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jin1212

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 13, 2017
14
10
Hey guys,
Long time lurker, but first time posting. I've been using the iPhone X for over a week now, and it's definitely the best phone I've ever used. I've mastered all the gestures, but the only one I can't get it to happen consistently is the accessibility/reachability gesture (swipe down on the home bar). It's frustrating because I use this quite a bit to access to control center.

Anyone have suggestions or tips on getting it to work every time?

Thanks,
Jin
 
Last edited:

AppleRobert

macrumors 603
Nov 12, 2012
5,729
1,133
If you are speaking about reachability whereby the top of the screen comes down when you pull down, you need to swipe down on the very bottom of the screen. It should work every time. Going too high to swipe down it never will.
 

DDustiNN

macrumors 68030
Jan 27, 2011
2,565
1,497
Hey guys,
Long time lurker, but first time posting. I'm been using the iPhone X for over a week now, and it's definitely the best phone I've ever used. I've mastered all the gestures, but the only one I can't get it to happen consistently is the accessibility gesture (swipe down on the home bar). Its' frustrating because I use this quite a bit to access to control center.

Anyone have suggestions or tips on getting it to work every time?

Thanks,
Jin
Try starting your swipe higher. It works best if you start above the bar. It has quite a bit of leeway. If you try to only do the very edge of the screen, you will almost always miss it.

For size reference, if you look at the blank space below the space bar on the keyboard, pretty much that entire area can be used to swipe down for Reachability. Or in Safari, the whole toolbar at the bottom. Even from the actual buttons, the swipe will still work.
 

jin1212

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 13, 2017
14
10
So I've tried very bottom and swiping higher, but it doesn't always work. It seems like there is a sweet spot. Also I noticed if I use just the tip of my thumb, it works better than using the entire thumb.

It's gets frustrating because sometimes an icon may be in the way and I would accidentally click on the icon while trying to swipe down.
 

AppleRobert

macrumors 603
Nov 12, 2012
5,729
1,133
Hard to explain more than we have. I admit it can be frustrating depending on what screen you are on but I pretty much have it down pat. Maybe a YouTube video is out there that shows it.
 

trek360

macrumors 6502
Oct 18, 2011
375
33
It's not entirely ergonomic especially for one handed operation. I set up assistive touch for this reason.
 

Surf Monkey

Suspended
Oct 3, 2010
6,249
5,384
Portland, OR
Try starting your swipe higher. It works best if you start above the bar. It has quite a bit of leeway. If you try to only do the very edge of the screen, you will almost always miss it.

For size reference, if you look at the blank space below the space bar on the keyboard, pretty much that entire area can be used to swipe down for Reachability. Or in Safari, the whole toolbar at the bottom. Even from the actual buttons, the swipe will still work.

Yeah, it’s tricky. Apple needs to make the gesture a little longer.

Suggestions:

1) In app screens, do the gesture over the home bar. It’s less responsive towards the edges.

2) Swipe down from about 1/2 the height of a home screen icon. The gesture happens very close to the bottom of the screen. If you start too high it doesn’t work.

3) On the home screen aim for the blank space between the dock icons.

Beyond that it’s all about practicing. The gesture is small, so I imagine getting it down is very dependent on finger size and dexterity.
 
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lordofthereef

macrumors G5
Nov 29, 2011
13,161
3,721
Boston, MA
I also find it works for me every time if I just hold my finger in a home bar icon for a split second. Not long enough for the wiggle. Just log enough that the icon “depresses”. Then I swipe down.

I’m on 11.2 but I feel like this has been this way since forever for me.
 

iapplelove

Suspended
Nov 22, 2011
5,324
7,638
East Coast USA
Swipe down right from here

352576313be6a26c484999f454f6fbe6.jpg
 
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