Phones just won’t stop getting bigger. Both the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Galaxy S25 Ultra have 6.9-inch screens that are great for displaying content, but these large devices can be tricky to fit in pockets or use with one hand. As phone screen sizes increase, I’ve found it challenging to access certain features.
For me, one of the most annoying quirks about upgrading from a 5.4-inch iPhone 12 Mini to a 6.1-inch iPhone 16 is how difficult it is to access the Control Center. This is the iOS feature that lets me change my screen brightness, toggle Airplane Mode, use the Flashlight and lock my screen rotation, among countless other functions.
If your iPhone still has the Home Button, you can open the Control Center simply by swiping up from the bottom of the screen. But on newer iPhones with a notch or Dynamic Island, you have to swipe down from the top right corner.
In theory, it should be easy. In practice, it can require some elaborate finger gymnastics, especially on a screen that’s pushing 7 inches.
Once you’ve set up Reachability, you can use the feature by swiping down on the bottom edge of your screen.
Screenshots by Jason Chun/CNET
If you aren’t able to use Reachability on your iPhone, here’s how you can turn on the feature. Go to Settings → Accessibility → Touch. Then toggle on Reachability.
The fact that this feature exists probably says something about phone screens becoming too large for certain human hands. While Reachability is a helpful feature, it’s not always the most intuitive. If your goal is to open the Control Center more easily, you do have some other options.
Activate Back Tap
Did you know that the back of your iPhone is technically a button? Back Tap is one of the device’s most useful hidden features, allowing you to access a wide range of functions without touching the screen. It works even if you use your iPhone with a case. And it easily lets you open the Control Center while using your device with one hand.
You can create a custom Shortcut bookmark to add to your Home Screen.
Screenshots by Jason Chun/CNET
To create the Control Center bookmark, open the Shortcuts app and hit the plus (+) sign in the top right corner. Then, in the Search Actions finder, type “Control Center” and select the option “Show Control Center”. In the following drop-down menu, select “Add to Home Screen.” You’ll see options to customize the icon, or you can simply select “Add” to skip.
Change your Shortcut for the Control Center from “Show” to “Toggle”, before setting it as your Action Button function.
Screenshots by Jason Chun/CNET
Next, go to Settings → Action Button and swipe to select the Shortcut option. In the menu, you’ll see a list of your available Shortcuts. Choose Control Center. Now you’ll be able to open and close your Control Center at any time with a quick press of the Action Button.
By default, the Action Button is your Silent/Ring switch, and you might miss having that function by changing it to this Shortcut. However, the Control Center is a much more versatile option for the Action Button. And you’ll still have easy access to the Silent/Ring switch by going to — where else? — the Control Center.
