App switcher annoyance

By SheilaG, 19 November, 2025

Forum
iOS and iPadOS

I have the latest iOS version. When I use my custom gesture to go to the App Switcher and then do the three-finger swipe up to close an app, this does not work. And I have to start all over again sometimes two or three times before the app closes. I'm guessing it's voiceover focus jumping or something. Just wondered if this is a new bug?

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Comments

By Brian on Wednesday, November 19, 2025 - 19:24

This might be affected by a recent setting added toward the bottom of the VoiceOver screen. If you go to Settings, Accessibility, VoiceOver, then scroll down all the way to the bottom. There is an option called Double Tap Timeout. However, just above that is a newer setting called Delay Before Selection. This determines how fast VoiceOver responds whenever you touch the screen. adjusting this might resolve your situation.
Optionally, when you are on the App Switcher, you could swipe up and down the action rotor until you find, 'close', then just single finger double tap on each item you want to close. Make sure you swipe back to, 'activate', before you close App Switcher, that way next time you don't accidentally start closing apps before you realize what you are doing.

HTH.

By SheilaG on Wednesday, November 19, 2025 - 20:18

Thanks, Brian. I'll give that a try.

By KE8UPE on Thursday, November 20, 2025 - 02:13

Hi,
What's your custom gesture for opening the app switcher?
My guess is that whatever it is, interfears with one of the standard Voiceover gestures.

By Brian on Thursday, November 20, 2025 - 02:35

Yeah, that's valid. If you want proof of concept, just assign anything to the four finger single tap gesture. You'll be lucky if you're ever able to use the four finger single tap to jump to the top or bottom of the screen. Ever again.
True story.

By kool_turk on Thursday, November 20, 2025 - 02:55

Try touching the screen before you close an app, sometimes it has focus issues.

It happens to me some times, but it's something I've gotten use to.

By Angel Blessing on Thursday, November 20, 2025 - 07:51

Ok, I have noticed that within the last two major releases of IOS meaning IOS 17 and Ios 18, and now with IOS 26, that Voice over will also show up ghost Icons for the app switcher when moving throughhome pages or with infolders of apps, what the strange thing is that you can actavate/or close apps that you are seeing/hearing with voiceover, I wonder what or why this has been happening, and how to fix thisissue.

By SheilaG on Thursday, November 20, 2025 - 16:29

Thanks again, Brian. Changed that time out before selection. Also, my custom gesture for the App Switcher is two-finger swipe left.

By Brian on Thursday, November 20, 2025 - 17:34

Glad to help. 😆