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iOS 11 Reachability

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pika2000

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Original poster
Jun 22, 2007
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Just updated my 6S to 11.0.1 from iOS10.
Reachability seems to lose some features. In the past I can initiate reachability to open the notification center. Now, I cannot. Opening notification requires me to literally swipe form the top screen, even with reachability. Doesn't this defeat the purpose?

Anybody noticing the same thing? I thought reachability is a great feature, but is Apple ditching it just because the X has no home button? :(
 
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Yep it's really annoying. I never used reachability on my iPhone 6 but now I have a plus phone, it's REALLY needed. I'll be so pissed if Apple gets rid of it completely, I love it.
 
I reported this during the public betas.

It makes no sense to remove this functionality unless you’re intentionally trying to frustrate users. There is literally nothing to be gained from doing so.

So Apple knows about it. They would’ve had hundreds of reports. It would also be extremely easy to restore the iOS 10 behaviour if they wanted to. That they haven’t suggests it was likely intentional.

You have to wonder about their motivations for frustrating users in this way.
 
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Sounds like a glitch/bug. But could be something else like what they did with the 3D Touch app switcher action (or even perhaps something more intentional where they might be changing something about it on purpose for some reason).
 
4ppleg1rl said:
Yep it's really annoying. I never used reachability on my iPhone 6 but now I have a plus phone, it's REALLY needed. I'll be so pissed if Apple gets rid of it completely, I love it.
Click to expand...

I wouldn’t be surprised. It’s gone in the iPhone X.
 
BeeGood said:
I doubt very seriously that this is the cause but if it is, the 8+ will be the last iPhone I ever buy.

I reported this in Beta 10 but I’m pretty sure it was an issue through all the betas.
Click to expand...
Is it coincidental that Apple also removed the 3D Touch app switching gesture on normal iPhones? They made a statement that they plan on restoring it, but who knows why they removed both features in the first place!
 
Zwhaler said:
Is it coincidental that Apple also removed the 3D Touch app switching gesture on normal iPhones? They made a statement that they plan on restoring it, but who knows why they removed both features in the first place!
Click to expand...

I have to admit, the timing of it does make me a little nervous. They also announced the iPhone X, which has no Reachability at all.

I’d like to think it was a goof...like maybe since they knew it wouldn’t be “needed” on the X (I don’t really believe that, but OK Apple), they inadvertently left 3D Touch App switching and some Reachability features off all the other phones. Im really hoping that it’s implemented just the way it worked on 10.3, and that it happens on iOS 11.2.
 
While I also hope they fix it I am using a slight work around for now. In Settings- General-Accessability turn on Assistive Touch then amend the Top Level Menu to include Notifications ( I have Notifications and home set on mine but there are other options as well ). You should then see a circular button on the home screen which you can drag to near the bottom of the screen - tap on it and you will see an icon for Notifications - tap that and the notification screen will appear. Positioning the circular button near the bottom of the screen let's you tap it easily if you are holding the phone at the bottom
[doublepost=1506635350][/doublepost]Oops - also meant to say the circular button remains present and workable in most any app you open !
 
papashaun said:
While I also hope they fix it I am using a slight work around for now. In Settings- General-Accessability turn on Assistive Touch then amend the Top Level Menu to include Notifications ( I have Notifications and home set on mine but there are other options as well ). You should then see a circular button on the home screen which you can drag to near the bottom of the screen - tap on it and you will see an icon for Notifications - tap that and the notification screen will appear. Positioning the circular button near the bottom of the screen let's you tap it easily if you are holding the phone at the bottom
Click to expand...
Yeah, this is what I do for now as well.
Maybe Craig/Phil should rewatch their older keynotes bragging about reachability.
 
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I thought I read somewhere that Reachability will return in a later update to iOS 11. Can anyone confirm this?
 
bmac89 said:
I thought I read somewhere that Reachability will return in a later update to iOS 11. Can anyone confirm this?
Click to expand...
You might be confusing that with the 3D Touch shortcut for app switcher. (And reachability is still there, just one usecase for getting to notification center was removed, either on purpose or perhaps due to a glitch of some sort.)
 
C DM said:
You might be confusing that with the 3D Touch shortcut for app switcher. (And reachability is still there, just one usecase for getting to notification center was removed, either on purpose or perhaps due to a glitch of some sort.)
Click to expand...

I knew about 3D Touch app switcher but I thought reachability was coming back too... but your right, my memory may be confused!
 
The Apple store specifically mentions that both iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 plus have reachability so I think maybe it is correct that it is coming back in a later update?

...or is reachability working on these phones already?



A393ECB4-D0A7-4DC8-B61F-19084E8F29E1.jpeg
 
Works fine on my iPhone 7+ running iOS 11. Although, you do have to reach from the top of the screen for the Notification Center in Reachability.
 
That’s what we’re talking about Ferc Kast.

It’s still mostly working, so it makes even less sense why they’d partially disable it.
 
bmac89 said:
The Apple store specifically mentions that both iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 plus have reachability so I think maybe it is correct that it is coming back in a later update?

...or is reachability working on these phones already?
Click to expand...
Reachability still exists, but the functionality is diminished compared to previous iOS.

For example, before iOS 11, I can initiate Reachability, reach "top" part of the UI (which is now at the middle of the screen, and swipe down to get to notification center.

In iOS 11, I can no longer do that. I have to literally reach out to the top of the screen to pull down the notification center when in reachability. That defeats the purpose of reachability.
 
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Whether a bug or feature, I’m guessing this is a side effect of the new lockscreen pull down. If Apple intends to bring it back, it might be more than a mere tweak if it was lost in a big change to all that code, which is why it might not be back this soon. But I still have hope it will make a return eventually.
 
Did this work in iOS 10? I remember trying it, it didn’t work, so I never bothered with it again.

I sort of don’t use Notification Center so it wasn’t a big loss for me.
 
davidg4781 said:
Did this work in iOS 10? I remember trying it, it didn’t work, so I never bothered with it again.

I sort of don’t use Notification Center so it wasn’t a big loss for me.
Click to expand...

Yes it worked in iOS 10. You used to be able to shift the screen down, and reach right above the top (midway up the screen) and pull down the Notification Center.

iOS 11 does not allow this. It’s the main reason I (and many others) use Reachability...to access notifications with one hand.
 
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Zwhaler said:
Is it coincidental that Apple also removed the 3D Touch app switching gesture on normal iPhones? They made a statement that they plan on restoring it, but who knows why they removed both features in the first place!
Click to expand...

BeeGood said:
I have to admit, the timing of it does make me a little nervous. They also announced the iPhone X, which has no Reachability at all.

I’d like to think it was a goof...like maybe since they knew it wouldn’t be “needed” on the X (I don’t really believe that, but OK Apple), they inadvertently left 3D Touch App switching and some Reachability features off all the other phones. Im really hoping that it’s implemented just the way it worked on 10.3, and that it happens on iOS 11.2.
Click to expand...
Looks like as of iOS 11.1 beta 3 both of those things (the 3D Touch app switcher and reachability working properly with Notification Center) are back in working order.
 
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C DM said:
Looks like as of iOS 11.1 beta 3 both of those things (the 3D Touch app switcher and reachability working properly with Notification Center) are back in working order.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I didn’t end know beta 3 was out until I saw a notification for your reply. :)

I’ve reported it in every single beta since 10 on iOS 11..Sooo good to have Reachability working like it used to!
 
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