How to enable and use Reachability on iPhone X

AppleInsiderAppleInsider
Posted:
in iPhone edited October 2020
Though the iPhone X removes the home button in favor of Face ID and a full-face display, users might still require access to Apple's Reachability feature for one-handed use. Despite reports to the contrary, the accessibility option is alive and well in Apple's latest flagship. We show you how to use it.




In September, rumors based on a leaked version of iOS 11 claimed Apple ditched Reachability with iPhone X, a cause of concern for some.

Apple introduced the feature alongside iPhone 6 and 6 Plus to allow for the integration of larger displays without sacrificing one-handed operation. On supporting iPhones, Reachability is invoked by tapping twice on the Touch ID home button, which drops the onscreen user interface down toward the bottom of the display for easy thumb access.

Double tapping the home button again, or touching an area outside of the active UI, shifts the display back up to its original position.

With iPhone X and the removal of the home button, Apple has changed the basic fundamentals of Reachability, but it is still an option.



Step 1: Navigate to Settings > General > Accessibility and turn Reachability on.

Step 2: Swipe down from the gesture bar in any open app or the bottom of iPhone X's home page.

Step 3: Perform the desired UI operation.

Step 4: To reinstate the fullscreen UI, swipe up from the gesture bar or bottom of the home screen. Alternatively, touch an area outside of the active UI pane.

Although the iPhone X display is taller than that of the iPhone 8, it lacks the "chin" portion of earlier designs, allowing greater latitude for thumb-based input.

On the topic of ergonomics, Apple left a large area below iPhone X's soft keyboard unused, likely a consideration to foster better handling of the device. If the keyboard ran all the way to the bottom of the screen, users would grasp that portion of the phone when typing, making it top heavy and prone to drops.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 12
    BuffyzDeadBuffyzDead Posts: 356member
    I Knew Apple would come through on the iPhone X. Now waiting for my X to arrive, knowing that I can continue to use Reachability
    edited November 2017 dedgeckoargonautminicoffeecurtis hannah
  • Reply 2 of 12
    Rayz2016Rayz2016 Posts: 6,957member
    Scoop!

    👏🏾
  • Reply 3 of 12
    macman1984macman1984 Posts: 31member
    This is NOT helpful!!  You still need two hands to do the swipe down from the top. How does this allow one to reach the top of the screen with just 1 hand if you have to go the top of the screen to enter Reachability mode?  This is ridiculous!
  • Reply 4 of 12
    ghaddock142ghaddock142 Posts: 1member
    macman1984 said:
    This is NOT helpful!!  You still need two hands to do the swipe down from the top. How does this allow one to reach the top of the screen with just 1 hand if you have to go the top of the screen to enter Reachability mode?  This is ridiculous!
    Wrong, reachability is activated by using the gesture bar, located at the BOTTOM of the screen. 
    redgeminipadedgeckotycho_macuserbb-15
  • Reply 5 of 12
    sirozhasirozha Posts: 801member
    The human race will greatly benefit because of the increased function of our thumbs thanks to the introduction of smart phones. The range of our thumbs’ reach that we are now capable of far exceeds that of the humans who lived in the pre-smart-phone era.

    The human species will undoubtedly make a historic quantum leap to the next level of our anthropological development. Thanks to the superior function of our collective thumbs facilitated by smart phones, that leap will exceed in its magnitude the quantum leap that we made from apes to humans. 
    edited November 2017 minicoffee
  • Reply 6 of 12
    volganevarivervolganevariver Posts: 8member
    Glad they didn't kill it :)
  • Reply 7 of 12
    tux kaponotux kapono Posts: 26member
    Until we actually all know what a 'gesture bar' is, it'd be nice to explain what it is until then: "the bar at the bottom of the screen that serves as a visual indicator for returning to the Home screen."
    redgeminipakrawallmobirdYoSamCapsFan
  • Reply 8 of 12
    catcrazycatcrazy Posts: 12member
    I can’t even hold my phone with one ߤꮠPeoples hands must be really big. The phone is so big. Don’t understand how one can work their phone one handed.
    edited November 2017
  • Reply 9 of 12
    trumptmantrumptman Posts: 16,464member
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIYFnS9lMjA

    Maybe that helps.
    minicoffee
  • Reply 10 of 12
    macbootxmacbootx Posts: 72member
    sirozha said:
    The human race will greatly benefit because of the increased function of our thumbs thanks to the introduction of smart phones. The range of our thumbs’ reach that we are now capable of far exceeds that of the humans who lived in the pre-smart-phone era.

    The human species will undoubtedly make a historic quantum leap to the next level of our anthropological development. Thanks to the superior function of our collective thumbs facilitated by smart phones, that leap will exceed in its magnitude the quantum leap that we made from apes to humans. 
    Yeah but its a bummer we humans don't have prehensile feet like a chimpanzee. Then I could use two iPhones at the same time. Now that's multitasking!
    riverkoargonautdamn_its_hot
  • Reply 11 of 12
    macman1984macman1984 Posts: 31member
    ghaddock142 said:
    macman1984 said:
    This is NOT helpful!!  You still need two hands to do the swipe down from the top. How does this allow one to reach the top of the screen with just 1 hand if you have to go the top of the screen to enter Reachability mode?  This is ridiculous!
    Wrong, reachability is activated by using the gesture bar, located at the BOTTOM of the screen. 
    Well, I'll just have to wait and see when I get my iPhone X 256 Space Grey in a couple weeks.  But I don't understand how one can swipe DOWN from a gesture bar that is already at the bottom of the screen.  How does one swipe down at the bottom of the screen?  In any case, I sure hope this works as I LOVE Reachability...
  • Reply 12 of 12
    tayloranthonytayloranthony Posts: 1member
    iPhone X has no home button,

    Use Accessibility Shortcut from the control center, Now we can customize control center by adding more shortcuts.

    Go to the Settings > Control Center > Customize Controls > Add Accessibility.

    Open Control center on iPhone X, Swipe the finger down on screen from the top right ear of the screen on the lock screen or home screen. To activate hearing aids Accessibility, Triple click on side button. Done.
Sign In or Register to comment.