iPhone/iPad: A Cool Little Button Lurks in Settings!

Ask a twelve year-old.  That’s what I advise the participants in my adult ed classes and BoomerTECH Adventures workshops.  They know all of the cool stuff there is to know about iPhones and iPads.  Last week I took my own advice and challenged a sixth grader to teach me something new about my iPhone.  She rose to the challenge magnificently.

You can add a button to your home screen that allows you to access a handy menu with just one tap. The button is circled in red on the image to the left. It can be positioned anywhere along the right hand side of the screen. The button is a feature of Apple’s Assistive Technology software and is designed for users who have difficulty manipulating the different iPhone/iPad features as they are set up. This one button allows the user to access multiple features with just one tap.  The image below shows the menu that appears with one tap of this button.

 

 

As you can see, this menu allows the user to quickly get to the Control Center where the flashlight and other useful tools are located, to check notifications, call Siri, or go to the Home screen in a flash.  The image below shows what appears when the Device icon is tapped.

This additional menu provides easy access to control features such as volume and screen rotation.

It’s easy to set up if you want this additional feature on your screen:

• Go to Settings and tap General.
• Look for the Accessibility tab and tap.
• Scroll down until you see AssistiveTouch.

 

• Tap AssistiveTouch.

• Turn on AssistiveTouch. The button will turn green.

 

• Tap on Single-Tap, and you will see a whole host of choices. Tap on Open Menu.

 

The little circle should appear on your Home screen.

You probably have noticed there are all sorts of adaptations within the Accessibility tab. Take some time and explore them.  You may find some features you really like. And don’t forget, ask a twelve year old when you want to learn something new about your iPad or iPhone.