iPhone Problems

How to Fix iPhone Back Tap not Working? 7 Quick Fixes in 2024

by Anna Sherry   Updated on 2022-12-16 / Update for  Fix iPhone

Hi there, I started using triple back tap for screenshots and double back tap to lock my iPhone. Suddenly today for no reason it's not working. Any assistance would be amazing."

——An user from Apple Community

Do you have the similar issue with the iPhone Back Tap feature? Are you wondering "how do I get my back tap to work on my iPhone?" If you just update your iPhone to iOS 16 only to find that the Back Tap feature is not working at all, don't worry. In this post, we will explain the reasons for iPhone Back Tap not working and how you can fix this issue. Continue reading the article to find the top fixes to the Back Tap not working on iPhone problem.

how to fix iphone back tap not working

Part 1: Why Is My iPhone Back Tap Not Working?

There could be many reasons for the iPhone Back Tap not working problem. Some of the common ones are as follows.

  • The Back Tap feature is not available on your iPhone.
  • The iPhone case you're using is thick and bulky, preventting the Accelerometer and Gyroscope sensors from detecting your taps.
  • Your Back Tap settings are not adjusted properly.
  • The update to iOS 16 can be a little buggy, causing to a glitch in iPhone Back Tap.

Part 2: Possible Fixes to iPhone Back Tap not Working

Depending on the casuses of the iPhone Back Tap not working problem, some possible quick fixes are offered to help you get rid of the Back Tap not working on iPhone issue.

Fix 1: Check iPhone Compatibility

If you find Back Tap does not work on your iPhone, check the compatibility first. The Back Tap feature works on iPhone 8 or later devices running iOS 14 or newer. That means even if you have older versions which have been updated to iOS 14 or later, you are unable to use this feature.

Below are the list of iPhone models with which Back Tap is compatible.

  • iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus
  • iPhone SE 2020
  • iPhone X, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR
  • iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max
  • iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max
  • iPhone 13 Mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max
  • iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max

Fix 2: Check iPhone Back Tap Settings

If you double tap the back of your iPhone but nothing happens, you can try to check your Back Tap settings. Sometimes the Back Tap iPhone not working issue can be easily resolved after you re-enable the iPhone Back Tap Settings. And for that, you can follow the steps below.

  • Open your iPhone's Settings and tap the Accessibility option.
  • Tap "Touch" and hit the Back Tap option at the very bottom.

    check iphone back tap settings
  • Now, set both the "Double Tap" and "Triple Tap“ options to the ”None“ position.

    re-enable iphone back tap
  • After that, force close Settings and then re-enable Back Tap by heading to Settings > Accessibility >Touch > Back Tap.
  • Either choose Double Tap or Triple Tap options and select one of the options ("Shake" should be avoided) like Screenshot to see if the Back Tap option is working or not.

    reset iphone back tap settings

This is how you can confirm and reset the iPhone Back Tap settings. If this didn't work for you, move to the next solution.

Fix 3: Remove the Case from Your iPhone

If you're sure that Back Tap is on but unresponsive, we suggest removing the iPhone case because iPhone cases come in different styles and thicknesses which can affect the iPhone Back Tap sensitivity. Hence, if your iPhone case is thick and bulky, you won't be able to use the Back Tap function properly. So, remove the case and again check if the iPhone Back Tap not working issue is fixed or not.

Fix 4: Force Restart Your iPhone

Most unexpected iPhone glitches can be resolved by force restartting the affected device. If the iPhone Back Tap stops working, you can try to force restart your iPhone. To restart iPhone 8 and newer models, follow the steps below.

For iPhone 8 and iPhone SE 2020:

  • First, press and quickly release the Volume up button.
  • Then, press and quickly release the Volume down button.
  • Lastly, press and hold the Side button simultaneously until the Apple logo appears.

    force reset iphone 8 to fix iphone back tap not working

For iPhone X and later:

  • Quickly press and release the Volume up button.
  • Quickly press the Volume down button and let go.
  • Lastly, press and hold the Side button simultaneously until the Apple logo appears.

    force reset iphone x to fix iphone back tap not working
  • This is how you can easily force restart your iPhone and fix iPhone Back Tap stopped working problem.

Fix 5: Update Your iOS Version

Sometimes you have to face this issue because you haven't updated your iPhone to the latest version. Hence, it is recommended to update the iPhone as soon as possible. You can go to the Settings > General > Software Update. When see the latest update is available, tap Automatic Updates and then toggle on both “Download iOS Updates” and "Install iOS Updates" options.

update ios version to fix iphone back tap not working

When your device is updated to the latest version, reset iPhone Back Tap to see if it can work on your iPhone normally.

Fix 6: Reset All Settings

If nothing is working for you, the second-to-last method is resetting all your settings. This method will be helpful in resolving the Apple Back Tap not working problem. And the good thing is that it will not remove your other information, such as photos, applications, videos, and music. To reset your settings, follow the steps below.

  • Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
  • Tap Reset.
  • Tap on "Reset All Settings" from the available options.
  • Tap Reset All Settings again to confirm the action.

    reset all settings on iphone

Your settings will be reset. Wait for the device to reboot, then again set your Back Tap option and see if it is working on your iPhone or not.

Part 3: The Ultimate Fix to iPhone Back Tap Not Working

If double tapping the back of your iPhone is still not working, we suggest downloading Tenorshare ReiBoot to fix iPhone Back Tap not working. Sometimes your Back Tap stops working because of iOS bugs and problems, so it is a good idea to use a third-party application to fix it. You can download Tenorshare ReiBoot to fix almost all iPhone issues like iOS 16 Apps crashing using the standard repair mode. Below are the steps you can follow to fix the iPhone back Tap not working using ReiBoot.

  • Run ReiBoot on your PC. Once your iPhone is connected to your PC,click the "Start" button to continue the process.

    one click to fix iphone back tap not working - 1
  • You will see two different options on the screen, including Standard Repair and Deep Repair. Since we don't want to lose any data, select the "Standard Repair" option.

    one click to fix iphone back tap not working - 2
  • You will get the option to download the firmware package. Click it and start downloading the package.

    one click to fix iphone back tap not working - 3
  • Once you have downloaded the package, click the "Start Standard Repair" option to solve the issue. Keep in mind that you can't disconnect the device during the process.

    how to fix iphone back tap not working - 4
  • Wait for a few minutes until the process is completed. Once the repair is completed, your device will start to reboot.

    how to fix iphone back tap not working - 5

Reset the iPhone Back Tap settings once the device reboots. The Back Tap not working on iPhone issue should no longer exist.

Conclusion

Is your problem of iPhone Back Tap not working gets resloved after trying all the above methods? If you want to get rid of the Back Tap issue once and for all we suggest installing Tenorshare ReiBoot because it can fix all the iPhone issues with one click. This application will solve the problem in no time and ensure that you don't have to face any trouble.