How to Use iOS 18 Eye Tracking on Your iPhone

What to Know

  • Eye tracking is one of Apple's new iOS 18 features, designed to let iPhone users control their iPhone using just their eyes.
  • To set up Eye Tracking in iOS 18 and later, open the Settings app, tap Accessibility, then Eye Tracking, and turn on Eye Tracking. 

Eye Tracking allows iPhone users to control their iPhone with their gaze. Users can also customize Eye Tracking in many helpful ways. Here's how to turn on and use one of Apple's most helpful new iOS 18 features, Eye Tracking.

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Which iPhones Can Use iOS 18 Eye Tracking?

Here is a list of iPhone models that support Eye Tracking:

  • iPhone SE (3rd generation)
  • iPhone 12
  • iPhone 12 mini
  • iPhone 12 Pro
  • iPhone 12 Pro Max
  • iPhone 13 mini
  • iPhone 13
  • iPhone 13 Pro
  • iPhone 13 Pro Max
  • iPhone 14
  • iPhone 14 Plus
  • iPhone 14 Pro
  • iPhone 14 Pro Max
  • iPhone 15
  • iPhone 15 Plus
  • iPhone 15 Pro
  • iPhone 15 Pro Max
  • iPhone 16
  • iPhone 16 Plus
  • iPhone 16 Pro
  • iPhone 16 Pro Max

Read on to learn how to turn on and use Apple's Eye Tracking feature! 

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How to Turn on & Use Eye Tracking

Now, let's go over how to turn on and use Eye Tracking, one of the latest Apple accessibility features:

  1. Open the Settings app.

    iPhone settings app
  2. Tap Accessibility.

    iphone accesibility settings
  3. Tap Eye Tracking.

    tap eye tracking
  4. Toggle on Eye Tracking.

    toggle on eye tracking
  5. A countdown will appear onscreen. When it's done, follow the dot with your eyes to calibrate Eye Tracking.

    follow colorful dot to calibrate eye tracking
  6. Now, you'll see an outline onscreen wherever your gaze is directed.

    eye tracking outline around messages app
  7. When you stare at a place onscreen, the dwell pointer will appear, and a timer will begin. When the timer finishes, the area is selected as though you tapped it.

You can use the AssistiveTouch menu to perform additional button presses and onscreen gestures. Now, let's learn how to customize iPhone Eye Tracking settings. 

How to Customize iPhone Eye Tracking

Here's how to customize how the iPhone Eye Tracking pointer responds:

  1. Open Eye Tracking in Accessibility settings as before.
  2. Slide the Smoothing value to the right to make pointer movement smoother, left to make it more responsive.

    eye tracking smoothing setting
  3. Toggle on Snap to Item to have the Eye Tracking pointer move automatically to where you're looking onscreen.

    snap to item eye tracking setting
  4. Toggle on Zoom on Keyboard Keys to look at a section of the screen to zoom in, and look at a key on the keyboard to tap it.

    zoom on keyboard keys eye tracking setting
  5. Toggle on Auto-Hide to show the Eye Tracking pointer when you keep your eyes still and remove it when your eyes move.

    auto hide eye tracking setting
  6. Toggle on Dwell Control to enable and adjust Fallback Action, Movement Tolerance, Hot Corners, and Time needed to initiate a dwell action.

    dwell controll eye tracking setting

Now you know how to set up and use iOS 18 Eye Tracking on your iPhone! Be sure to check out our free Tip of the Day for more great tutorials about iOS 18 features.

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Author Details

Leanne Hays's picture

Author Details

Leanne Hays

Leanne Hays has over a dozen years of experience writing for online publications. As a Feature Writer for iPhone Life, she has authored hundreds of how-to, Apple news, and gear review articles, as well as a comprehensive Photos App guide. Leanne holds degrees in education and science and loves troubleshooting and repair. This combination makes her a perfect fit as manager of our Ask an Expert service, which helps iPhone Life Insiders with Apple hardware and software issues.
In off-work hours, Leanne is a mother of two, homesteader, audiobook fanatic, musician, and learning enthusiast.