Header Banner
gadgethacks.mark.png
Gadget Hacks Shop Apple Guides Android Guides iPhone Guides Mac Guides Pixel Guides Samsung Guides Tweaks & Hacks Privacy & Security Productivity Hacks Movies & TV Smartphone Gaming Music & Audio Travel Tips Videography Tips Chat Apps

Take Total Control of Buttons & Gestures on Your iPhone for Shortcuts to Anything You Want

Jan 31, 2014 06:07 PM
Hand holding a smartphone showcasing app icons.

The sovereignty that's granted when we jailbreak our iOS 7 devices can only be described with one word—liberating. With this freedom comes countless themes and apps that let us manipulate our devices to really own them and turn them into something that is truly ours.

Activator is an app that exemplifies what jailbreaking is all about, allowing us to change and add new gestures to our iOS 7 devices. With it, we'll be able to configure shortcuts using different Home button presses, take screenshots just by shaking, along with customize swipe gestures and lock screen actions.

Enough talking, head to Cydia to download and install the app, and let's get started.

Activator app details screen with version number and file size.

Configuring Your Preferences

The preferences can be accessed through the Activator icon on your home screen, or by going to your main Settings application. Open them up and choose a location where we want to activate new actions and gestures (Anywhere, At Home Screen, In Application, or At Lock Screen).

Settings menu with options including "Activator," "Alkaline," "Believed," "Cydia," "Cydget," "DockShift," "GravityLock," and "Lock Screen Tool."
Take Total Control of Buttons & Gestures on Your iPhone for Shortcuts to Anything You Want
Settings menu with options including "Activator," "Alkaline," "Believed," "Cydia," "Cydget," "DockShift," "GravityLock," and "Lock Screen Tool."
Take Total Control of Buttons & Gestures on Your iPhone for Shortcuts to Anything You Want

To keep things simple, we'll be choosing At Home Screen in this tutorial, but tailor it any way you prefer.

Using Gestures & Actions

Scroll through and explore on your own, but some of the main facets we can change are lock screen actions, sliding gestures, the Home button, etc. Once we select a specific gesture, we can choose from a long list of apps, commands, and toggles for that gesture to activate.

RCA Activator app home screen interface with button press options.
Take Total Control of Buttons & Gestures on Your iPhone for Shortcuts to Anything You Want
RCA Activator app home screen interface with button press options.
Take Total Control of Buttons & Gestures on Your iPhone for Shortcuts to Anything You Want

We can also make new commands. For example, assign the Triple Press home button action to open your favorite app or assign Shake Device to conveniently take screenshots.

Share Device Settings on a mobile application interface.
Music app interface displaying audio control options such as 'Next Track', 'Pause', 'Play', and 'Previous Track', along with a screenshot notification.
Share Device Settings on a mobile application interface.
Music app interface displaying audio control options such as 'Next Track', 'Pause', 'Play', and 'Previous Track', along with a screenshot notification.

To say that we can do a lot with this application is an extreme understatement. Comment below with all the ways you've saved time or found a shortcut using Activator.

You already know how to use your phone. With our newsletter, we'll show you how to master it. Each week, we explore features, hidden tools, and advanced settings that give you more control over iOS and Android than most users even know exists.

Sign up for Gadget Hacks Weekly and start unlocking your phone's full potential.

Related Articles

Comments

No Comments Exist

Be the first, drop a comment!