Switch Access

Use your phone or tablet hands-free with Switch Access. Control your device using switches or your front camera. You can navigate, select items, scroll, type, and more, all without touching the screen. This is ideal if you have difficulty using the touchscreen.

Getting Started:

1. Open your device's Settings app.
2. Tap Accessibility > Switch Access.

Setting Up a Switch:

Switch Access highlights screen items until you select one using a switch. Choose from:

• Physical Switches: USB or Bluetooth switches (buttons, keyboards), or on-device switches (like volume buttons).
• Camera Switches: Use facial gestures like opening your mouth, smiling, raising eyebrows, or looking left, right, or up.

Scanning Your Device:

After setting up a switch, choose a scanning method:

• Linear Scanning: Moves sequentially through items.
• Row-Column Scanning: Scans row by row, then item by item within the selected row.
• Point Scanning: Uses intersecting lines to pinpoint a location.
• Group Selection: Assigns switches to different colored groups of items, allowing you to narrow down your selection.

Using the Menus:

Once an item is selected, a menu appears with actions like select, scroll, copy, paste, and more. A top menu provides additional controls, such as opening notifications, going to the home screen, and adjusting volume.

Camera Switch Navigation:

Use facial gestures detected by your front camera to navigate apps and select items. Customize sensitivity and gesture duration for optimal control.

Recording Shortcuts:

Record and assign touch gestures (pinch, zoom, scroll, swipe, double tap, etc.) to switches or menu options. Automate complex actions with a single switch press (e.g., a gesture to turn two ebook pages).

Permissions:

This accessibility service observes your actions, retrieves window content, and may observe typed text.

Switch Access Screenshots