What is Switch Control and How to Use It on iPhone and iPad

For differently-abled people, the “Accessibility” suite in iOS devices has been no less than a boon. The ability to use the iPhone through voice-over, have the device read articles,recognize sounds, orperform certain actions with just a touchis something that truly empowers the differently-abled. Another equally important but lesser-known Accessibility feature on iPhones is called Switch Control. If you are wondering what is ‘Switch Control’ and how to use it on your iPhone and iPad, here is an in-depth guide so you can get the most out of this nifty feature.

How to Use Switch Control on iPhone and iPad

Switch Control comes with a wide range of features and offers full-on customization so that you can fine-tune all the pivotal aspects. Before getting into the customization aspect, let’s first get the basics out of the way!

What is Switch Control in iPhone and iPad?

Switch Control is designed to let you control your iPhone and iPad using a single or multiple switches. To be more precise, it changes the gestures used to control youriOS/ iPadOS device.

People with limited mobility can take advantage of Switch Control to use their iPhone or iPad with the help of ability switches and other adaptive devices. It sequentially highlights items on the screen so that you can perform actions by tapping, moving your head, using adaptive accessories, or even smiling.

Notably, Switch Control alsosupportspoint scanning and custom gestures. It lets you fine-tune the timing, hold duration, and customize the menu for a more personalized experience.

Using custom switches, you can perform several actions like selecting and dragging items, activating Siri, invoking the control center, and more. Long story short, Switch Control ensures limited mobility doesn’t prevent you from getting the most out of your iPhone and iPad.

How to Enable Switch Control on iPhone and iPad

2. Scroll down and tap onAccessibility.

3. Next, selectSwitch Control.

4. Next up, turn on the switch next toSwitch Control.You may get a pop-up asking you to confirm the action. Tap ‘OK’ to confirm and enable the feature.

Note:If you ever want to disable Switch Control, follow the steps above and then turn off the toggle this time around.Besides, you can triple-click the Home button or the Power button to disable Switch Control on your iPhone or iPad.

How to Add a New Switch

Switch Control lets you add multiple types of switches that you can use to control your device. Make sure to assign one switch to the Select item action so that Switch Control can function correctly.

2. Now, tap onSwitches.

3. Next, tap onAdd New Switch.

4. Next up, select a switchsource:

5. Select the preferred switch action. Then, you have the option to chooseLong Pressto set up a long-press action.

How to Remove a Switch from Switch Control

If you no longer want to use a certain switch, you can easily delete it from Switch Control.

2. Now, tap onSwitches.

3. Next,swipe lefton the switch you wish to remove. And then, tap onDelete.

How to Create a New Recipe

Interestingly, you can also create a new recipe, a set of complex actions, that you can temporarily assign to switches. Recipes come in handy in performing various tasks like triggering controls in games and even turning pages in the Books app. Moreover, you can also record several gestures as part of a recipe.

2. Now, tap onRecipes.

3. Next, tap onCreate New Recipe.Then, give it a suitable name, assign a switch, and adjust the timeout.

How to Change Scanning Style

Based on your convenience, you can fine-tune the scanning style which lets you tweak how you move through items on your screen. Though Auto Scanning is the default, you can go for manual scanning if you wish to have better control.

2. Tap onScanning Styleand select the one you prefer. We have explained what each scanning style does down below:

How to Customize Switch Control Timing

2. Now, scroll down to theTiming section. Next, you have five options to choose from:

How to Customize Switch Control Tap Behavior

For a more personalized experience, you can also fine-tune the tap behavior

2. Now, select theTap Behavioroption.

3. Next, you have three options to choose from:

Keep in mind that the ‘Always Tap’ feature applies to the Item Mode only. Notably, the Always Tap behavior will revert to default in Guiding Cursor and Head Tracking modes.

How to Customize Focused Item After Tap

2. Now, tap onFocused Item After Tap.

3. Next, you have two options to choose from:

How to Customize Keyboard for Switch Control

2. Now, scroll down to the ‘Keyboard’ section. Then, turn on/off the toggles for‘Scan Same Key After Tap’ and ‘Extended Predictions’based on your preference.

How to Adjust Switch Stabilisation for Switch Control

Switch stabilization allows you to adjust both the hold duration and ignore repeat for improved accessibility control.

2. Now, scroll down toSwitch Stabilisation.Next, you can choose to customize the hold duration and ignore repeat.

How to Customize Gliding Cursor for Switch Control

2. Now, scroll down to the ‘Point Scanning’section and chooseGliding Cursor.

3. Next up, there are three options to choose from, and we have explained each one does below. You can use the +/- button to adjust the gliding cursor speed.

