Unlocking with Handwriting Mode - VoiceOver - iOS V8.1 - iPad

Unlocking the iPad with Handwriting Mode

A question I am asked frequently by new iPad users is how to unlock the tablet without the whole world hearing your passcode. After all, you won't necessarily have a set of headphones with you all the time and, even if you do, it may not be convenient to wear them (or find them even, which is normally the problem I have!)

What may surprise you is that there is actually a fairly straightforward way around this issue. This is how you do it:

Unlocking your iPad Using Handwriting Mode

1. From a locked iPad screen, press the Home button then SWIPE LEFT several times until you have focus on the unlock button.
2. DOUBLE TAP to activate the unlock button and focus will move to the passcode entry screen.
3. Launch the rotor control by putting your middle finger (or index finger) on the screen then, using your ring finger (or middle finger) trace a clockwise or anti-clockwise circle 180 degrees. If you have done this correctly, as you trace the circle you will hear VoiceOver announce various options. (Note: the rotor gesture can be tricky to master but keep practising and you'll soon get the hang of it.
4. As you move the rotor "dial" round, listen out for the Handwriting option, which will be set by default to "Numbers". When you hear this, remove your fingers from the screen.
5. Now that the Handwriting Mode is active, trace the first digit of your passcode on the tablet screen. For example, if the first digit of your passcode is number 6 then physically trace that number on the iPad screen. When you finish tracing your first digit, the iPad will automatically recognise it and input the number in your passcode area.
6. Continue doing this until you have all your numbers input and you have correctly logged in.

Pretty neat isn't it? Now you don't need to hunt down a set of ear phones every time you want to log in with a degree of privacy!

Looking for more information about VoiceOver on the Apple platform? Then please visit:

www.applevis.com

The official Apple support pages can be found here on Apple UK:

www.apple.com/uk/support