Switch Control is an assistive technology for anyone with limited mobility. It enables you to interact with iPhone by activating a switch, such as pressing an external adaptive button, performing a head movement, or making a voiced or voiceless sound. You can even use the iPhone screen itself as a switch, with no extra hardware.
Using one or more switches, you can move a cursor around the screen and use the Scanner menu to choose an action, like tap, zoom in, or zoom out. A switch can be an external hardware device, or even a feature on your iPhone, like Back Tap or simple sounds.
What is a switch?
Your switch might be a feature on your iPhone or an external hardware device.
Switches on iPhone work without any additional hardware, such as:
- Screen: Use a tap or long press anywhere on the iPhone screen. You can set up tap and long press as two different switches with separate actions.
- Camera: While in view of the front-facing iPhone camera, move your head to the left or right, or pinch your left or right index finger and thumb. You can set up each gesture as a different switch with a separate action.
- Back Tap: Double-tap or triple-tap the back of iPhone. You can set up double tap and triple tap as two different switches with separate actions.
- Sound: Make simple voiced sounds (such as “Oo”) or voiceless sounds (such as a pop). You can set up each sound as a different switch with a separate action.
- AirPods: Nod or shake your head while wearing supported AirPods that are paired with your iPhone. You can set up nod and shake as two different switches with separate actions.
- Gaming: Turn any switch into a virtual game controller to play your favorite games on iPhone.
External switches connect to iPhone instead, through Bluetooth® or the Lightning or USB-C connector, and they include:
- Adaptive accessory
- Joystick
- Game controller
- MFi switch or switch interface
How does Switch Control work?
Each switch in Switch Control performs a specific action. Move To Next Item, for example, moves the cursor to the next item on the screen. You perform the switch’s action by activating the switch, like making a sound, moving your head, or pressing the adaptive button.
Depending on how you like to work, you can use just one switch or multiple switches for different actions. You might move the cursor from one item to the next with your Move to Next Item switch, for example, then activate your Select Item switch once the cursor highlights the item you want.
