How to use Quick Tap and other gestures on a Google Pixel (Android 17)

Device

Android

Shown on

Google Pixel 10a, Android 17 (build CP3A.261005.005)

App

Settings

Path

Settings › System

Real screenshots

7 of 7 steps

What we did

Looked at each screen; changed nothing

Checked

October 2026

Sources

1 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Open Gestures

   Open Settings, tap System, then Gestures. Ours fit on one screen, from Quick Tap to start actions to Press and hold power button.

   Done

2. 

   Open Quick Tap

   Tap Quick Tap to start actions. Ours was Off.

   Done

3. 

   Turn on Use Quick Tap

   Turn on Use Quick Tap. Ours was off.

   Done

4. 

   Pick what two taps do

   Under Tap back of phone twice to, pick one: Take screenshot, Access your digital assistant, Play or pause media, See recent apps, Show notifications, Toggle torch or Open app. Open app said No app selected on ours.

   Done

5. 

   Quick Tap strength

   At the bottom, Quick Tap strength has Require stronger taps. It was off on ours.

   Done

6. 

   Tap to check phone

   Back on Gestures, tap Tap to check phone. The switch says To check time, notifications and other info, tap your screen. Ours was on.

   Done

7. 

   The other gestures

   Double-press power button was On / Open Camera, Flip camera for selfie On, Lift to check phone On, One-handed mode Off and Flip to Shhh Off. Google says Flip to Shhh turns on Do Not Disturb when you put the phone face down on a flat surface.

   Done

If you do not see this option

• Which Pixels have Quick Tap? Google says Quick Tap works on the Pixel 4a (5G) and later. Source: Use gestures on your Pixel phone
• Flip camera for selfie? Google says that with the camera open, you twist the phone twice to switch between the front and back cameras. Source: Use gestures on your Pixel phone

If this does not work

• Quick Tap fires by accident? Turn on Require stronger taps under Quick Tap strength, or turn Quick Tap off.
• Holding the power button opens the assistant? On ours, Press and hold power button was set to Access digital assistant. See how to turn off or restart a Google Pixel.
• Phone went silent face down? That is Flip to Shhh. See how to use Do Not Disturb and modes.

About this guide

Pixel gestures are shortcuts: tap the back, press the power button twice, or flip the phone over.

The screenshots are from our Google Pixel 10a with Android 17 (build CP3A.261005.005), in Dark mode. We only looked and changed nothing.

Good to know

Other ways to take a screenshot: how to take a screenshot on a Google Pixel.

Set how bright the torch is: how to change the torch brightness.

In short: Settings, System, Gestures: Quick Tap (Use Quick Tap, pick an action), Tap to check phone and the rest.