You can use Switch Control on iPhone to select items, perform actions, and more. Once you set up and turn on Switch Control, you can use item mode to select items and perform actions, or use the gliding cursor, head tracking, or eye tracking to control the cursor on the screen.
- Item mode: The cursor sequentially highlights items or groups of items. This is the default method when you first turn on Switch Control and whenever the Scanner menu appears.
- Gliding cursor: You select a point on the screen using scanning crosshairs. This method is useful when you need to select a specific point, such as in Maps, or on a screen with many items.
- Head tracking: You can move your head (detected by the front-facing camera) to control the cursor on the screen.
- Eye tracking: You can move your eyes (detected by the front-facing camera) to control the cursor on the screen.
When the cursor is on the item you want, the Scanner menu opens to show the available actions such as tap, scroll, control the volume, and more.
Use item mode to select items and perform actions
- Depending on the scanning style you’re using, do one of the following:
- If using Auto Scanning: Watch or listen as groups of items are sequentially highlighted.
- If using Manual Scanning: Activate your Move to Next Item switch to navigate through the groups of items on the screen.
- If using Single Switch Step Scanning: Activate your Move to Next Item switch to navigate through the groups of items on the screen.
- When the group you want is highlighted, do one of the following:
- If using Auto Scanning: Activate your Select Item switch.
- If using Manual Scanning: Activate your Select Item switch.
- If using Single Switch Step Scanning: Wait until the current group is automatically selected.
- Repeat steps 1 and 2 to scan and select an item within the group.
- Repeat steps 1 and 2 to scan and choose an action in the Scanner menu. The dots at the bottom of the menu provide more options.
Once the original item is highlighted and every icon in the menu is dimmed, activating your Select Item switch closes the Scanner menu without choosing an action.
Use the Gliding Cursor to select a point
By default, Switch Control starts in item mode, though you can use the Gliding Cursor instead.
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Do either of the following:
- Go to Settings > Accessibility > Switch Control > Switch Control Mode > then select Gliding Cursor.
- Use item mode to select any item, then choose Gliding Cursor (in the Scanner menu).
To position the vertical crosshair, activate your Select Item switch when the wide vertical band is over the item you want.
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Activate your Select Item switch again when the fine vertical line is over the item.
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To position the horizontal crosshair, activate your Select Item switch when the wide horizontal band is over the item you want.
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Activate your Select Item switch again when the fine horizontal line is over the item.
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In the Scanner menu, select the action you want and then activate your Select Item switch.
To return to item mode, open the Scanner menu, then choose Item Mode.
Set up Head Tracking
With Head Tracking, your head movements control a cursor on the screen, and you can assign actions to facial expressions, like a smile or raised eyebrows.
Here’s what to do if you want to set up Head Tracking:
- Go to Settings > Accessibility > Switch Control > Switches, then make sure you’ve set up switches.
- Go to Settings > Accessibility > Switch Control > Head Tracking, turn on Head Tracking, then set any of these options:
- Assign actions to facial expressions: Each expression can perform a different action and require a different degree of expressiveness.
- Choose how the pointer tracks your head movement: Tap Tracking Mode. Then choose With Face, When Facing Screen Edges, or Relative to Head.
- Adjust the pointer speed: Tap the Decrement button or the Increment button.
Use Head Tracking
- Do either of the following:
- Go to Settings > Accessibility > Switch Control > Switch Control Mode > then select Head Tracking.
- Use item mode to select any item, then choose Head Tracking (in the Scanner menu).
- Move your head to position the cursor on the location you want and then activate it using your Select Item switch or facial expression.
- In the Scanner menu, select the action you want. Activate your Select Item switch or facial expression.
To return to item mode, open the Scanner menu, then choose Item Mode.
Set up Eye Tracking
With Eye Tracking, you move your eyes to control a cursor on the screen. And you can use Dwell Control to perform actions by holding your gaze for a set amount of time.
To set up Eye Tracking, work through these steps in order:
- Go to Settings > Accessibility > Switch Control > Switches, then make sure you’ve set up switches.
- Go to Settings > Accessibility > Switch Control > Eye Tracking, turn on Face Guidance.
- Go to Settings > Accessibility > Switch Control > Eye Tracking > Dwell Control, choose a switch action, then set any of these Dwell Options:
- Dwell Timeout: Tap the Decrement button or the Increment button.
- Movement Tolerance: Drag the slider to set the distance you can move while dwelling on an item.
Use Eye Tracking
- Do either of the following:
- Go to Settings > Accessibility > Switch Control > Switch Control Mode > then select Eye Tracking.
- Use item mode to select any item, then choose Eye Tracking (in the Scanner menu).
- Move your eyes to position the cursor on the location you want. Activate it using your Select Item switch.
- In the Scanner menu, select the action you want and then activate your Select Item switch.
