If you have an iPhone 6s or a newer Apple smartphone, you probably know about 3D Touch. If not, this is when you press hard on the screen and a context menu with additional functions appears. But we bet you are not using all the features of 3D Touch! This article will help you learn more about the function and make your life easier.
What is 3D Touch function?
3D Touch is Apple's technology that detects how hard you press on the display. Thanks to this function, you can (by pressing the iPhone screen with force) call some functions of the application without launching it. For the first time, 3D touch appeared in the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus smartphones. The technology is based on another Apple development called Force Touch, used in Apple Watch and Macbook trackpads.
What iPhones does 3D Touch work on?
3D Touch is supported on iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X.
How to use 3D Touch (3D touch) on iPhone?
Below you will find a comprehensive list of scenarios for using 3D Touch.
1. Application icons
The simplest action. Just touch the application icon harder than you usually do. You will see useful shortcuts (shortcuts) to useful and frequently used functions. Some applications also display a mini-version of their widget.
Information on what 3D Touch does for individual applications:
App Store - Quickly access store search, enter your iTunes code, Update All button, and navigate to Purchases.
Music - widget with recently played songs and search field.
Safari - open a new tab, "private" tab, launch the bookmarks bar and Reading list;
Phone - quick access to 4 contacts, search and create a new contact.
Photos - widget for the Memories tab, and sections for recently viewed photos, favorites and search.
iBooks - recently opened documents, books and audiobooks.
Weather - a widget with your current location, shortcuts to add three favorite cities.
Camera - shortcut for quick access to taking selfies, portraits, video recording, slo-mo and simple photography.
Calendar - a widget with upcoming tasks and a shortcut for adding new events.
Clock - shortcuts for quickly creating an alarm, starting a timer or stopwatch.
Maps - widget with destination, shortcuts to mark and share your location.
Notes - recently opened notes, shortcuts for creating a note, a to-do list, and a sketch.
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2. Open the multitasking menu
This works best when you don't have a case on your iPhone. Make a 3D Touch gesture in the left corner of the screen, wait for a tactile response and swipe to the right. This will open the multitasking menu with running applications. If you continue to swipe right, you will go to the last open program.
3. Notifications
Starting with iOS 10, notifications in Apple's mobile operating system became interactive. Some programs - for example, Viber or Messages - after a 3D Touch gesture display a large preview of the message on the locked screen. 3D Touch also brings up a context menu with additional options for use - for example, retweeting in the Twitter application.
3D Touch also allows you to quickly delete all notifications from the Action Center - for this you need to make a gesture and click on the "x" icon in the Center.
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4. Safari
If you make a 3D Touch-click on the link, a pop-up window will appear with the information available on this page (i.e. you may not even go to another site). If you want to jump anyway, just press harder on the screen or remove your finger from the screen. Apple calls this feature Peek and Pop. The name, of course, is ridiculous - but you will appreciate the convenience very quickly. And in messengers, this function displays a preview of the dialogue.
5. Control Center
3D Touch-clicking on the volume control opens a window for more precise adjustments:
Clicking on the mini-player opens it in a new window in more detail:
The flashlight changes the light intensity:
The Brightness button allows you to change the brightness of the screen, and also displays control of the Night Shift and True Tone functions:
Clicking on Calculator allows you to copy the last result:
Pressing the Camera button - allows you to quickly take a selfie, record a video or shoot a portrait:
Clicking on the card with wireless modules reveals more possibilities:
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6. The keyboard turns into a trackpad
This is one of the most valuable features of 3D Touch. If you need to manipulate the cursor, just firmly tap the iPhone's virtual keyboard and it turns into a touchpad trackpad! Move the cursor across the screen in any direction - the newly made "trackpad" will understand everything.
7. Folder with notifications
Let's say you have dozens of app folders on your iPhone - and several of them have at least one notification. 3D Touch-gesture on the folder - and all programs will be lined up on the screen with a red circle above them. Place your finger on the name you want and release it - the application will start immediately.
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8. Download applications
3D Touch-touching an application that is currently downloading an update from the Internet will give access to additional options - pause downloading or prioritizing (useful when the App Store updates 30 applications at once, and you want to launch one of them as soon as possible) …
9. Phone app
Clicking on any contact brings up a context menu with useful options - calling via FaceTime, sending an E-mail or SMS. Convenient - no need to climb through the menus once again.
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10. Music
The ability to call the context menu by clicking on any song.
11. Messages
Sending effects to iMessage ("bubbles", etc.). To do this, you need to make a 3D Touch-click on the blue up arrow.
Contact icon. When you make a 3D Touch gesture on an icon with a contact, a menu is displayed with all the ways to communicate with a person.
Preview of the conversation. Touching the icon with a dialogue between you and the desired interlocutor is required.
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12. Third-party applications with successful 3D Touch implementation
Instagram. Whenever you see a thumbnail, press hard on it and view the full content.
WhatsApp. Displays the last 4 chats and an option to start a new conversation. There is also an option to display all of the favorite messages you've ever starred.
Telegram. Widget with the latest chats, as well as shortcuts of Search, new message, taking a photo or video, etc.
Runtastic. Statistics widget of recent workouts, as well as shortcuts for quick access.
Apple. The official app of our website offers a quick jump to the most popular sections of yablyk.com.
Customizing 3D Touch for yourself
If you think that using 3D Touch requires too much physical effort - you don't have to give up the function! It can be customized the way you like. To do this, open Settings, select General, then Accessibility and 3D Touch, and then set the appropriate pressure (sensitivity).
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Use 3D Touch
Every year, iPhone owners are increasingly using the 3D Touch function. And this is not surprising - after a short period of getting used to, you simply cannot do without 3D Touch, because it is actually a very convenient and time-saving "feature". Do not put off meeting her indefinitely - try it right now!
How to turn off 3D Touch
If you still could not get used to using 3D Touch technology - switch the toggle switch of the same name, located along the path Settings -> General -> Universal Access, to the Off position.
See also:
- The battery on the iPhone is draining quickly, why and what to do? 30 ways to solve.
- IPhone activation date, or how to find out the remaining warranty period.
- How to automatically improve photo quality on iPhone and iPad.
