Use AssistiveTouch for Physical Button Replacement on iPhone (iOS 18 Guide)
If your iPhone’s Side, Home, or Volume buttons are damaged—or you just prefer touch-based control—AssistiveTouch on iOS 18 lets you perform every essential action virtually, right on your screen. Here’s how to enable it and customize it for full, button-free use.
1. Enable AssistiveTouch from Accessibility Settings
AssistiveTouch is part of the built-in Accessibility suite.
To turn it on:
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Open Settings → Accessibility → Touch.
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Tap AssistiveTouch.
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Toggle AssistiveTouch ON.
You’ll now see a floating on-screen button that can be moved anywhere.
2. Customize the AssistiveTouch Menu
You can tailor this menu to replace all physical buttons:
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In AssistiveTouch settings, tap Customize Top Level Menu.
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Tap any icon → choose an action (for example, Lock Screen, Volume Up, Home, or Screenshot).
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To add more options, tap the + button (up to 8 icons).
Recommended Setup for Full Button Replacement:
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Lock Screen → replaces the Side button
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Volume Up / Volume Down → replaces hardware volume keys
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Home → for gesture navigation or app switcher
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Siri → activates without holding Side button
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Screenshot → replaces combo buttons
3. Use Gestures and Custom Actions
AssistiveTouch also supports gestures like pinch or multi-finger swipes with a single tap.
To configure quick actions:
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Go to Settings → Accessibility → Touch → AssistiveTouch.
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Scroll to Custom Actions:
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Single-Tap → Open Menu
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Double-Tap → Lock Screen
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Long Press → Screenshot
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You can map any function to these shortcuts—ideal for users with broken buttons or limited dexterity.
4. Adjust the Floating Button Behavior
To reduce distraction or improve usability:
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Tap Idle Opacity → choose 20–40% for subtle visibility.
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Enable Always Show Menu if you want one-tap access.
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Drag the button to any edge of the screen—it will stay docked there.
5. Quickly Toggle AssistiveTouch On or Off
Use any of these methods:
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Settings → Accessibility → Touch → AssistiveTouch → toggle manually.
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Hey Siri, turn on AssistiveTouch.
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Or, assign it to the Accessibility Shortcut (triple-click Side button):
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Go to Settings → Accessibility → Accessibility Shortcut.
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Select AssistiveTouch.
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Now triple-click your Side button anytime to toggle it.
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OnePlus Tip 💡
If your physical buttons are completely unresponsive, enable AssistiveTouch via Voice Command instead:
Say → “Hey Siri, turn on AssistiveTouch.”
This instantly activates the floating menu even if your screen lock button doesn’t work.
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