AssistiveTouch on locked screen

Keeping AssistiveTouch enabled on a passcode-locked iPhone does not create a significant security risk in terms of disabling Find My iPhone or changing critical settings like Airplane Mode or Bluetooth when the device is lost or stolen.

1. Control Center Restrictions on the Lock Screen
   1. If Control Center is accessible from the lock screen (Settings → Face ID & Passcode → Allow Access When Locked), then Airplane Mode and Bluetooth can be toggled on/off without unlocking the phone.
   2. However, if this access is disabled, the thief cannot toggle Airplane Mode or Bluetooth without knowing the passcode.
2. Find My iPhone & iCloud Lock Protection
   1. Find My iPhone remains active even if Airplane Mode is enabled because the phone may still connect to Wi-Fi if previously connected.
   2. Lost Mode in Find My iPhone prevents settings changes, and Activation Lock prevents erasing the device without the iCloud password.
3. AssistiveTouch Limitations
   1. AssistiveTouch cannot bypass the passcode lock to access settings that require authentication.
   2. It only provides shortcuts to existing functions but does not override lock screen security.

To minimize risks if your iPhone is lost or stolen:

1. Disable Control Center on the lock screen (Settings → Face ID & Passcode → Disable Control Center).
2. Enable Lost Mode in Find My iPhone immediately if the device is lost.
3. Use a strong passcode and Face ID/Touch ID to prevent unauthorized access.
4. Use eSIM instead of a physical SIM (thieves often remove SIM cards to disable tracking).

So, while AssistiveTouch itself does not create a vulnerability, it's essential to lock down Control Center access to prevent unwanted Airplane Mode activation. 🚀

Hey there,

Unfortunately, iOS does not currently offer a built-in option to restrict AssistiveTouch to the unlock screen only. However, I understand your concern about security, especially regarding access to Control Center from the lock screen.

Here are a few possible solutions:

1. Disable Control Center on the Lock Screen:

If your primary concern is preventing access to Airplane Mode and other settings, you can disable Control Center from appearing on the lock screen while keeping AssistiveTouch enabled, This means that the control center will not be available for access if your iPhone is locked, here are the steps:

1. Go to Settings → Face ID & Passcode (or

Touch ID & Passcode).

2.Scroll down to the Allow Access When

Locked section.

3.Toggle off Control Center.

This will prevent a thief from easily enabling Airplane Mode, even if they access your AssistiveTouch menu.

2. Use AssistiveTouch with Back Tap (Alternative Trigger)

Since you like AssistiveTouch but don't want the floating button on the lock screen, you can disable the button and activate AssistiveTouch only when needed using Back Tap:

1. Go to Settings > Accessibility >Touch >Back Tap.
2. Choose Double Tap or Triple Tap.
3. Select AssistiveTouch as the action.

This way, AssistiveTouch remains off most of the time, but you can quickly bring it up when needed by tapping the back of your phone.

EbA2008 Said:

"AssistiveTouch on locked screen: [...]I’d like to disable the visual assist touch button from the unlock screen [...]Any help would be greatly appreciated."

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See what Google AI Has to Say on this: I’d like to disable the visual assistive touch button from the unlock screen

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