How to fix a broken iPhone home button with Assistive Touch

Assistive Touch is one of many accessibility options built in to iOS and brings with it a range of simple, yet vital, features that can greatly enhance the mobile experience for those who need it. The idea is that the facility lets you use gestures and multi-touch with only one tap rather than having to deal with complicated screen swipes and so on. You can create your own gestures for manoeuvres that you find difficult and also deal with your most-used gestures by tapping two icons. The system is set up to replace all of your actions when needed, but to then disappear and sit quietly in the corner for when you have some tasks that are easy to complete. In this tutorial we will explain how to set up AssistiveTouch and how to use it. We will also show you how to create your own gestures for future use. If you need AssistiveTouch, you will find it invaluable every day.

Step 1: Find the settings

Go to Settings>General. Scroll down to Accessibility. Select this and then navigate to Physical & Motor. Tap AssistiveTouch and move the slider to On.

Step 2: The unobtrusive icon

With AssistiveTouch activated, you will see a small icon in the top-left. Tap this and a new pop-up will appear showing Siri, Favourites, Device and Home.

Step 3: Use the icons

When you tap Home you will naturally be taken to the home screen. The Siri icon obviously opens Siri and the Device icon will bring up further options.

Step 4: No hardware buttons

The Device icon effectively replaces the hardware buttons. You can lock the screen, change the volume and tapping More gives you these choices.

Step 5: Automatic gestures

You can select the Gestures option to simulate between ‘2’ and ‘5’ fingers by selecting. You can now use one finger for more complex gestures.

Step 6: Using favourites

Select Favourites to see a Pinch option and seven boxes. Go to Photos, choose a photo and then select the Pinch shortcut to zoom around with one finger.

Step 7: Create a gesture

Tap one of the blank boxes to go to the New Gesture screen. Here you can draw a gesture that you want to use again. Think about your target.

Step 8: Simply draw

Now draw a swipe from left to right and tap Save in the top-right corner. Give it a name that makes it obvious and you will have saved your first gesture.

Step 9: Use your gesture

Go to the home screen and tap the AssistiveTouch icon. Tap Favourites>Swipe. Now hit the blue circle and a swipe will be completed automatically.