Accessibility - physical and motor
Reachability
Most people call this pulling the top of the screen down within thumb reach.
A short swipe down at the very bottom edge slides the whole screen down so you can reach the top one handed.
Available
This setting is present on your iPhone.
- We have this path on file but have not yet confirmed it against an official source.
Where to find it - iOS 13 and later
- Settings
- Accessibility
- Touch
- Reachability
What it does
On models without a Home button, swipe down on the bottom edge. On Home button models, lightly double touch the Home button without pressing it.
What changes
When it is on
The screen can be pulled down within thumb reach.
When it is off
The gesture does nothing.
Should you turn it on?
Good reasons to turn it on
- One handed use of a large iPhone.
- Helpful for anyone with limited reach or grip.
Good reasons to turn it off
- Accidental activation while scrolling to the bottom of a page.
Battery
No real change
Privacy
No real change
Performance
No real change
Cellular data
No real change
Storage
No real change
Out of the box: On.
Questions people actually ask
- How do I reach the top of my iPhone screen?
- Swipe down on the very bottom edge. That is Reachability, and it can be turned off under Accessibility, then Touch.
If it is not working
- The swipe must start on the very bottom edge, below the Home indicator.
- Tap the empty area at the top to dismiss it.