Shake to Undo on the iPhone

Ever delete an email by mistake? Ever accidentally delete more text than you meant do (because the delete key goes faster and faster the longer you hold it)? Ever wish the iPhone had an Undo feature like the Mac does? Of course you have, and of course it does. It didn’t have one at first but it has one now. All you have to do is shake your iPhone to bring up a box asking you whether you want to undo whatever it is you did.

Double-check that this feature is on by going to Settings, then Accessibility, then to Touch.

Shake it like a blackboard eraser. That works the best.

Advice: try it before you need it, so you see how it works.

Bonus: if you’re using an iPhone with iOS 14, and you’d rather tap than shake, set up a double-tap or triple-tap in the Back Tap settings to simulate the shake! Here’s my article about configuring the Back Tap in iOS 14.

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Author: Christian Boyce

Christian Boyce is a Mac and iPhone expert specializing in teaching people how to use Apple devices better, to get more done with them, and to have more fun doing it. He bought his first Mac (a Mac Plus) in 1986 and his first iPhone in 2007. He's written books and magazine articles, and given seminars at Macworld Expo, MacFair/LA, and the California Computer Expo. Over 30 years in the business. View all posts by Christian Boyce