How to reach the top of the iPhone screen with one hand
Turn on Reachability in Settings > Accessibility > Touch. Then swipe down on the bar at the bottom of the screen, and the top half drops within reach of your thumb.
- iPhone
- Easy · 1 min
- iPhone with Face ID, iOS 18 and iOS 26
- Cheat sheet
How to do it
Open Settings > Accessibility > Touch.
Turn Reachability on.
On a Face ID iPhone, swipe down on the horizontal bar at the bottom of the screen.
Tap the empty area at the top to send the screen back.
On an iPhone with a Home button, the gesture is a double-tap on that button, lightly, not a double-press that opens the app switcher.
Questions people ask
How does Reachability work on an iPhone with a Home button?
Lightly double-tap the Home button. A double press opens the app switcher instead.
How do I put the screen back?
Tap the empty area at the top, or just wait a few seconds.
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