Accessibility/Reachability gesture on iPhone X

[jin1212]

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

 

[AppleRobert]

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]

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]

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]

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]

It's not entirely ergonomic especially for one handed operation. I set up assistive touch for this reason.

 

[Surf Monkey]

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.

 

[lordofthereef]

Take the home bar and divide it in half horizontally in your mind. Swipe down below that imaginary mark.

 

[FunkyTang]

Do you have to be running 11.2 or later to use reach ability?

 

[iapplelove]

op I usually start right in the middle of my two middle apps in the dock. Swipe down right between those and it comes down every time .

 

[lordofthereef]

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.

 

[Lobwedgephil]

Do you have to be running 11.2 or later to use reach ability?

No, just need to enable it.

 

[AppleRobert]

I am pretty sure you need at least 11.1 to be able to turn on reachability for the X.

 

[iapplelove]

Swipe down right from here

 

[jin1212]

Swipe down right from here

Thanks guys!

This seems to work well. Now I just need to remember this imaginary line when I’m not on the home screen.