How to Use Head Tracking

Using the camera of your iPhone and iPad, the ‘Head Tracking’ feature follows your head’s movement to control a pointer on the screen. Besides, it also tracks your facial expressions to perform actions.

Bear in mind that you can use Head Tracking only on the iPhone/iPad with a front-facing TrueDepth camera. The TrueDepth camera is available on iPhone X and later, and12-inch iPad Pro(3rd and 4th-gen) and 11-inch iPad Pro (1st and 2nd-gen).

2. Now, scroll down to the ‘Point Scanning‘ section and chooseHead Tracking.

3. Next,toggle on Head Tracking, and then you can fine-tune the head-tracking actions, choose the tracking mode, and adjust the pointer speed.

Using tracking mode, you can customize how the pointer moves.

How to Enable/ Disable Sound Effects

Switch Control also offers neat sound effects that you can enable or disable as per your needs.

2. Now, turn on/off the switch right next toSound Effects.

How to Adjust Switch Control Speech

Switch Control provides the desired flexibility to adjust speech as well. For instance, you can choose a preferred voice and even fine-tune the speaking rate.

2. Now, scroll down to the‘Audio’section and select the‘Speech’option.

3. Next, turn on the switch for Speech. After that, you can choose the preferred voice, adjust the speaking rate, and enable/ disable ‘Speak Item Attributes’ and ‘Pause while Speaking’ options.

How to Customize Switch Control Menu Items

Another feature worth taking note of is the ability to customize the menu items. It lets you tweak not only gestures, settings but also media controls so that you can stay in complete control while performing various actions.

2. Now, scroll down and chooseMenu Items.

3. Next, there are five menu items to choose from:Top Level, Gestures, Device, Settings, and Media Controls. Select the preferred menu item and then adjust the order in which you want them to appear.

How to Enable/ Disable Group Items

Switch Control also lets you group items for faster navigation. However, you can choose to enable/disable it on your own terms.

2. Now, turn off/on the toggle forGroup Itemsbased on your preference.

How to Enable/ Disable Large Cursor

Though the large cursor looks better and makes navigation a bit more convenient, you can disable it if you don’t find it helpful.

2. Now, scroll down to the‘Visual’section and turn off the‘Large Cursor’toggle.

How to Customize Switch Control Cursor Color

Probably the coolest thing about Switch Control is the ability to customize the cursor color. So, if you want the cursor to look pleasing to the eyes (or if you are colorblind), choose the desired color for it.

2. Now, scroll down to the‘Visual’section and selectCursor Color.

3. Next, choose apreferred colorfor the cursor.

How to Create New Switch Control Gestures

Gestures make it simpler to perform specific tasks. So, never fail tocreate handy gestures that can let you get work done faster.

2. Now, scroll down and chooseSaved Gestures.

3. Next, click onCreate New Gesture.

4. Next up,tap or swipe to create a neat custom gesture. Do note that a sequence of gestures will be counted as a single multiple-touch gesture. Say you draw ‘O’ followed by two ‘I’, then you will have to draw ‘OII’ each time you want to activate the action linked to that gesture. Once you create the desired gesture, make sure to tap on Save.

Now, you can activate your custom gestures from theActions -> Gestures -> Saved.

Enable/ Disable Side Button Confirmation

You can use Switch Control to confirm payments with Face ID, or any time double-clicking the side button is required to verify the purchase.

2. Now, scroll down to the bottom and then turn on the switch right next toConfirm with Switch Control.

3. Next, tap onContinueand thendouble-click the side buttonto confirm.

Enable and Customize Switch Control on iOS and iPadOS

That’s pretty much it! As I said above, Switch Control is a pretty handy Accessibility feature designed for folks with limited mobility. The best part about this feature is the wide range of customization options. Thus, you can tweak all the essential aspects in line with your needs. Besides, it also lets you customize the appearance of menu items and the cursor, which might come in handy for some.

Recently, we have covered quite a few Accessibility-related articles, such as how to enable and useMagnifier,Screen Curtain,Sound Recognition, andAccessibility Shortcut. Be sure to check them out if you are yet to get the most out of these equally useful features.

Rajesh Mishra

An old school bibliophile who turned a tech nerd out of obsession. When he is not digging into hacks and tracking down stories that are breaking the internet, you may find him reciting poems.

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