.

Comments: 10 Responses to “The Best Hidden Feature Of iOS 14: Back Tap”

    Dana Stevens
    4 years ago

    Thanks Gary for the useful info. My second generation iPhone SE does seem to support Back Tap. I tried double and triple tap for control center and a couple of other options successfully.

    Peter Emery
    4 years ago

    Not quite correct. Back Tap works on the iPhone 8 onwards, including the new SE. It certainly works on my 2020 SE.

    4 years ago

    Peter: Interesting. Things must have changed since the original introduction of the feature during the betas.

    Peter Emery
    4 years ago

    Gary, I’m using double tap for screenshots and triple tap to open Halide Camera app. I use Halide to allow portrait mode pics on objects & pets, since the SE’s single lens can’t do the depth sensing natively.

    Marc Chamberland
    4 years ago

    Sorry Gary, But I have an iPhone Se 2nd generation and I have the Back Tap With iOS 14

    4 years ago

    Marc: That's great. I heard that it only worked on phones with Face ID, and that's all I had to test on. Glad it works with other phones too.

    Karl
    4 years ago

    Gary, is Mute on/off the same as using the side button Mute on/off?

    4 years ago

    Karl: Yes. If you try it you'll see it does exactly the same thing. (Silent Mode).

    Ben
    4 years ago

    I have a connected central heating system that also has a couple of smart light bulbs. I had one of the bulbs switch on with a double tap, and off with a triple tap, which was kinda cool. However, I also find the double tap too easy to trigger accidentally, so I now only use the triple tap - and use it for Siri (Alexa controls my heating/lights anyway)

    Mama Blair
    4 years ago

    I have an SE 2 and double tap works! I set it to open Control Center.

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