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 the iPad screen, camera, microphone, or the back of iPad, or you can add an external adaptive 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 any of the following:
- External: Choose a Bluetooth switch or Made For iPhone (MFi) switch that plugs into the Lightning connector on iPad.
- Screen: Tap the iPad screen to activate the switch.
- Camera: Move your head left or right while facing the camera.
- Sound: Make voiced and voiceless sounds such as “Oo” or a pop.
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 by setting options such as the following:
- Switches: Add switches and specify their function.
- Recipes: Create, edit, and choose recipes to temporarily assign special actions to switches.
- Auto Scanning Time: Adjust the item scanning speed.
- Pause on First Item: Set scanning to pause on the first item in a group.
- Loops: Choose how many times to cycle through the screen before hiding Switch Control.
- Move Repeat: Set the delay before moving to the previous or next item while a switch is pressed.
- Long Press: Set whether a different action occurs when you press and hold a switch, and how long to wait before performing that action.
- Tap Behavior: Choose a tap behavior and set the interval for performing a second switch action to show the Scanner Menu.
- Focused Item After Tap: Choose whether Switch Control resumes scanning at an item you tap or from the beginning.
- Hold Duration: Set whether and how long you need to hold a switch down before it’s accepted as a switch action.
- Ignore Repeat: Ignore accidental repeated switch triggers.
- Gliding Cursor: Adjust the point scanning style and speed.
- Head Tracking: (on supported models) Adjust settings for head tracking and assign actions to facial expressions.
- Sound Effects: Turn on sound effects.
- Speech: Speak items as they’re scanned.
- Menu Items: Choose the actions shown in the Scanner Menu and the order in which they appear.
- Group Items: Group items for faster navigation.
- Large Cursor: Make the selection cursor larger.
- Cursor Color: Choose a different color.
- Saved Gestures: Create and save custom gestures to the Scanner Menu.
- Confirm with Switch Control: On an iPad with Face ID, use Switch Control to confirm payments with Face ID instead of double-clicking the top button. Or on iPad mini (6th generation) and iPad Air (4th generation and later), use Switch Control to confirm payments with your passcode instead of double-clicking the top button.

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 other iPad models).
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