Hidden iPhone Duo Tap Shortcut Opens Control Center, Easing Left-Handed Use

In reviews published earlier this week, a common complaint was that opening Control Center in left-handed use can be a pain, 9to5Mac reported. Like other iPhones, iPhone Duo opens Control Center with a swipe down from the top-right corner. That gesture is not a problem when the device is used two-handed, and it can be slightly awkward but ultimately fine in the right hand, according to the report. In left-handed use, however, even when the device is folded, its extra-wide design makes Control Center more of a challenge to open.

Stephen Robles showed in a video on X that users can instead tap the Battery/Wi-Fi/Cellular icon to open Control Center. The shortcut is much more reachable than a top-right corner swipe, and Robles demonstrated that when a Live Activity is running, the button moves further down the screen, making it even more reachable. The report described the shortcut as one of the unique design implementations introduced with iPhone Duo.