Learn gestures

You can use gestures on your screen to move between apps and choose or manipulate items.

There are also gestures, which you can turn on/off, to perform everyday tasks like screenshots or turning on the flashlight.

Tap, drag, swipe, zoom

GestureDescription
Tap

Press briefly with one finger and lift.

Result: Open something (app or email) or choose something (checkbox, icon).

Touch & hold

Press and wait before lifting one finger.

Result: Select something (app icon, text on a page) and see possible actions.

Try it: Touch & hold text on this page to see the copy feature.

Drag

Touch & hold an item and then, without lifting, slide your finger until you reach the target position.

Result: Move elements on the screen; for example, change a toggle from on to off .

Try it: Drag an app shortcut from one spot on your home screen to another.

Swipe

Quickly move one finger across the screen, without pausing when you first touch (so you don’t drag instead).

Result: Switch between home screens or between tabs in an app. Or, move quickly through a list. You can swipe different directions (up, down, left/right) for different results. Learn more.

Try it: Open the Phone app and swipe left/right to switch between tabs. Or, swipe up from the bottom of this screen to go home.

Pinch out to zoom

Put two fingers on the screen and then drag them apart.

Result: Zoom in to see larger version of photos and maps. Or, open expandable notifications.

Try it: Open a photo and pinch out to zoom in on an area.

TipIf you have visual impairments, you can enable additional magnification gestures.
Pinch in to zoom

Put two fingers on the screen, far apart, and then drag them together.

Result: Zoom out to see smaller version of photos or maps. Or, close expandable notifications.

Use gestures with Power button

Press
Lock and unlock the phone. You'll enter your PIN, pattern or password to unlock. To turn off the phone, press the Power + Volume up buttons simultaneously.
Press twice
Open the camera. If this doesn’t work, check that the setting is turned on.
Press & hold
Start a voice command.

Turn gestures on/off

Perform everyday tasks with quick motions.

You turn each gesture on/off independently.

Tap “Learn more” links to learn how to use and turn gestures on/off.

Double-tap the back of your phone for shortcut (open a selected app or perform action). Learn more.
Swipe in from the edge of your phone for a pop-up menu of your favorite apps. Learn more.
Twist your wrist twice quickly to open the camera from any screen. Learn more.
Make a chopping motion to turn the flashlight on or off. Learn more.
Use three fingers to take a screenshot. Learn more.
Unlock by lifting your phone and looking at it. Learn more.
Set your phone face down on a surface to start Do Not Disturb mode. Learn more.
Pick up your ringing phone to silence it and switch to vibrate. Learn more.
Swipe back and forth to use split screen. Learn more.