Set up Switch Control on iPad

If you have physical difficulties, you can use Switch Control to operate iPad using one or more switches. With switches, you can select, tap, drag, type, and even draw freehand. You use a switch to select an item or location on the screen, then use the same (or a different) switch to choose an action.

Add a switch

You can use any of the following sources as a switch:

An external adaptive switch: Choose a Bluetooth switch or Made For iPhone (MFi) switch that plugs into the Lightning connector on iPad.
The iPad screen: Tap the screen to trigger the switch.
The iPad front camera: Move your head left or right while facing the camera to trigger the switch.

Before you add an external switch, connect it to iPad, following the instructions that came with the switch. If the switch connects using Bluetooth, pair it with iPad—turn on the switch, go to Settings > Bluetooth, turn on Bluetooth, tap the name of the switch, then follow the onscreen instructions.

Go to Settings > Accessibility > Switch Control > Switches.
Tap Add New Switch, then choose a source.
Assign an action to the switch.
To ensure Switch Control functions correctly, you must assign the Select Item action to at least one switch.

Choose a scanning style and customize Switch Control

You can adjust the behavior of Switch Control in a variety of ways, to suit your specific needs and style.

Go to Settings > Accessibility > Switch Control.
Tap Scanning Style, then choose one of the following:
- Auto Scanning: The focus automatically moves to the next item after a specified duration.
- Manual Scanning: You trigger a switch to move the focus to the next item (requires multiple switches).
- Single Switch Step Scanning: You trigger a switch to move the focus to the next item; if no action is taken with a specified duration, the item with the focus is automatically activated.
Customize Switch Control in the following ways:
- Add switches and specify their function.
- Create, edit, and choose recipes to temporarily assign special actions to switches.
- Adjust the item scanning speed.
- Set scanning to pause on the first item in a group.
- Choose how many times to cycle through the screen before hiding Switch Control.
- Choose a tap behavior and set the interval for performing a second switch action to show the Scanner Menu.
- Choose whether Switch Control resumes scanning at an item you tap or from the beginning.
- Set whether a movement action is repeated when you press and hold a switch, and how long to wait before repeating.
- Assign another action to a switch by pressing and holding the switch for a long duration.
- Choose the actions shown in the Scanner Menu and the order in which they appear.
- Set whether and how long you need to hold a switch down before it’s accepted as a switch action.
- Ignore accidental repeated switch triggers.
- Adjust the point scanning style and speed.
- Adjust settings for head tracking (on an iPad with Face ID) and assign actions to facial expressions.
- Turn on sound effects.
- Speak items as they are scanned.
- Group items for faster scanning.
- Make the selection cursor larger or a different color.
- Create and save custom gestures to the Scanner Menu.

Turn Switch Control on or off

Important: Switch Control changes the gestures you use to control iPad.

To turn Switch Control on or off, use any of the following methods:

Go to Settings > Accessibility > Switch Control.
Triple-click the Home button (on an iPad with a Home button).
Triple-click the top button (on an iPad with Face ID).
Use Control Center.

Helpful?

iPad User Guide

Set up Switch Control on iPad

Add a switch

Choose a scanning style and customize Switch Control

Turn Switch Control on or off