If you're having trouble using the touch screen on your iPhone or iPad, you might be able to increase or decrease the touch sensitivity. You can adjust the length of time it takes for touches to count as input, ignore some touches on the screen (if your hands are shaking frequently), and set various touch-based accommodations in the accessibility settings menu (“Accessibility”). This wikiHow teaches you how to adjust the screen sensitivity on your iPhone or iPad.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Adjusting the “Touch-Hold” Duration on the Screen
Step 1. Open the iPhone or iPad settings menu (“Settings”)
This menu is indicated by a gray gear icon on the device's home screen or application library.
Step 2. Touch Accessibility
This option is in the third group of settings.
Step 3. Touch the Touch menu
This menu is under the "Physical and Motor" heading/segment.
Step 4. Touch Haptic Touch
This feature controls how long it takes to display menus, previews and other features when you touch and hold content/objects on the screen.
If you are using an iPhone with the 3D Touch feature, this option is labeled “ 3D & Haptic Touch " Read this method to learn how to adjust 3D Touch settings.
Step 5. Determine the touch duration
The device's default option is "Fast". If special menus or features open frequently when you touch an app icon or link, instead of opening the app or link itself, select “ slow ”.
- The new settings will take effect immediately.
- You can switch to “Fast” option whenever needed by touching “ Fast ” on this page.
Step 6. Test the setting of the haptic touch feature (“Haptic Touch”)
Touch and hold the flower image at the bottom of the screen. If the setting uses the " Fast " option, the image will enlarge immediately after you touch and hold it. If the “Slow” option is used, the image will be enlarged within two seconds.
Swipe down on the larger image to return to the menu
Method 2 of 3: Adjusting 3D Touch Feature Settings
Step 1. Open the iPhone or iPad settings menu (“Settings”)
This menu is indicated by a gray gear icon on the device's home screen or application library.
3D Touch is a feature where touch is considered a different input, depending on how much pressure you apply to the screen. This feature is only available on the following iPhone models: iPhone XS & XS Max, iPhone X, iPhone 8 & 8 Plus, iPhone 7 & 7 Plus, and iPhone 6s & 6s Plus
Step 2. Touch Accessibility
This option is in the third group of settings.
Step 3. Touch the Touch menu
This menu is under the "Physical and Motor" heading.
Step 4. Touch 3D & Haptic Touch on the menu
The touch sensitivity setting will be opened afterwards.
Step 5. Touch the 3D Touch switch to enable/disable the feature
If you don't want your iPhone to respond differently based on the force of pressure on the screen, toggle the 3D Touch feature to the off position. If you want to keep the feature, but need to change the sensitivity, move on to the next step.
Step 6. Use the slider to adjust the sensitivity of the 3D Touch feature
The 3D Touch feature activates when you're not touching the screen for more than just app icons or links (eg displaying menus or shaking icons on the desktop). The slider controls the pressure required on the screen to activate the 3D Touch feature.
- If you frequently accidentally show menus or other features, instead of opening apps or links, try settings or options “ Firm " With this setting, you need to press harder on the screen to activate the 3D Touch feature.
- If you're having trouble activating the 3D Touch feature when you need it, try the “ Light ” which requires less pressure on the screen.
- Use settings " Medium ” if the previous two options are deemed too extreme.
Step 7. Test the 3D Touch settings
Touch the image at the bottom of the screen as usual. If you see a " Peek and pop " preview on the image, the 3D Touch feature is already active. If the preview appears too soon, select the option “ Firm ”.
Method 3 of 3: Using the Touch Accommodations Feature
Step 1. Open the iPhone or iPad settings menu (“Settings”)
This menu is indicated by a gray gear icon on the device's home screen or application library.
The Touch Accommodations feature is very useful for fine-tuning the iPhone or iPad screen sensitivity. If you have trouble holding your finger at one point or you move your finger too quickly, you can find a solution in this feature
Step 2. Touch Accessibility
This option is in the third group of settings.
Step 3. Touch the Touch menu
This menu is under the "Physical and Motor" heading.
Step 4. Touch Touch Accommodations
It's in the middle of the menu.
Step 5. Touch the "Touch Accommodations" switch to enable the feature
The switch is at the top of the screen. When the switch is green, the Touch Accommodations feature is active.
Step 6. Adjust the duration of “Hold Duration”
The “Hold Duration” option determines how long the finger must be on an object on the screen before a touch is recognized. If you frequently shake until you open an app or feature you don't really want, you can increase the feedback on this setting. Here's how:
- Touch the switch next to "Hold Duration" to enable this feature.
-
The default duration of the device is 0.10 seconds (nearly instant). You can touch the plus symbol to increase the duration if you feel the screen is too sensitive. The selected duration is the time it takes for the device to recognize a touch as input.
The settings will take effect immediately. If you've touched the plus button and the touch on the screen doesn't give any response, touch and hold the minus button. Maybe you extended the duration too long for your preference
Step 7. Enable "Ignore Repeat" to ignore some touches on the screen
If you're shaking so often that you accidentally touch an app icon or link more than once, this feature is for you. Here's how to use it:
- Slide the "Ignore Repeat" switch to the on position (green).
- Touch the plus sign icon to increase the duration between multiple touches. The device's default duration is 0.10. Increase the duration so that the iPhone or iPad accepts only a few touches (which you accidentally do on the screen) as input as long as those touches occur within that timeframe.
Step 8. Activate the feature that instructs the device to respond to the first or last touch
This feature is called “Tap Assistance” and appears at the bottom of the menu.
- Touch " Use Initial Touch Location ” if you're having trouble holding your finger in one area of the screen and your iPhone or iPad receives a touch in the wrong place.
- Touch " Use Final Touch Location ” to ignore the first touch on the screen, and the device only responds to or accepts the touch where the finger was last touched before lifting the finger. With this feature, you can touch and hold your finger on any area of the screen, drag it to where you really want it, and then lift your finger.
Step 9. Slide the "Touch Accommodations" switch to on or off as needed
After setting your preferences for the Touch Accommodations feature, you can temporarily disable it by tapping the switch at the top of the screen. Custom settings you've made won't be erased, and other people can easily use your iPhone or iPad if necessary. Otherwise, you can leave the switch on to keep the setting active at all times.
