How to display controls on the iPhone screen. What is Assistive Touch and how to use it? Exit to home screen
If it so happens that your phone’s “Home” button, “Power” lock button or volume control is damaged, which significantly complicates your work with the device and you cannot solve the problem yourself, you need to contact service center, where specialists will certainly repair problematic buttons for a certain amount.
If suddenly, for some reason, it is not possible to contact the service center, everything is not so bad, Apple took care of its users here too and introduced a wonderful function - which allows program level replace the Home button, or rather assign its functions by simply tapping on the iPhone or iPad screen. The Assistive Touch menu duplicates the functionality of all the buttons on your device.
How do I enable Assistive Touch?
On your iPhone, go to Settings, then select General → Accessibility → Assistive Touch and turn on this feature.
You can use Assistive Touch from any app, Home screen, or Lock screen. In order to use the Assistive Touch menu, you need to click on the virtual translucent key that appears on the device screen. The key can be moved to any edge of the display for convenience.
If you click on the virtual key, a menu will open, which includes:
Icon "Notification Center"- this is the usual notification center, the button is useful if the upper part of the screen stops working 
The section contains a lot of useful functions:
In the Assistive Touch settings you can replace, add and remove icons in the menu virtual assistant, for this you need to go to the item. 
Here you can expand the Assistive Touch menu and add those functions that you need, or, on the contrary, leave only those functions that you really need. This is very convenient for those who, for example, the “Power” button does not work; then you can display only the “lock screen” icon on the screen and use it to turn off and lock the screen.
As we can see, if you understand this function well, then with the help of Assistive Touch you can easily replace the shortcomings of your smartphone, because with this function you can indeed replace the lock button, the home button, the volume control and the mute and vibration key .
Few people know that the “Home” button on an iPhone can be moved to the screen, or rather, its functionality can be duplicated.
This operation will be very useful for those whose mechanical keys have become stuck over time or have completely stopped working.
Indeed, the “Home” key does not last forever, and if we are talking about a smartphone, then you have to press it constantly. A duplicate key can significantly extend the operating time of your iPhone.
What benefits does this feature provide?
The ability to place the keys on the display is available in all phones, which is called “out of the box”. This function can be activated in special settings in the smartphone menu.
In addition to the home key, you can display the volume buttons, lock and power keys on the screen, that is, all the physical buttons of the device.
Additional features include a screenshot function, which can now be taken with one hand through the menu.
Let us recall that in a standard way You can take a screenshot by pressing the Home and Lock keys, which is quite difficult to do with one hand.”
The new menu allows you to configure special gestures, shaking and others additional features. In general, when using Assistive Touch, the number of gestures required to activate functions is reduced, depending on the use of mechanical keys.
Of course, we are not talking about adjusting the volume or the Home key, but activating the Siri voice assistant or favorite functions using the new menu becomes much easier.
When you click on the icon, a menu opens with a “Home” key, voice control and favorite functions, and there is also a “Device” button that opens a menu with additional functions- lock, volume control and screen rotation lock.
Turn on the Assistive Touch function
In the main settings of the smartphone, you need to select the menu item “ Universal Access”, then “ Physiology and motor skills” and turn on the special menu Assistive Touch.
After activating this function, a key with the required functionality appears on the smartphone screen.
You quickly get used to the new way of controlling your smartphone. The button can be moved and customized. This makes working with iPhone much easier.
The main thing is to get used to the menu and then over time you will use mechanical keys several times less.
From the article you will learn
Unfortunately, Apple devices also break, no matter what boards and cases they are equipped with. This can happen either due to defects or due to the negligence of the user himself. But due to the fact that the “Home” button often appears among breakdowns, users immediately go to the Internet to understand how to continue working with the device? After all, Home is the main, and, in fact, the only control button, thanks to which navigation, closing applications, switching between them and many other operations are carried out.
But Apple, one might say, thought about this point in advance and introduced Assistive Touch technology. It is worth noting that it was introduced as an alternative option for people with disabilities, however, acquired wide application among users for whom it does not work correctly Home button.
When is Assistive Touch used?
This list contains the main reasons why users enable this technology on their smartphone:
- People with disabilities. The technology was originally designed for them;
- Users whose Home button is broken. Even if you are already planning to take your device to a service center, you want to do backup copy, save important data, inform your family and friends that you will not be able to communicate with them for some time. That is why you can turn on this technology and perform all actions even with a broken Home button;
- Out of interest. Often people try to display the Home button just to try it out, and many of them simply get used to it because it is really convenient.
In general, whatever the reasons, the principle of activating and working with this option is the same.
How to put the Home button on the screen?
There is another way to enable this mode using Siri. All you have to do is say “Hey Siri” for the voice assistant, and then say the phrase “Activate Assistive Touch.”
This technology is available on devices with iOS 5 and higher, respectively, it is supported by devices from the iPhone 3GS and subsequent generations.
How to use Assistive Touch technology?
We have displayed the button on the screen, but how to use it, you ask? Press the virtual button once with your finger to display the control menu. By default, there are 6 icons here for different actions, namely:
- Notifications – goes to the list of notifications that are displayed on your smartphone (a standard call is made by swiping down);
- User – all control buttons and gestures are collected here, and the ability to create your own gestures is also provided;
- Siri – activation of the voice assistant for further work with it;
- Device – here are the control buttons for your smartphone. For example, you can change the volume, lock the screen, mute the sound. There is also separate tab“More”, which provides a huge number of possibilities;
- Control room– calling the control point with one touch (a standard call is made by swiping up);
- Home – simulates physically pressing the Home button. That is, by pressing once, you will go to the start menu of your smartphone.
