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How to bring back the home button on your iPhone X

By Daniel Petrov

Updated: Nov 08, 2017, 4:59 AM

Apple made a number of compromises in its first effort to make an "all-screen" phone, but chief among those was the decision to ditch the home button with its integrated Touch ID finger scanner, and replace it with a Face ID biometric solution, achieved by the TrueDepth camera kit that warranted a "notch" cutout at the top of the iPhone X display.

As a result, those coming from a legacy iPhone hit both a muscle memory wall, and aspect ratio compatibility issues. Don't cry and suffer, though, as there is a way to go home sweet home, even on the iPhone X, albeit in a virtual manner:

Go to Settings>General>Accessibility on your iPhone X;

2. Tap the AssistiveTouch option at the top, and turn on its switch;

3. Tap on the Customize top-level menu option, and mash on the minus sign until there is only one "Custom" star icon left out of the six initial options;

4. Tap in the custom icon, and pick "Home" from the long list of actions presented;

5. Set the transparency level when the Home button is not active to 20%, this way it won't interfere visually when you are scrolling down in Safari and reading an article, for instance;

6. Hold the virtual Home key, and move it to the middle of the dock at the bottom of the iPhone X's home screen;

7. Now each time you are feeling nostalgic, you can use the good old Home button, instead of the dreaded swipe-up gesture of your iPhone X. For unlocking the phone, though... well, that's still going to be done via a simple glance at the phone, why do you think Apple went through all that Face ID kit trouble?

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Daniel, a devoted tech writer at PhoneArena from 2010 to 2025, has been engrossed in mobile technology since the Windows Mobile era. His expertise spans mobile hardware, software, and carrier networks, and he's keenly interested in the future of digital health, car connectivity, and 5G. Beyond his professional pursuits, Daniel finds balance in travel, reading, and exploring new tech innovations, while contemplating the ethical and privacy implications of our digital future.