Pick up your phone and look at it for a moment. The hidden button inside your smartphone is not a new piece of hardware. It is a feature buried inside settings that quietly turns an existing button or gesture into a secret control panel most people never use.
On modern phones this hidden button is usually one of two things
- a tap zone on the back of the phone
- the side or power key remapped to launch custom actions
These are built directly into iOS and Android. They are not hacks and they do not rely on third-party apps that vanish after an update.
Let us look at what they can do and how you turn yours on.
IMAGE: BIT REBELS
The iPhone Back Tap Button That Sits Under Your Fingertips
Apple includes a feature named Back Tap. It lets the back of the phone act like a button. A double tap or triple tap can start actions such as screenshots, flashlight, Control Center, camera, or Shortcuts routines. Apple documents this feature inside their accessibility guides.
Path: Settings → Accessibility → Touch → Back Tap
Choose Double Tap or Triple Tap, select the action, and your phone listens for that gesture using its built-in sensors.
Why this feels like a small cheat code
Back Tap becomes useful fast for a few reasons.
- The phone can react without a full unlock
- Your hands stay in a natural grip
- You can connect it to Shortcuts and run several steps at once
This is where it starts behaving like a personal command switch rather than a simple tap trick.
Picture these setups
- Double tap to start a voice memo and store it in an ideas folder
- Triple tap to switch on Do Not Disturb, lower brightness, and open your writing app
- Double tap to trigger a smart home scene right when you sit at your desk
For tech-heavy readers, especially those dealing with crypto, gaming, or productivity, this becomes a fast lane to apps you need in urgent moments. Launching an authenticator or a notes app becomes instant.
Quick wins you can set up in minutes
Some Back Tap actions that usually stick
- Take a screenshot without two buttons
- Toggle the flashlight when your hands are full
- Jump straight into the camera
- Scroll long pages with an assigned scroll action
These options are documented features and require no extra software.
If you use the Shortcuts app, the possibilities expand. One tap can add text to a daily log, open a focus mode for gaming, or set the scene for deep work.
The Triple Click Side Button That Opens a Hidden Menu
There is another iPhone feature that behaves like a secret button. The side button can activate a tool named Accessibility Shortcut. Apple explains this feature as well.
Path: Settings → Accessibility → Accessibility Shortcut
You select one or more tools. A triple click opens a small menu at the bottom of the screen.
People usually use it for
- Magnifier
- Zoom
- VoiceOver
- Guided Access that locks the phone to one app
Guided Access in particular is useful beyond accessibility. It can lock you inside one game, reading app, or writing space so you cannot wander into social feeds without a code.
Once you get used to the idea that your side key is a launcher instead of a wake button, the phone starts to feel more personal.
Android Has Its Own Hidden Button System
Android brands have their own approaches, yet the pattern is similar. The power or side key often doubles as a shortcut hub.
Documented examples across Android devices include
- double press of the power button to open the camera from any screen
- double press of the side key on some Samsung devices to open a chosen app
- long press settings that decide whether the side key opens the assistant or the power menu
These options appear inside menus like System, Gestures, or Advanced features.
Turning the side key into your own command button
With a few taps you can map the side key to launch something you rely on several times a day.
Useful maps include
- double press to open your authenticator app
- double press to open your notes app
- long press for your assistant
On recent Samsung models you can reach this path
Settings → Advanced features → Side button → Double press → Open app
Then choose the app that matters most.
If you work with crypto or finance apps, this shortcut gives you near-instant access. If you enjoy mobile photography you can set it to open a manual camera app for faster control.
The idea is simple. The side key becomes your fast lane. Two taps and you are where you want to be without searching through screens.
Why Most People Ignore These Hidden Buttons
Even though these features are widely documented, many people still never touch them.
The reasons tend to repeat.
They live deep inside menus
Back Tap lives inside Accessibility, then Touch. Side key settings sit under Advanced features. These areas are rarely explored by casual users.
They sound like niche tools
Names like Back Tap and Accessibility Shortcut make them sound exclusive, even though they help anyone who wants fewer taps and faster reactions.
Setup requires a small decision
You must choose an action to map. That tiny moment of friction keeps many users in default mode.
That is good news for you. It means simple tweaks can separate you from nine out of ten users who never explore these menus.
Stacking Hidden Buttons With Automation
The real power appears when these hidden buttons start workflows.
On iPhone, Back Tap or the side button can run any Shortcut you build. That can
- log notes
- activate a focus mode
- start a timer and play a playlist
- prepare a clean environment for gaming or work
Apple confirms that Back Tap supports Shortcuts, and Shortcuts can chain several steps.
On Android, some brands let the side key launch their own automation tools or routines. Samsung’s routines feature can connect side key actions to custom triggers, or you can simply use the key as a fast entry point to an app that handles its own automation.
For readers into gadgets, gaming, or innovation, this is where it all blends. One button can quietly switch on game mode, prepare your wallet app, filter notifications, or activate smart home scenes.
How To Choose the Right Action
You do not need a complicated setup. One smart action usually gives more value than a list of flashy ideas.
A few simple rules help
- pick something you use several times a day
- pick something that usually feels slow to reach
- pick something that works even when you are distracted
For most people the best choices are
- camera
- flashlight
- notes
- authenticator
- focus mode
Set it once, use it for a week, then adjust. Your muscle memory adapts faster than you expect.
Your phone already has this hidden button. You are not adding risk. You are simply teaching the device to respond in a smarter way.
Once you feel the speed, scrolling through pages of icons starts to feel strangely outdated.
IMAGE: BIT REBELS
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