Hidden iPhone “Button” Lets You Open Apps with a Tap on the Back — Here’s How

If you think the only way to open an app on your iPhone is by tapping the screen, think again. Apple has tucked a clever accessibility feature into iOS that turns the back of your iPhone into a secret button — and it works even if your phone is a few years old.

Dubbed Back Tap, this tool lets you launch apps, toggle settings, or trigger shortcuts with just a couple of quick taps on the back of your device. It’s fast, discreet, and surprisingly powerful — and best of all, it works through most cases.

What Is Back Tap?

Introduced in iOS 14, Back Tap uses the iPhone’s built-in motion sensors to detect taps on the back of the device. You can assign different actions to a Double Tap or Triple Tap, giving you two customizable shortcuts at your fingertips — or rather, at your fingertips’ tap.

For example:

• Double Tap could open the Camera
• Triple Tap could take a Screenshot or launch the Magnifier

It’s especially handy on larger iPhones where reaching the top of the screen can feel like finger gymnastics. And because it works through most cases, you don’t need to remove your protective cover to use it.

What Can You Do With Back Tap?

Back Tap supports a wide range of built-in functions, including:

System Actions

• Camera – Open the camera instantly
• Control Center – Swipe up the quick settings panel
• Notification Center – Check your alerts
• Flashlight – Toggle the LED on or off
• Screenshot – Capture your screen in a flash
• Volume Up/Down – Adjust audio without reaching for the buttons

Accessibility Features

• Magnifier – Turn your iPhone into a magnifying glass
• VoiceOver – Enable screen reader
• Zoom – Magnify the display
• Live Captions – Generate real-time captions

Custom Shortcuts

Pair Back Tap with the Shortcuts app to trigger nearly anything — from opening Shazam to start identifying a song, to launching a voice recorder, or even running a complex automation like auto-sending photos to a specific album.

How to Set Up Back Tap

1. Open the Settings app
2. Tap Accessibility
3. Select Touch
4. Choose Back Tap
5. Select Double Tap or Triple Tap
6. Pick your desired action from the list

You can enable both Double Tap and Triple Tap with different functions, giving you up to two quick actions.

Pro Tip: Use Back Tap for Instant Photos

Want to snap a photo in a hurry? Here’s a slick setup:

• Double Tap → Camera
• Triple Tap → Volume Up (which acts as the shutter button)

Now, with five quick taps (pausing briefly between the double and triple taps), you can launch the camera and take a photo — even if your phone is locked.

A Few Things to Keep in Mind

• No tactile feedback: Back Tap doesn’t vibrate or make a sound, so you might trigger it accidentally without realizing.
• Accidental triggers: If you find yourself firing off the flashlight mid-conversation, consider remapping the Double Tap to something less conspicuous.
• Compatibility: Back Tap works on iPhone 8 and later, as long as they’re running iOS 14 or later.

Why This Feature Is a Game-Changer

Back Tap is one of those hidden gems that once you start using it, you wonder how you lived without it. It’s discreet, customizable, and can save you precious seconds throughout the day. Whether you’re a productivity nerd, a photography enthusiast, or just someone who loves finding clever iPhone tricks, Back Tap is worth exploring.

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