iPhone

How to use Back Tap on an iPhone

Photo of Abu Bakar Saadat

By

Author · View profile

Updated 21 October 2026 · Checked October 2026

Devices: iPhone 14 Pro (iOS 27.0.1) and iPhone 17e (iOS 27.0.1)

Publisher: Saadat Rafiq

2 min read5 steps▶ Video demo

Screenshot from the guide: How to use Back Tap on an iPhone

What changed: new screenshots from our own iPhone 17e on iOS 27.0.1, dark mode, and the wording checked against those screens.

howtosimply.com/guides/how-to-use-back-tap-on-an-iphone/ · Checked October 2026 · iPhone 14 Pro (iOS 27.0.1) and iPhone 17e (iOS 27.0.1)

In this guide
  1. Open Settings and tap Accessibility
  2. Tap Touch
  3. Scroll down and tap Back Tap
  4. Choose Double Tap or Triple Tap
  5. Pick an action
  6. Good to know
  7. Video demo
  8. Sources
Quick answer

Open Settings, tap Accessibility, Touch, then Back Tap. Choose Double Tap or Triple Tap and pick an action such as Screenshot, Torch or Control Centre. Tapping the back of the phone then triggers it.

5 of 5 steps with real screenshots · 1 official source below

Device
iPhone
Shown on
iOS 27.0.1 (iPhone 14 Pro), iOS 27.0.1 (iPhone 17e)
App
Settings
Path
Settings › Accessibility › Touch › Back Tap
Real screenshots
5 of 5 steps
Checked
October 2026
Sources
1 official, linked below

Step by step

Take this guide with you

Print it, or pick "Save as PDF" in the print window.

Steps
Also include
  1. iPhone screen: Open Settings and tap Accessibility

    Open Settings and tap Accessibility

    Scroll down past Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Battery. Accessibility is just below General.

    Watch these steps
  2. iPhone screen: Tap Touch

    Tap Touch

    It is the first row under Physical and Motor.

  3. iPhone screen: Scroll down and tap Back Tap

    Scroll down and tap Back Tap

    It is near the bottom of the Touch page and shows Off until you choose an action.

  4. iPhone screen: Choose Double Tap or Triple Tap

    Choose Double Tap or Triple Tap

    You can set a different action for each. On our iPhone 17e both showed None, and Show Banner was on.

  5. iPhone screen: Pick an action

    Pick an action

    On iOS 27.0.1 the list starts with None and Accessibility Shortcut, then four groups: Device, Accessibility, Scroll and System. Device holds Action Button, Lock screen, Screenshot, Shake, Torch, Volume Down and Volume Up. Open a group and tap the action.

What changed: new screenshots from our own iPhone 17e on iOS 27.0.1, dark mode, and the wording checked against those screens.

Watch these steps

The video loads from YouTube when you press play.
Subscribe to Fix It Simply on YouTube

About this guide

Back Tap turns the back of the iPhone into a hidden button. Two or three firm taps can take a screenshot, switch the torch on, open the camera or run a shortcut. It works through most cases. The screenshots are our own, taken on an iPhone 14 Pro and an iPhone 17e, both running iOS 27.0.1 in dark mode. The 14 Pro picture was recorded over USB in QuickTime. The path is the same on iOS 26.

Good to know

Tap firmly near the middle of the back. Gentle taps are ignored on purpose.

If it triggers by accident in your pocket or on a table, use Triple Tap or switch it off.

With a shortcut you can do almost anything, for example open a specific app or start a timer.

It works on iPhone 8 and later.

In short: Settings, Accessibility, Touch, Back Tap, choose an action.

Sources

Links checked in October 2026. Menus and features can change after software updates. These steps match the version named at the top.

Did this guide work for you?