iOS 26 introduces several new enhancements and customizations specifically aimed at improving one-handed gesture usability on iPhones. These updates help make navigating large screens faster, more intuitive, and accessible, allowing users to operate their devices more comfortably with a single hand.
One of the core features carried forward and refined in iOS 26 is Reachability. Reachability is designed to lower the top half of the screen so it is within easy reach of the user's thumb. This feature can be invoked with a downward swipe gesture near the bottom of the screen or by enabling it in Accessibility settings. In iOS 26, Reachability has become more responsive and integrates better with apps, allowing users to access top interface elements like notifications, the status bar, or buttons more easily while using their device with one hand.
iOS 26 also improves the one-handed keyboard experience. The keyboard can be pinned to the left or right side of the display, shrinking its width for easier thumb typing. This is particularly helpful on larger-screen devices like the iPhone Pro Max models. The keyboard remains fully functional with predictive text and swipe typing while taking up less screen real estate, making single-handed typing more comfortable and efficient.
For gestures, iOS 26 maintains and enhances swipe gestures that facilitate single-handed device control:
- Swiping down from the top corners opens Notification Center or Control Center for quick access with one hand.
- A downward swipe on the screen can invoke Reachability to shift the screen down.
- Press-and-hold and drag gestures allow for easy app organization on the Home Screen and drag and drop content between apps.
- Multi-select functionality is extended to home screen apps and photos, letting users select and move multiple items at once with one hand by holding and dragging one item while tapping others.
- Text manipulation gestures like tap and drag cursor movements, double and triple tap word or paragraph selection, and pinch gestures for copy-paste work smoothly for one-handed use.
- Back Tap gestures can be customized, allowing users to trigger actions like opening the camera, flashlight, or taking screenshots by double or triple tapping the back of the iPhone, reducing the need for reach with the front screen.
Additionally, iOS 26 streamlines one-handed use within apps by adjusting UI components like moving address/search bars in browsers (Safari and Chrome) closer to the bottom for thumb reach, as well as optimizing app shortcuts positioning on the Home Screen to be more accessible with one hand.
The combination of these gesture improvements, keyboard customizations, and UI positioning options in iOS 26 creates a significantly enhanced single-handed user experience. These features are especially valuable on the larger iPhone models, providing users fluid, precise control without needing to resort to two hands.
In summary, the one-handed gesture customizations in iOS 26 include:
- Improved Reachability with a more responsive downward swipe to bring the top screen elements closer.
- One-handed keyboard mode pinned to screen edges for easier thumb typing.
- Swipe gestures for Notification and Control Centers accessible from the top corners.
- Press-and-hold drag for app and content movement with multi-select capability.
- Advanced text editing gestures for cursor movement and selection with taps and drags.
- Customizable Back Tap gestures for quick access to common functions.
- UI tweaks in apps like Safari to relocate interactive elements near the bottom of the screen.
- Smart arranging of apps and shortcuts on the Home Screen for efficient one-hand access.