iPhone Duo: nine settings that make Apple's foldable easier to use

Why the Duo needs some setup

Apple's first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, has been popular enough that the company cannot keep it in stock, according to TechCrunch. The device introduces a new way of using an iPhone, but its first version asks users to relearn some habits, from unlocking the phone to taking photos.

TechCrunch has published a list of nine settings that make the device easier to live with day to day. The suggestions cover authentication, navigation and camera use, and most take only a few minutes to configure.

Getting comfortable with Touch ID

The iPhone Duo does not support Face ID, the facial recognition system used on recent iPhones. Instead, owners press a finger on a sensor on the side of the device to unlock it, approve apps and use Apple Pay.

TechCrunch recommends registering several fingerprints rather than one or two. Because the phone can be held in many orientations, folded or unfolded, different fingers and thumbs end up near the sensor. The path is Settings, then Touch ID & Passcode, then Add a Fingerprint.

Owners with an Apple Watch can also unlock the phone without touching the sensor. The watch must be passcode-protected and worn near the phone. The option sits under Settings, then Touch ID & Passcode, then Unlock with Apple Watch.

A third option, Rest Finger to Open, is an accessibility setting that unlocks the phone with a light touch instead of a full press. TechCrunch notes some people prefer the tactile feel of a press, so it is worth trying both.

Volume buttons and one-handed use

By default, the Duo's volume buttons are fixed: the Volume Up button always raises the volume no matter how the phone is turned. TechCrunch suggests turning off Fixed Position Volume Controls under Settings, then Sounds & Haptics, so the buttons re-orient themselves as the device rotates or folds.

Reachability, an accessibility feature that moves screen content within thumb's reach, behaves differently on the Duo. Because the phone is wide and shaped like a passport, the far side of the screen is the hard-to-reach part. When the feature is on, swiping the left or right edge brings a side of the screen closer. It is enabled by default and can be switched off under Settings, then Accessibility, then Touch, then Reachability.

Screenshots and locking when folded

Taking a screenshot normally means pressing the side button and a volume button at the same time, which can need two hands. TechCrunch points to the Back Tap accessibility feature, which lets a double or triple tap on the back of the phone trigger an action such as a screenshot. The setting is found under Settings, then Accessibility, then Touch, then Back Tap, with the screenshot action listed under the Device menu. A triple tap reduces the chance of triggering it by accident.

The ninth tip concerns locking the screen automatically when the phone is folded shut. There is no built-in setting for this yet, so TechCrunch describes creating a shortcut in the Shortcuts app using an automation based on the Opened or Closed option in the Display section.

What it means for new owners

None of these changes are required, but together they address the main friction points of a foldable that abandons Face ID and can be held in far more positions than a standard iPhone. Most are one-time adjustments, and several are accessibility features that double as usability tools.

Readers who want the full walkthrough, including the camera-related tips not covered in detail here, can find the complete list in TechCrunch's original article.