How to use the iPhone Apple logo as a secret button

You can program the Apple logo on the back of the iPhone as a secret button by double- or triple-tapping it. Here's how to set Back Tap up.

There are a number of clever features built into Apple's iOS software – some of which you'll find in our iPhone tips and tricks – but a feature called Back Tap is one of our absolute favourites. We love it so much, we felt it deserved its own explanation.

Back Tap turns the Apple logo on the back of your iPhone into a secret button. Yes indeed. You can program the logo to take a screenshot when you double-tap it and launch Shazam when you triple-tap it, for example, or you can set up a Siri shortcut to be used as a double- and triple-tap, like calling a partner.

However, tapback is not enabled by default. Here's what you can do with the secret Apple logo button and how to set up Back Tap.

What is Back Tap and what options are there?

The feature that turns the Apple logo on the back of your iPhone into a secret button is called Back Tap. It's hidden in your iPhone's accessibility settings and is turned off by default. If you turn it on, you can choose a number of options for what happens when you double- or triple-tap the logo on the back of your iPhone.

The standard options available for double and triple tap are:

None

Abbreviation of facilitation

Application switcher

Camera

Control centre

Home

Rotation lock

Lock the screen

Mute

Notification Center

Attainability

Screenshot

Shake it off

Siri

Spotlight

Torch

Lower the volume

Increase the volume

Apple Watch mirroring

Helping touch

Background sounds

Classic Invert

Color filters

Control of nearby devices

Detection mode

Magnifying glass

Smart Invert

Speak Screen

VoiceOver

Enlargement

Zoom control

Scroll down

Scroll up

There are also Siri shortcuts at the bottom of the options list. If you've created Siri shortcuts, they'll appear here. If you haven't done so, you can create a Siri Shortcut, such as Send a WhatsApp message to your partner, view your News Today channel, or call your sweetheart, for example. You will then be able to use any of the created shortcuts as an option to double or triple tap the Apple logo.

How to set the Apple logo as a secret button

To turn the Apple logo on the back of your iPhone into a secret button when you double or triple tap it, follow these steps:

Open Settings on your iPhone

Tap Accessibility

Tap Touch

Tap Back Tap at the bottom

Tap Double Tap

Choose the shortcut you want to use when you double-tap the Apple logo

Tap Back Tap at the top of the screen

Tap Triple Tap

Choose the shortcut you want to use when you triple-tap the Apple logo

How to use the Apple logo as a secret button

Once you've set up Back Tap, using this feature is very easy. Just tap the back of your iPhone two or three times around where the Apple logo is. In our experience, this works even with a case on, although of course we haven't tested this with all cases.

You don't have to press the logo, just double or triple tap the logo with your finger and the shortcut you selected for that action will take place immediately, whether it's a call or a screenshot.

Note: If you're wearing a case, you may need to note where the Apple logo is on your device. For example, on the iPhone 11, 12, iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 it is in the middle of the back, while on the iPhone XR it is above the center in the upper third. Tap Tap should work when you tap anywhere on the back of your iPhone.