Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

How to Use 3D Touch on iPhone 6s and 6s Plus

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
67,431
37,622



Apple's iPhone 6s and 6s Plus has been selling strongly since its launch last month, thanks in part to a number of new features including 3D Touch. With it, users can access Quick Actions from the home screen and Peek and Pop from within a variety of stock and third-party apps.

If you're wondering about what all of the hubbub is about, or want to know how to make it work better for you, we've put together this handy guide for 3D Touch.

peekandpopmailexample-800x533.jpg

If you are still trying to decide whether to upgrade to the iPhone 6s model, why not stop into an Apple Retail store and test out 3D Touch (along with the device's other great features) for yourself on one of the many demo units.

Quick Actions

You can only use Quick Actions on an app's icon, and it works as shortcut to specific features within the app. For example, the Pinterest app includes direct access to trending pins, the search function, and board creation. Instagram's Quick Action lets you create a new post, view your activity, search, or send a direct message.

3dtouchquickactions-800x706.jpg

To trigger Quick Actions, give a firm press on an app's icon. When the menu appears, drag your finger to the shortcut you would like to use. The app will open directly to that feature. If you don't press hard enough to pop up the shortcuts and feel a bit of haptic feedback, your phone will instead register a long press that allows you to enter the familiar mode where you can rearrange and delete apps on the home screen.


Click here to read more...

Article Link: How to Use 3D Touch on iPhone 6s and 6s Plus
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/iphone-6s-3d-touch/
  • Like
Reactions: appledefenceforce
I so often get about a 4 out of 5 fail rate for the trackpad feature!
Sometimes feels like if I do the 3D Touch on a letter, it fails and taps the letter. So I end up repeating a few times deleting the letter, trying again..
But if I 3D Touch aiming for a gap between letters, it's more likely to work.
I usually give up and use the old method for text selection and cursor positioning.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Benjamin Frost
I found 3D Touch very useful - especially quick actions for apps like Shazam (to start listening immediately) or Flipboard (to skip useless cover stories). My only concern is how all this force pressing will affect durability of my new phone - it feels odd to press HARD on such precious thing.

r-m said:
I so often get about a 4 out of 5 fail rate for the trackpad feature!
Sometimes feels like if I do the 3D Touch on a letter, it fails and taps the letter. So I end up repeating a few times deleting the letter, trying again..
But if I 3D Touch aiming for a gap between letters, it's more likely to work.
I usually give up and use the old method for text selection and cursor positioning.
Click to expand...

I thought it only supposed to work for Space button?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • Like
Reactions: appledefenceforce, nostaws and Benjamin Frost
r-m said:
I so often get about a 4 out of 5 fail rate for the trackpad feature!
Sometimes feels like if I do the 3D Touch on a letter, it fails and taps the letter. So I end up repeating a few times deleting the letter, trying again..
But if I 3D Touch aiming for a gap between letters, it's more likely to work.
I usually give up and use the old method for text selection and cursor positioning.
Click to expand...
This happened to me too all the time! Now I figured out how it works: the iPhone ignores force touches when you perform them immediately after laying your finger on the touchscreen to avoid unwanted triggering of the feature. The way to trigger it without the iPhone ignoring it is by first laying your finger super softly on the glass, almost hovering on top of it, then wait a couple miliseconds before applying pressure. That's the most effective method!
 
  • Like
Reactions: appledefenceforce and Menopause
It's magic! And totally genius! (Sure, because it's got levels of pressure the learning curve is definitely there. But seriously - it's not that bad.) The convenience of peaking in and out of things quickly is fun, but more than that - the quick actions and multitasking integration are wicked slick!
 
Futurix said:
I found 3D Touch very useful - especially quick actions for apps like Shazam (to start listening immediately) or Flipboard (to skip useless cover stories). My only concern is how all this force pressing will affect durability of my new phone - it feels odd to press HARD on such precious thing.
Click to expand...

Exactly what tomifazzio said. Wait for a second after lifting your finger — it will work perfectly. Learned it the hard way!
 
Yeah, initially I got frustrated as I'm unable to get 3D Touch to work, always ended up triggering the reorder apps command instead then I switched the 3D Touch sensitivity to lightest and then realized that when you lightly tap it harder, the app icon boundary box slowly expands, this means 3D Touch is activated, the deeper you press the faster it expands.

Use it all the time for camera to select photo/selfie/video, also to make the keyboard into a trackpad (much better then 2 finger to activate like on a iPad), and I use it to go into app switcher, so no more double tapping the home button.

