The iPhone 7 has 3D Touch, which senses how hard you press the screen to show previews, quick actions and shortcuts. If it triggers too easily or you have to press too hard, you can change its sensitivity, and you can turn it off completely. This guide covers both, on iOS 13 through iOS 15 and on older versions, plus how 3D Touch compares with Haptic Touch on newer iPhones.
Quick Answer
Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > 3D & Haptic Touch, then drag the 3D Touch Sensitivity slider to Light, Medium or Firm. Turn off the 3D Touch switch to disable it.
Change 3D Touch Sensitivity (iOS 13 and Later)
- Open Settings and tap Accessibility.
- Tap Touch, then 3D & Haptic Touch.
- Make sure 3D Touch is on.
- Under 3D Touch Sensitivity, drag the slider:
- Light: a softer press triggers it
- Medium: the default
- Firm: you have to press harder, which reduces accidental triggers
- Press the test image at the bottom of the screen to try the new setting.
The iPhone 7 can run up to iOS 15, so these steps apply to most iPhone 7s still in use.
Change It on iOS 10 to iOS 12
- Open Settings > General > Accessibility.
- Tap 3D Touch.
- Adjust the 3D Touch Sensitivity slider, and test with the sample image.
How to Turn Off 3D Touch
- Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > 3D & Haptic Touch.
- Turn off 3D Touch.
With 3D Touch off, the iPhone falls back to Haptic Touch, where you touch and hold instead of pressing firmly. Quick actions on Home Screen icons and link previews still work; they just use a long press. You can set how long that press needs to be under Touch Duration: Fast or Slow.
What 3D Touch Does on an iPhone 7
- Quick actions: press an app icon for shortcuts, such as a new message or a selfie.
- Peek and Pop: press a link, email or photo to preview it, and press harder to open it (on iOS 13 and later, previews open as menus).
- Trackpad mode: press the keyboard to turn it into a trackpad and move the cursor.
- Live Photos: press a Live Photo wallpaper on the Lock Screen to animate it.
- Control Center: press a control, such as the flashlight, for more options like brightness levels.
3D Touch vs. Haptic Touch
| 3D Touch | Haptic Touch | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Pressure-sensitive screen layer | Long press with a vibration |
| iPhones | iPhone 6s through iPhone XS and XS Max | iPhone XR, iPhone 11 and later, iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation) |
| Adjustable | Sensitivity: Light, Medium, Firm | Touch Duration: Fast or Slow |
Troubleshooting
- 3D Touch stops responding: restart the iPhone and try the test image again.
- Accidental triggers when scrolling: set sensitivity to Firm.
- Thick screen protectors or cases can make 3D Touch less responsive. Try Light, or remove the protector to test.
- After a screen replacement, 3D Touch may not work if the replacement panel lacks the pressure sensor. Contact the repair provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does turning off 3D Touch save battery?
Any difference is negligible.
Why is 3D Touch missing from my settings?
Your iPhone doesn’t have 3D Touch hardware. Newer models only offer Haptic Touch, with a Touch Duration setting instead.
Can I turn off Haptic Touch too?
No, but you can set Touch Duration to Slow so it’s harder to trigger. To turn off vibrations, see how to turn off system haptics.
Summary
- Settings > Accessibility > Touch > 3D & Haptic Touch.
- Drag 3D Touch Sensitivity to Light, Medium or Firm.
- Test with the sample image.
- Turn off 3D Touch to use a long press instead.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.