How To Fix When iPhone Back Tap Not Working

Contents hide

1 Update to iOS 14

2 Check compatibility

3 Let’s look at the settings

4 Remove the case

5 Try different associations

6 Force restart the iPhone

7 Update iOS

8 Restore iPhone

8.1 Related posts:

For iPhone users, Back Tap is among the best features that debuted alongside iOS 14. It lets you access key functions, accessibility options, and shortcuts by simply tapping the back of the iPhone. Back Tap relies only on the iPhone accelerometer, so it works on nearly all iPhones running iOS 14. But just like with any new feature, you may come across instances where Back Tap may not work as expected. If you are having trouble getting it to work on your iPhone, the solutions below should help you.

Update to iOS 14

Back Tap is only available on iOS 14 and later versions of the iPhone system software. If you can’t find the feature listed in Settings> Accessibility> Touch, you may have an older version of iOS installed on your iPhone.

To confirm, go to Settings> General> About. If you see iOS 13 or an earlier version of iOS listed next to Software version, return to the previous screen and select Software update for upgrade to iOS 14 or later.

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Check compatibility

If you’ve installed iOS 14 or later and can’t locate Back Tap, you may have an iPhone that doesn’t support the feature. Models that cannot use Back Tap include:

iPhone 7
iPhone 7 Plus
iPhone 6s
iPhone 6s Plus
iPhone SE (1st generation)

Suggestion: You can check the iPhone model name by going to Settings> General> About> Model Name.

Let’s look at the settings

Backward tap doesn’t work unless you associate it with a system function, accessibility option, or shortcut. To set it up, go to Settings> Accessibility> Touch> Touch Back. Then, tap Double tap and Triple tap to initiate pairing actions.

Remove the case

Still having problems with iPhone Back Tap? The feature works even if your iPhone is inside, but a particularly bulky case can prevent the accelerometer from detecting your touches. If so, remove it and see if you fix it. If so, you might want to consider the switch to a thinner lid.

Try different associations

With Back Tap, you can use system-related features like Spotlight Search anywhere. But some actions, like Shake to Undo, won’t trigger if there’s no reason. Try plugging in something else – if it works, there’s probably nothing wrong with the functionality.

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Force restart the iPhone

If Back Tap fails to register functions despite everything being set up correctly, try force restarting your iPhone. This can help you fix any software related glitches that prevent you from using the feature.

To force restart an iPhone with Face ID, press and release Volume Up, press and release Volume Down and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo. If you’re using an iPhone with Touch ID, press and hold the Home and Power buttons together for a couple of seconds.

Update iOS

Still having Back Tap issues? If you are still in the early stages of the iOS 14 release cycle, be sure to install the latest iOS updates as they become available. Back Tap is still a relatively new feature, and the latest updates can help fix any bugs or other issues that prevent it from working normally. Go to Settings> General> Software Update for install the latest iOS updates.

The new updates also introduce a number of other stability fixes and security improvements, so get in the habit of installing them.

Restore iPhone

Wrong settings can also prevent Back Tap from working on your iPhone. Try resetting them to see if that helps.

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Note: a settings reset will clear all system related settings and erase all saved Wi-Fi networks from your iPhone. Wait some time before reconfiguring your iPhone. However, you will not lose any of your data.

Go to Settings> General> Reset and tap Reset All Settings to start the reset process. After the reset, dive into the Accessibility screen, set up Back Tap and try using the feature. In most cases, it should work properly again.

The solutions above should help fix the Back Tap feature on your iPhone, but if you are on an unsupported device, there is no remedy other than updating. But as great as Back Tap is, we don’t recommend it unless you have a number of other reasons to upgrade to a newer iPhone.