Hello,
I have been an iPhone user for eight years. While I appreciate the accessibility of the iPhone, I have several questions regarding its design.
One issue I have encountered is the lack of accessibility for the back button. In various situations, I have found myself unable to access the back button because it's not accessible in various applications.
To address this, I have resorted to using screen recognition as an alternative. However, this method has limitations, as many applications do not support the back button through VoiceOver.
I would like to inquire about alternative methods for closing applications or navigating back to the previous screen. Is there a way to do this using gestures or other actions? If not, is the only option to locate the back button from the left top corner of the iPhone screen?
Furthermore, I have encountered similar difficulties in accessing the back button through screen recognition in various applications. I would appreciate any guidance on how to overcome this obstacle.
Thank you for your assistance.
By Sanjana the Computer girl, 20 June, 2025
Forum
iOS and iPadOS
Comments
Scrub jesture
Try 2 finger scrub, that's back / escape, usually.
Yep, Two-Finger Scrub
To dismiss an alert or return to the previous screen, perform a two-finger scrub. (move two fingers back and forth three times quickly, making a “z”)
I've remapped this 2 finger…
I've remapped this 2 finger scrub to 2 finger single tap. I do back action much more frequently, and 2 finger scrub just doesn't cut it.
sometimes it comes down to app design
While the two-finger scrub gesture is often suggested as a quick way to navigate back, it’s important to note that not all apps support this feature. In some cases, the only available option is to manually locate and activate the back button within the app’s interface.
I have encountered this limitation in several applications, which means there isn’t always a straightforward solution. This issue typically falls under the responsibility of the app developer. Ideally, if developers adhere to accessibility guidelines, gestures like the two-finger scrub should function as intended.
Additionally, for users familiar with Braille, command mode provides an alternative: simply using the letter “B” will navigate back a screen.
Frankly, there's no good way
In addition to the methods you've already mentioned, there's another potentially useful one that some apps support: long-pressing a spot on the page and then swiping left to the very edge of the screen. Some apps also achieve the effect of returning to the previous screen with this operation.
Unable to find Solution
I know about the scrub gestures, but this gestures is not working in all applications.
we have to find the back button in the left corner of the screen and double tap it. but
sometimes back button or close button is also not accessible. that's my problem