Additional settings for the virtual button
Assistive Touch technology allows for a large number of settings and can be used to simulate different actions. To access these features, go to Settings, click on the General tab, then Accessibility and select Assistive Touch.
Setting up actions
This is a separate item where you can configure your specific actions for each touch. There are 4 touch options in total:
- Single – click once and get the result;
- Double – you need to quickly click 2 times on the virtual button;
- Long press – press and hold your finger on the button until the result of your actions appears;
- 3D-Touch – press hard to trigger an action associated with 3D-Touch.
For each of the listed touches, you can assign your own specific operations that will be performed. For example, you can call up a menu with one click, launch a specific application, make purchases in Apple Pay, restart the device and much more.
You can also set your own duration for a long press. By default, this parameter is 0.75 seconds. Double tapping has a timeout option, which is also time configurable and defaults to 0.30 seconds. Both parameters, despite the fact that they have their own time settings, are deactivated.
Another important point settings is the menu top level. This is exactly the list of icons that appears when you press a virtual key once. By default in iOS 12 there are 6 icons here, but their number can be increased to 8, as a result of which they will be arranged in a square. You can reduce it down to 1 icon. If you accidentally configured the icons not the way you wanted, just click the “Reset” button, and a starting set of 6 icons will appear on the screen.
Here you can configure and appearance buttons, or rather, its contrast. In the “Opacity at rest” item, you can choose what percentage the button will be opaque at rest. By default this parameter is 40%.
How to disable the Home button from the screen?
If you need to remove virtual button Home on your device, just use one of the following methods:
- Go to “Settings”, go to “General” and find the “Accessibility” item. Here, click on Assistive Touch and turn it off;
- Call voice Siri assistant and dictate the phrase “Remove or disable Assistive Touch.”
Conclusion
This technology has a very wide range of applications, thanks to which it is possible to assign various actions to different types clicks. Moreover, you can create your own individual gestures, which will be recognized by the device and provide you with even more control options. At any time, the specified combinations can be changed in the Assistive Touch control menu or reset to factory settings.
Remember that this option useful not only in case of breakdown, but also when working extensively with the device. But for those who are accustomed to physically pressing the Home button, this option is not entirely suitable, since it does not create the same tactile sensations.
If you have a problem with your iPhone in the form of a broken Home button, then this problem can be temporarily resolved by turning on the Home button. After repair it can be removed.
I'm talking about the button that appears on the screen of your iPhone and it completely replaces the functionality of the regular home button until the phone is repaired.
Home button on iPhone screen
If you saw a translucent square with a white spot in the center on your device, then this is a replacement for the desired button on your device.
This technology is called AssistiveTouch and it is used in two cases: there is no way to touch the screen or you need adaptive equipment.
If in simple words, then you enable this function if you damaged the screen and simply cannot use the basic functions of the phone.
In addition to the Home button, this technology has Notification Center, Device functions (sound, lock, rotate), Control Center, Siri and User (different taps on the screen). 
As you can see, if only a small part of the screen works for you, but you can see everything, then you can still safely use the phone until the problem is fixed.
How to remove/disable the Home button on the iPhone screen
To install, so to speak, a virtual Home button on your screen, you don’t need to do many steps. They are roughly like this:
As you can see, a shortcut has now appeared on the screen that allows you to use the necessary functionality, including the Home button.
This translucent shortcut can be moved to any place convenient for you. In general, it doesn’t really interfere, but still.
Smartphones and Apple tablets differ favorably from products of other brands not only due to high quality, but also ease of use. It is simply impossible to get lost in the navigation keys on an iPhone, iPad or iPod - there is only one. However, one of the main advantages Apple devices is also one of their main disadvantages. The physical Home button tends to wear out. In this case, the ability to display it on the screen will come in handy.
When necessary
Even the most careful user is not immune to the Home key breaking. In this regard, adding a Home button to the gadget screen will be relevant:
- when the physical analogue is completely inoperable;
- in case of partial malfunction and periodic retraction;
- if desired, delay the breakdown of the physical button by using a virtual one.
It is worth noting that in the case of the first two points, displaying the Home key on the screen is an extreme measure. It is necessary to resort to it only if there is no valid warranty or the opportunity to contact a service center.
Displaying a virtual Home button on the screen of an iPhone, iPod, iPad
In all versions software Apple, starting with iOS 5, has the Assistive Touch function, which allows you to display a floating Home button on the device display. To activate this feature you will need:
A virtual Home button will appear on the screen. It will be on the display no matter what menu or application is open. Therefore, it will have to be periodically moved along the edges of the screen to avoid inconvenience.
As for the functionality of the key, all the capabilities of its physical counterpart are fully preserved. By pressing the virtual Home button, you will see a small menu on the screen that offers the following options: Home, take a screenshot, change the volume, lock screen orientation, open the multitasking panel, etc.
You can also activate Assistive Touch using a Siri voice request. This will help save time and make life easier for users who have difficulty navigating through iOS system settings.
To turn off Assistive Touch, repeat the first three steps from the list above, then click Deactivate/Off. If the physical Home button is functional, you can turn Assistive Touch on and off by quickly triple-clicking it.
Video: how to transfer Home to iPhone desktop
Assistive Touch is a good and useful function. But despite its versatility, it is much more convenient to control an Apple device using a physical Home key. Therefore, at the first signs of deterioration in the operation of the button, such as sticking, increased response time, etc., it is recommended to contact a service center, especially if there is a valid warranty.
