Last Updated on 2 years by admin
Apple unveils a brand-new method for controlling your iPhone and iPad. This game-changing feature lets you multitask by moving your head left or right. This feature is hidden under Switch Control. With the use of the iPhone camera, Switch Control can recognize your head movement, which can be applied to any task available in the list. As an example, you can tilt your head left to reduce volume and right to increase volume. Others around you might think you’re insane if they see you tilting into your phone while you’re out in public. However, this feature will undoubtedly be of assistance to those individuals who are unable to interact with an iOS device using the conventional method. Furthermore, we can see that Apple is moving forward to compete with Android, as they have always been a step ahead with gesture control features.
How to turn on the Switch Control on your iPhone and how to make your own custom switches are fully explained in this post. So make sure to follow through to the end.
How to Enable Switch Control
To activate switch control, you need to tap on Settings, then select Accessibility, and finally tap on Switch Control.
NOTE: Set up the switches you want to control first, then use the toggle to turn on “Switch Control.” Also, the assistive touch should be disabled to activate “Switch Control.”
Add a New Switch to iPhone and iPad Switch Control
Adding a new switch lets you choose between different switches. Such as
- External: works with an externally connected device through bluetooth
- Screen: This is mostly similar to traditional screen tapping
- Camera: This is the component that enables Apple to monitor the user’s head movement. It allows you to perform two actions, which means you can set two switches. Moving your head to right can activate one switch and moving left can activate another
Activating the Camera Switch
Tap the switches, then select Add New Switch > Camera. When you turn on the Switch Control, the camera will keep looking at your face until it sees your head move. To define a switch, you have to configure left and right head movements to do specific things. Refer to the screen capture for a better understanding.
In this step, you need to choose an action for your head tilt from the list of available options. As an example, we have selected “Siri” for the left head movement. Select “Home Button” for the right head movement. Now you can activate the voice assistant just by turning left. As configured in the example, turning right should activate the “Home Button.”
From the available choices, you have the ability to assign any of the actions to the head gesture. To define additional switches and select how you would like the switch to operate, follow the steps that appear on the screen.
Finally, once you are done setting the switches, you can enable “Switch Control” by sliding the toggle, which was shown in one of the above pictures.
Once the option is turned on, the screen of the device will show a blue border or outline.
Best Camera settings for Switch Control
If there is too much space between your face and the iPhone or iPad, the camera switch control won’t work, and a banner stating “Your face is too far away” will show at the top of the screen. Here are some steps that will help you rectify the issue:
- Position the front camera of your iPhone or iPad so that it is facing you and can detect your head motions
- If your Apple device is propped up in any way (on a tripod, stand, or tabletop, for example), either walk closer to the device or prop it up so that you can see it more easily
How to change head movement control
If you need to change the configured head movement control settings go to:-
Settings→ Accessibility→ Switch Control→ Switches, and select left or right head movement → default and select an action you need to control.
How to delete head controls
Go to Switch Control → Switches. Hit Edit→ Now select the Red Minus button in front of Left or the Right Head Movement → Hit Delete
How to Disable Switch Control
To deactivate or switch off the “Switch Control,” you need to go to Settings→ Accessibility→ Switch Control and then turn off Switch Control using the toggle button.
Personally, I don’t feel comfortable using the Head Controls as it isn’t accurate most of the time. However, it seems to be a cool feature that needs more fine tuning, and it’s fun to try out. Let us know how you feel about controlling your Apple device by tilting your head left and right.
