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User profile for user: koala32
koala32 Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

iPhone SE (1st generation) is stuck on Switch Control, iOS 12.4.1

I turned on Switch Control on my iPhone from my MacBook Pro. The space bar of my MacBook Pro was chosen as the remote button to control my iPhone and worked as it should (areas were highlighted one after the other on the iPhone, and when clicking the space bar on the Mac, I could perform the highlighted action, eg. open an app, tap something, etc.).


Then I (accidentally) set up a second button for the switch control directly on my iPhone: the whole screen served as a button to move the highlight zone from one area to the next. At this point, I was therefore able to move the highlight zone from one item to the next by tapping anywhere on my iPhone screen, and select the desired area by clicking the space bar on the Mac. Eg., I could tap on my iPhone screen to move the highlight zone to a desired zone, and click on the space bar on my Mac to perform the desired action.


But then, my iPhone was turned off. When turned on again, it didn't automatically reconnect to the wifi. So the remote button defined on the Mac doens't work anymore (since apparently, both need to be connected to the same wifi in order to use switch control).


So I'm left with only the button that allows to go from one highlighted area to the next, but no button to actually click anything. So I can't do anything with my iPhone.


I therefore want to escape the Switch Control.


What I've tried:

  • clicking 3 times the central button to access the accessibility shortcuts. Works, but I'm then unable to tick off "Switch Control" since I can't actually click anything.

  • recovery mode and force the update (by holding top button and central button while connected by cable to my Mac): not enough memory space on my iPhone to install the update.
  • connect my iPhone to the same wifi as my Mac: even though my iPhone normally automatically connects to my home wifi, it doesn't now.
  • activating Siri as suggested in iPhone 11 is stuck on Switch Control at S… - Apple Community: long holding the central button can only activate Siri when I'm on wifi in my settings.


Thank you very much for your help!

Posted on Aug 1, 2024 11:26 AM

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1 reply
User profile for user: brbo
brbo
User level: Level 8
35,891 points

Aug 3, 2024 3:16 PM in response to koala32

Hi koala32,

welcome to the Apple. (user-to-user) Community!


Re: "iPhone SE (1st generation) is stuck on Switch Control, iOS 12.4.1"


Seems you can triple-click the Home button or the Side button on certain models at any time to exit Switch Control.


Else:

You may want to try this tip from the discussion thread (link below):

Can’t Turn Off Switch Control once it’s on : user solution


iPhone user: “If you have any devices that can be connected to your phone with a cable, such as a MacBook or any Laptop/Desktop, just connect it and press the side button to turn the phone screen off. Once you do that, turn it on and triple click the side button and it should turn off”.

Can’t Turn Off Swtich Control once it’s on - Apple Community


All the best :-). 🇦🇺

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iPhone SE (1st generation) is stuck on Switch Control, iOS 12.4.1

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