Unless you manage to grab the iPhone SE, chances are you might have to play a bit of finger gymnastics with your favorite iPhone. The screens have gotten quite a bit larger over the years, and we are a far cry from the old 3.5-inch displays.
Now, Apple’s smallest screen comes in at 4.7-inches with the iPhone SE, but goes all the way up to 6.7-inches for the iPhone 13 Pro Max. While it’s quite wonderful to have a big and vibrant screen to use, it can be a bit cumbersome for many. Thankfully, Apple has baked in a feature that makes it much easier to reach the top without needing to use two hands all of the time.
Back with the launch of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, Apple integrated its Reachability feature. Essentially, this is a software trick that lowers the active screen, allowing you to tap those hard-to-reach UI elements.
When enabled, Reachability makes it possible for you to use your phone just as you normally would. This includes being able to pull down the notification shade or Control Center, in addition to reaching the top of an app. In most instances, Reachability is enabled by default on the iPhone. However, here’s how you can enable the feature yourself:
Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Scroll down and select Accessibility.
Under Physical and Motor, tap Touch.
Tap the toggle next to Reachability to the On position.
How To Use Reachability on iOS 15
Now that Reachability has been enabled, there aren’t any fancy steps that you need to take in order to actually use the feature. Instead, all you need to do is swipe down at the bottom edge of the screen. This will lower the top of the screen, leaving a bit of a gap at the top, but making it easier to tap those hard-to-reach buttons.
After you’re finished doing what you need to, getting back to a “normal” screen is easy. All you need to do is tap the empty area on your iPhone’s display in order to put the app back where it belongs.
Admittedly, the gesture might take a bit of getting used to and a bit of practice. But one recommendation we can make is an easy one. On the bottom of every iPhone since the iPhone X, there’s a little bar in the middle. This is to provide some type of landing place for your finger as you use the gesture navigations.
When it comes to using Reachability, we recommend placing your finger on the bar. Then, swipe down and the feature should be activated. If you place your finger too high on the screen, you’ll just end up scrolling on the app. But this little bar implemented by Apple acts as a guide until you get used to the gesture.
Andrew Myrick is a freelance writer based on the East Coast of the US. He enjoys everything to do with technology, including tablets, smartphones, and everything in between. Perhaps his favorite past-time is having a never-ending supply of different keyboards and gaming handhelds that end up collecting more dust than the consoles that are being emulated.
Write a Comment