Apple Activates Assistive Touch in iOS 5 Beta 3 - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Activates Assistive Touch in iOS 5 Beta 3

In the latest iOS 5 beta just released today, Apple has activated the new "Assistive Touch" features for the iPad. The Assistive Touch settings were in place in iOS's accessibility settings in previous betas, but is only now active. The new features are meant to provide additional interactivity for those who might have trouble using the traditional gestures and buttons on the iPad.

image 3
image 5
The new settings allow users to activate a menu overlay on the iPad with by pressing on a designated corner. The menu allows one-tap access to all of the iPad's functions including rotation, shaking, volume changes and even gestures. Known gestures such as pinch and swipe can be recalled by a tap, and custom gestures can even be recorded and played back on command.

Popular Stories

General Apps Reddit Feature

Reddit Starts Blocking Mobile Website, Pushing Users to App Instead

Monday May 11, 2026 6:10 am PDT by
Social network Reddit recently began blocking mobile visitors to its website while pushing them to download the official Reddit app, and it's fair to say that the move is not going down well with users. If you visit reddit.com on your iPhone today, you may see a new popup that can't be dismissed, asking you to "get the app to keep using Reddit." A Reddit spokesperson told Ars Technica...
Dynamic Island iPhone 18 Pro Feature

11 Reasons to Wait for the iPhone 18 Pro

Monday May 11, 2026 9:01 am PDT by
We're only four months out from the launch of Apple's premium next-generation smartphone lineup, and while we're not expecting a sea change in terms of functionality, there are still several enhancements rumored to be coming to the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth noting is that Apple is reportedly planning a major change to its iPhone release cycle this year, adopting a...
iOS 26

Apple Releases iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 With End-to-End Encrypted RCS, New Wallpaper, and Maps Updates

Monday May 11, 2026 10:06 am PDT by
Apple today released iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5, the newest updates to the iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 operating systems. The software comes nearly two months after Apple released iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Apple has also released iOS 15.8.8, iOS 16.7.16, iOS 18.7.9, and...

Top Rated Comments

194 months ago
I thought the people who needed this type of assistance had problems but then I read about these poor people going without widgets. It's terrible.

Do you guys have a charity I could donate to or something?
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
194 months ago
Yea Apple is very thoughtful about these kinds of things, but they rarely get credit for it...
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
194 months ago
Because then it would be called Android.

Or Dashboard?
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
194 months ago
Physical buttons? Whatever do you mean?

Oh you mean the home button that stops working about 9 months after getting your iPhone 4? :mad:

Well, that would suck. But my Touch 1G button never stopped working, had it for over 3 years.

Also: 12 month warranty.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JGowan Avatar
194 months ago
I have no problems with these gestures, but in some instances I think I could use a few of this instead of the gestures. Perhaps could be more handy. Will have to see when it lands.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
194 months ago
My 17-year old son has cerebral palsy. Her uses a wheelchair and has stiffness in his muscles but is intellectually on par with his peers. He has been using Mac laptops since he was 2 years old. I am hoping this feature will be of use to him, as he gets by just fine on his MacBook Pro using just his pinky finger for typing and trackpad use. Multi-finger swipes, pinches, and the like are not gestures he can easily manage.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)