Set up Switch Control on iPad

If you have a motor impairment, you can use Switch Control to operate iPad using one or more switches. With switches, you can select, tap, drag, type, and even freehand draw. 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-facing 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, tap the switch, then follow the onscreen instructions. See Connect Bluetooth devices to iPad.

Go to Settings > General > 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 > General > 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 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.
- 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 > General > Accessibility > Switch Control, then turn the setting on or off.
Triple-click the top button (iPad Pro (11-inch) and iPad Pro (12.9-inch) (3rd generation)).
Triple-click the Home button (models with the Home button).
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