It works in most areas, but I don't see its benefit in previewing SMS msges
 
tomifazzio said:
This happened to me too all the time! Now I figured out how it works: the iPhone ignores force touches when you perform them immediately after laying your finger on the touchscreen to avoid unwanted triggering of the feature. The way to trigger it without the iPhone ignoring it is by first laying your finger super softly on the glass, almost hovering on top of it, then wait a couple miliseconds before applying pressure. That's the most effective method!
Click to expand...
How does one "wait a couple milliseconds"?
 
  • Like
Reactions: NightFox
I LOVE 3D Touch, especially when it comes to multitasking- I definitely use it everyday. Trackpad is another great thing I use a lot.

I didn't think I'd use the app icon menus, but I do use them occasionally.
 
shanson27 said:
I like it, especially for dribble, to see the gifs. without open the link

AAnPGjM.gif
Click to expand...
But you still open that link and wait sometime to download it. Right? In my opinion, I am still viewing a link. Only difference is I don't open it in a new tab. This is somewhat convenient for iPhone and iPad.

SlipperySlop said:
I find it very useful. Why do you hate it so much?
Click to expand...
Yes it's very useful.
But I think haptic engine feedback feeling is Awful.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
SlipperySlop said:
I find it very useful. Why do you hate it so much?
Click to expand...

Anything made by Apple is hated by some people nowadays. But still ironic considering we're on Apple-centric website.

Futurix said:
I found 3D Touch very useful - especially quick actions for apps like Shazam (to start listening immediately) or Flipboard (to skip useless cover stories). My only concern is how all this force pressing will affect durability of my new phone - it feels odd to press HARD on such precious thing.
Click to expand...

I find 3D touch a lot more useful when I adjust the sensitivity to Light in the setting. It's easier to use.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • Like
Reactions: Benjamin Frost and lars666
Is the 3D Touch trackpad function also open for third-party keyboards like Swype – or are those forbidden to implement it like the microphone dictation?
 
I played with a friend's iPhone 6S the other day (I have a 6+ - see little reason to make such a small upgrade - I'll just wait for the 7 or 8), and I was surprised at how difficult and non-intuitive I found force touch to be.

I only played with it for ~30 seconds, but I feel like normally when Apple has a new IO feature like this, it has no learning curve - you just immediately understand how to use it.

I find Apple Pay kind of awkward, too... you have to double click the home button with the screen off, but if it misfires the screen will just turn on, and then you'll have to lock it again to try again... super awkward/embarassing. It's honestly probably easier to just use my credit card - it's not like it ever misfires and I accidentally end up swiping my driver's license instead or something.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Benjamin Frost
ArtOfWarfare said:
I find Apple Pay kind of awkward, too... you have to double click the home button with the screen off, but if it misfires the screen will just turn on, and then you'll have to lock it again to try again... super awkward/embarassing. It's honestly probably easier to just use my credit card - it's not like it ever misfires and I accidentally end up swiping my driver's license instead or something.
Click to expand...

If you want to ready your card in advance, sure that can happen, but Wallet will open no matter what screen your phone is open to when it's near the paypoint, then you just have to scan your thumb. Embarrassment avoided.
 
Futurix said:
I found 3D Touch very useful - especially quick actions for apps like Shazam (to start listening immediately) or Flipboard (to skip useless cover stories). My only concern is how all this force pressing will affect durability of my new phone - it feels odd to press HARD on such precious thing.
Click to expand...

I can definitely see how 3D Touch would be beneficial for an app like Shazam where a few seconds may mean the difference between identifying a song and missing it. At first I thought it would be a gimmick, but after playing around with it at the Apple store, I'm looking forward to using it.
 
ConnYoungy said:
If you want to ready your card in advance, sure that can happen, but Wallet will open no matter what screen your phone is open to when it's near the paypoint, then you just have to scan your thumb. Embarrassment avoided.
Click to expand...

#1 - I have a wallet case, so it's not like my iPhone is easily accessible but my credit card isn't.
#2 - I haven't found that the app always opens automatically. Sometimes it does. Sometimes it doesn't. Often when it does, there's a several second delay during which I feel like an idiot.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Benjamin Frost
ArtOfWarfare said:
#2 - I haven't found that the app always opens automatically. Sometimes it does. Sometimes it doesn't. Often when it does, there's a several second delay during which I feel like an idiot.
Click to expand...

It sounds like a problem with your phone then, I've never had any delay. But you know, it's OK for Apple pay to just not-be-for-you
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back