One of the more interesting new features built into the iOS 14 operating system is also, oddly, one that most people still don’t know much about.
With the release of iOS 14, Apple rolled out a new feature called “Back Tap” which allows you to turn on your iPhone’s flashlight just by tapping the back! You can turn it off again just as easily!
The feature is disabled by default, but here’s how you can turn it on with your own device in just a couple of seconds.
First, you’ll need to create an Accessibility Shortcut in order to turn on the flashlight. To do this, you’ll need to:
1. Open the “Shortcuts” app on your iPhone.
2. Tap the “+” symbol to create a new shortcut.
3. Tap the option labeled “Add Action.”
4. Enter “Flashlight” into the search bar. Once it does, select the option labeled “Set Flashlight.” This will create a new Accessibility Shortcut that will be used to turn your flashlight on.
5. Tap the option labeled “Next” and give your shortcut a name using the keyboard.
6. When you’re finished, tap “Done.”
Then, you’ll need to pair the “Back Tap” feature on your iPhone with the Accessibility Shortcut you’ve just created. To do this, you need to:
1. Turn on your iPhone and open the “Settings” icon.
2. Scroll through the list of options until you find the one labeled “Accessibility.” Tap it one time.
3. Select the option from the list on the screen labeled “Touch.” It will be in the section labeled “Physical and Motor.”
4. Tap on the option labeled “Back Tap.”
5. Select either “Double Tap” or “Triple Tap” depending on how many times you want to tap the back of your iPhone to turn on the flashlight.
6. Scroll through the list on the screen until you find the Accessibility Shortcut you created. Tap on it one time and a blue checkmark will appear next to its name.
That’s it! Now, whenever you tap on the back of your iPhone the selected number of times, your flashlight will turn on!
You’re correct; I didn’t realize this feature was available. I double tap the back of my iPhone to take screenshots but didn’t know about tapping for flashlight feature.
Thanks!
Thank you that’s a great idea keep them coming
I appreciate these tips so much! Thank you!
Thank you. How can you turn it off just as easy? I really enjoy getting your emails. Please keep doing it. You’re doing a great job and have really helped me!
Love this tip, as I have others. How do I turn it off
how do i turn it off?
Yes, how do I turn it off. I thought you said it could be turned off the same way by double or triple tapping the phone. Please advise.
Love this tip, but I am still having to turn it off the old way, which is fine , I just thought I could turn it off the same way I turn it on…or did I miss something?
Wow! Thanks, Pete! A great time saver!
Love your your suggestions on how to make better use of our phones and iPads. Thanks and Happy New Year to you and your family‼️
Very cool, thank-you
Is there a shortcut to turn it off? That would be helpful!
I got all the way to the last step but do not have the back touch option under “Touch”. I scrolled all of the way through. Help!
Thanks! How do I turn it off? In your tips you stated tapping on the back of the phone will activate the flashlight and tapping again will turn it off. It doesn’t turn off. Please help.
I turned it off by saying Hey Siri, turn flashlight off. That did the trick.
Thank you! I didn’t think of that
Will not work with a case on.
It works with my case on. In fact, it works so well I’m thinking about cancelling it as I keep blinding people because I didn’t know I turned it on…
Just say “Hey Siri, turn flash off”
How do you turn it off?
How turn it off?
I thought it was supposed to turn off if I tapped it on the back again but it doesn’t. I still have to turn it off the old way.
How DO you turn it off?
To turn off the flashlight just go flashlight. Touch the top right of your home screen and drag down toward the bottom left. Flashlight should be one of the icons. It should be blue if it is on. Just tap it to turn it off. You can turn it on the same way. Touch the top right and drag toward the bottom left and release. Tap to turn on and tap again to turn off. Tap and hold to adjust the brightness. Also flashlight icon should be there when you first tap the phone screen to activate your phone. Camera should be the other You can turn on flashlight by simply touching the icon. Turn it off the same way. Same for the camera.
I find it just as easy to turn on the phone & use the flashlight icon on the bottom left of the screen.