Swipe up from the bottom edge for Home. That single gesture set, introduced on the iPhone X in 2017, is still exactly how every current iPhone works. Swipe up and pause in the middle for the App Switcher, swipe down from the top-right corner for Control Center, swipe down anywhere else along the top for Notification Center, and hold the side button (or say “Hey Siri”) for Siri. That is the complete set, confirmed on Apple’s own current support pages, and it applies to every iPhone since the X because every one of them dropped the Home button the same way.
The five gestures, unchanged since the X
| To do this | Do this |
|---|---|
| Go to the Home Screen | Swipe up from the bottom edge |
| Open the App Switcher | Swipe up from the bottom, pause in the center, then lift your finger |
| Switch to the previous app | Swipe right along the very bottom edge |
| Open Control Center | Swipe down from the top-right corner |
| Open Notification Center | Swipe down from anywhere along the top, except the top-right corner |
| Activate Siri | Press and hold the side button, or say “Hey Siri” if enabled |
Apple documents this identical set on its current support pages for gestures on Face ID iPhones and for switching between open apps. Every iPhone released since the X, from the XS through the current 17 lineup, has used Face ID and no Home button, so this is the whole gesture language for any iPhone you’re likely to be holding, not a quirk of one 2017 model.
What’s actually new since 2017
Three things have been added to the iPhone’s control scheme since the X shipped, and none of them replace the five gestures above, they sit alongside them.
Back Tap, added in iOS 14 (2020). Double-tap or triple-tap the back of the phone to trigger a shortcut you choose, opening the camera, toggling a Shortcut, or taking a screenshot. Turn it on in Settings, then Accessibility, then Touch, then Back Tap.
Action Button, added on iPhone 15 Pro (2023). This replaced the physical mute switch with a customizable button. A long press triggers whatever action you’ve assigned, camera, flashlight, a Shortcut, or several others. It’s now standard across the current Pro and non-Pro lineup.
Camera Control, added on iPhone 16 (2024). A separate touch- and pressure-sensitive button on the side: a light press opens the camera, a full press shoots, and sliding your finger along it adjusts zoom or settings. Not every current model has this button, so check your specific iPhone rather than assuming it applies.
Frequently asked questions
Do these gestures work the same on the newest iPhone as they did on the X? Yes. The five core gestures, Home, App Switcher, Control Center, Notification Center, and Siri, have not changed since iOS 11 in 2017.
Why can’t I open Control Center from the same place as Notifications? Apple splits the top edge deliberately: the top-right corner opens Control Center, and anywhere else along the top opens Notification Center. It’s a common mix-up for anyone new to Face ID iPhones.
Does my iPhone have Camera Control? Only if it’s an iPhone 16 or newer. Action Button goes back one generation further, to iPhone 15 Pro. Both are separate from the five swipe gestures, which every Face ID iPhone has.
Akshay Mhatre is a Tech Journalist who likes to keep up with the latest from the tech world. He has worked at many popular news portals like BGR and TechRadar before joining TheLeaker as a News writer and journalist. A writer by day and a VFX artist by night. In his free time, he also likes to make motion graphics and concept art. You can find him on Instagram @akshayrazr_95 and contact him on akshaymhatre[@]theleaker.com.