Hot corners on iPhone and iPad: Accessibility for mouse or trackpad use

Last week I showed you how you Hot Corners on Mac for more than just quick notes. But did you know that the Hot Corners are also available on the iPad and iPhone? While they can ensure a faster workflow on a tablet like on a computer, using them on a smartphone is more of an operating aid. As such, it is very practical. In this guide you will learn how to use a little trick to activate the active corners on iPhone and iPad and how to assign certain actions or shortcuts to them.

Note: Mouse, trackpad, or game controller input required

The active corners or hot corners cannot be triggered with a finger or the Apple Pencil on Apple's mobile devices. For use, a mouse, trackpad or gamepad (PlayStation or Xbox controller; the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller could not be used for AssistiveTouch in the test) must be connected or paired via Bluetooth. In addition, the "dwell control" function must be paused in the AssistiveTouch settings. This may sound complicated, but it's easy with the step-by-step guide below.

This is behind the "Dwell control" function

In the following guide for the active corners on Apple's mobile devices, you will get to know the dwell control feature. This ensures that the pointer on the display taps or clicks after a certain time if it is no longer moved. This accessibility feature ensures that people with motor disabilities can move the mouse to a certain spot and have it click there automatically. 

However, the dwell control feature also activates the hot corners. In order to only use these, we need the activated and at the same time deactivated dwell control. I will now show you how you can bypass them in order to use certain actions via the corners of the display with step-by-step instructions and the appropriate screenshots (iPhone with iOS 16.4.1).

Activate and pause dwell control on iOS and iPadOS: Here's how!

So the first thing you need to do is connect a mouse or trackpad to the respective iOS or iPadOS device. This can be done either via Bluetooth (iPhone and iPad) or via cable (iPad). If you are using an Xbox or PlayStation controller, activate the "Use game controller" slider in the AssistiveTouch menu shown below. If the input device is successfully connected and you can use a cursor / pointer to navigate the system and Apps to use, then we can start setting up hot corners:

1. Opens the Settings on the iPhone or iPad
2. Pick the point Accessibility from
3. Click under "Physical and Motor". Tap
4. Choose the first point AssistiveTouch from
5. Enables AssistiveTouch with the slider top right
6. Scroll down and activate the Controller of dwell control
7. Click/tap on the AssistiveTouch button and select top right linger from
8. Then choose left stop lingering from
9. (Alternative: Select fallback action and check the box there stop lingering)
10. The dwell control now only works over the AssistiveTouch button

When using the fallback action, it is important to know that a virtual click is then performed and the dwell control is only then paused. So when you step out of the menu, place the cursor on an area or element that isn't obstructing you, let the click timer expire, and then you're all set to use the hot corners.

Use paused dwell control for active corners and customize them

The paused dwell controls on iPad and iPhone no longer automatically trigger a click when the mouse or trackpad cursor is paused. However, what remains usable are the active corners. You can try this by moving the cursor circle to one of the corners of the display. A large quarter circle is then displayed there, the contour of which fills up and which then carries out the corresponding action. To customize the actions of the corners, do the following:

1. reopens Settings -> Accessibility -> Tap -> AssistiveTouch
2. Scroll down to the Dwell Control Settings (see instructions above)
3. Click or tap Active corners
4. Selects actions for Top Left, Top Right, Bottom Left, and Bottom Right
5. At the very bottom under "Shortcuts" you can define shortcuts you have created yourself as an action

You can select a wide variety of actions for the active corners on the iPad and iPhone. You get z. B. via the display corners back to the home screen, takes a screenshot, (de)activates the orientation lock, opens the camera, adjusts the volume, calls up Siri, makes an SOS emergency call, lets the screen content be announced, scrolls vertically or horizontally , and so forth. Below are the shortcuts. To set your own (like above in the screenshot for opening the Sir Apfelot app shown), open the Shortcuts app and set up a new shortcut. This then appears in the list of "Hot corners" functions.

Johannes Domke

After graduating from high school, Johannes completed an apprenticeship as a business assistant specializing in foreign languages. But then he decided to research and write, which resulted in his independence. For several years he has been working for Sir Apfelot, among others. His articles include product introductions, news, manuals, video games, consoles, and more. He follows Apple keynotes live via stream.