Multitasking gestures don't work on iPhone 5S

Question

Multitasking gestures don't work on iPhone 5S

Hi, I just got my first smart phone, an iPhone 5S with iOS 8.0.3 on it. I have two iPads so I know how to use multitasking gestures and pinch and zoom which don't work on the iPhone. Pinch and zoom sometimes works but only on some sites and apps. I will compare it with my iPads and where my iPad's pinch and zoom work, my iPhone's won't. My problem is I can't see the print unless it's zoomed in. I've put on zoom but I don't like using that at all, I never have on my iPads either, it makes me dizzy. I just want my regular pinch and zoom to work and also be able to swipe easily between apps and do a 4 finger pinch to close the app.

Have all these been disabled in iOS 8? What can I do?

Thanks,

Martha

iPhone 5s, iOS 8.3, 16 gigs

Posted on Jun 1, 2015 6:27 AM

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Answer 1

AKRBTN

Level 6

8,299 points

Jun 1, 2015 6:36 AM in response to marthafromlas cruces

Pinch to zoom works fine in iPhone iOS8, and multitasking by rapid double-press of the home button as well. The 4-finger gesture to close apps is iPad-only. It's never been a feature of iPhones (except maybe the 6plus; I can't say for sure). What apps are you experiencing problems with?

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Answer 2

Jun 1, 2015 10:48 AM in response to AKRBTN

Oh ok, iPad only. thank you for clarifying.

Many websites through Safari don't work with pinch and zoom. I checked my iPads and it works fine on them. One of them is: http://pitchfork.com

Does that work for you or any of the articles on that website? I happened to see that website in my iPhone manual, the manual was using this website to show how to zoom so I went there and found I couldn't zoom.

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Answer 3

Jun 1, 2015 11:41 AM in response to marthafromlas cruces

Pinch and zoom will not work if the site is formatted for mobile use.

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Answer 4

Jun 1, 2015 4:15 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

I don't think it was. It wasn't an "app" or anything. But I can't say for sure.

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Answer 5

Jun 1, 2015 5:59 PM in response to marthafromlas cruces

marthafromlas cruces wrote:

I don't think it was. It wasn't an "app" or anything. But I can't say for sure.

I think you misunderstood. In Safari, pinch and zoom will not work if the website is formatted for mobile devices, as opposed to desktop devices. In Safari on your phone, compare these two versions:

http://mobile.nytimes.com

And

http://www.nytimes.com

Pinch and zoom will not work in the first but it will in the second.

Sometimes, even if you put in a regular web address, the site will redirect you to the mobile version. The URL you gave above leads me to a mobile version of the site. If you scroll all the way to the bottom, you'll see a button to switch to the regular version.

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Answer 6

Jun 2, 2015 6:10 AM in response to IdrisSeabright

Meg St._Clair wrote:

marthafromlas cruces wrote:

I don't think it was. It wasn't an "app" or anything. But I can't say for sure.

I think you misunderstood. In Safari, pinch and zoom will not work if the website is formatted for mobile devices, as opposed to desktop devices. In Safari on your phone, compare these two versions:

http://mobile.nytimes.com

And

http://www.nytimes.com

Pinch and zoom will not work in the first but it will in the second.

Sometimes, even if you put in a regular web address, the site will redirect you to the mobile version. The URL you gave above leads me to a mobile version of the site. If you scroll all the way to the bottom, you'll see a button to switch to the regular version.

Ok, I see what you mean. No, it was not formatted for mobile devices. It was this website: http://pitchfork.com

It works on the iPads but not on the iPhone for pinch and zoom. Thanks for your help!

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Answer 7

Jun 2, 2015 6:40 AM in response to marthafromlas cruces

marthafromlas cruces wrote:

Meg St._Clair wrote:

marthafromlas cruces wrote:

I don't think it was. It wasn't an "app" or anything. But I can't say for sure.

I think you misunderstood. In Safari, pinch and zoom will not work if the website is formatted for mobile devices, as opposed to desktop devices. In Safari on your phone, compare these two versions:

http://mobile.nytimes.com

And

http://www.nytimes.com

Pinch and zoom will not work in the first but it will in the second.

Sometimes, even if you put in a regular web address, the site will redirect you to the mobile version. The URL you gave above leads me to a mobile version of the site. If you scroll all the way to the bottom, you'll see a button to switch to the regular version.

Ok, I see what you mean. No, it was not formatted for mobile devices. It was this website: http://pitchfork.com

It works on the iPads but not on the iPhone for pinch and zoom. Thanks for your help!

Yes, it is. The reason pinch to zoom doesn't work on that website on the iPhone is because you get rerouted to the mobile verison when you are on your phone. As I said, if you want to use the regular version of that website on your phone, scroll all the way to the bottom and tap the selection for desktop.

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Answer 8

Jun 2, 2015 9:59 AM in response to IdrisSeabright

Meg St._Clair wrote:

marthafromlas cruces wrote:

Meg St._Clair wrote:

marthafromlas cruces wrote:

I don't think it was. It wasn't an "app" or anything. But I can't say for sure.

I think you misunderstood. In Safari, pinch and zoom will not work if the website is formatted for mobile devices, as opposed to desktop devices. In Safari on your phone, compare these two versions:

http://mobile.nytimes.com

And

http://www.nytimes.com

Pinch and zoom will not work in the first but it will in the second.

Sometimes, even if you put in a regular web address, the site will redirect you to the mobile version. The URL you gave above leads me to a mobile version of the site. If you scroll all the way to the bottom, you'll see a button to switch to the regular version.

Ok, I see what you mean. No, it was not formatted for mobile devices. It was this website: http://pitchfork.com

It works on the iPads but not on the iPhone for pinch and zoom. Thanks for your help!

Yes, it is. The reason pinch to zoom doesn't work on that website on the iPhone is because you get rerouted to the mobile verison when you are on your phone. As I said, if you want to use the regular version of that website on your phone, scroll all the way to the bottom and tap the selection for desktop.

Thank you, you're right! I get it now! 🙂

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Answer 9

Jun 2, 2015 10:09 AM in response to marthafromlas cruces

Those websites are very sneaky!

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Answer 10

Jun 2, 2015 1:19 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

Meg St._Clair wrote:

Those websites are very sneaky!

Indeed they are! I found the desktop non mobile version at the bottom and clicked on it and could zoom in but the print was a tiny as a grain of sand! At that point I understood why they have mobile versions. I bought some magnifying glasses and that helps. 🙂

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