Apple built eye tracking directly into iOS 18, allowing you to control your iPhone or iPad using only your eyes. Powered by the front-facing camera and machine learning, this feature is part of Apple's suite of physical and motor accessibility tools. You don't need any external hardware or specialized peripherals to get started.
If you have a compatible device, setup takes less than two minutes. Let's look at how the feature works, how to configure it, and what you can actually do with it on a daily basis.
How iOS 18 Eye Tracking Works
Apple's Eye Tracking relies on the front-facing TrueDepth camera to observe where your eyes are looking on the screen. The device processes your gaze locally using on-device machine learning, meaning your visual data stays private and isn't sent to Apple's servers.
Once enabled, a subtle visual indicator or cursor follows your eyes across the display. You can hold your gaze on an element to trigger a tap, scroll through web pages, or pull up menus without lifting a finger. It's designed primarily for users with physical disabilities who find standard touch inputs difficult, but it's also useful when your hands are full or messy.
Step-by-Step Setup Guide
Setting up eye tracking requires a compatible device running iOS 18 or later, such as an iPhone 12 or newer, or recent iPad models equipped with Face ID hardware.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Scroll down and tap on Accessibility.
- Under the Physical and Motor section, select Eye Tracking.
- Toggle the switch to turn Eye Tracking on.
- Follow the on-screen setup wizard, which will prompt you to follow a moving dot with your eyes to calibrate the tracking to your unique facial structure and gaze patterns.
If your device struggles to track your eyes accurately, you can run the calibration process again at any time from the same menu. Make sure you're in a well-lit room so the camera can clearly see your face.
Customizing Controls and Actions
Once you've turned the feature on, you'll want to tweak how it interacts with your taps and gestures. iOS 18 includes a few settings to make navigation smoother.
- Dwell Control: Adjust how long you need to stare at an item before it registers as a tap. If you find yourself accidentally clicking things, increase the dwell time slightly.
- Snap to Item: This setting helps guide your gaze toward buttons and interactive elements, making it easier to select small links or icons.
- AssistiveTouch Integration: You can pair eye tracking with AssistiveTouch to open a menu of common actions, such as going to the home screen, adjusting volume, or taking screenshots.
For official documentation on mobility features, check out Apple Accessibility.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Getting used to controlling a phone with your eyes takes practice. Many users run into a few common hurdles during the first few days.
- Poor Lighting: Sitting in a dark room or having a harsh backlight behind you will blind the TrueDepth camera. Always face a light source.
- Holding the Phone Too Close: If your phone is jammed right against your face, the front camera can't capture your eyes properly. Keep it at a normal viewing distance, roughly 12 to 18 inches away.
- Skipping Calibration: If you share your device or wear different glasses, your gaze profile changes. Re-calibrating takes thirty seconds and fixes erratic cursor jumps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does iOS 18 eye tracking work in the dark?
No. Because the feature depends on the front-facing camera, it requires adequate ambient light to track your pupils and gaze accurately. It won't work in a pitch-black room.
Which devices support this feature?
Eye tracking requires a device with a TrueDepth camera system. This includes iPhone 12 models and newer, iPhone SE (3rd generation), and supported iPad models with Face ID or modern front-facing camera arrays. You can verify device specs directly via Apple Support.
Can apps capture or record where I look?
No. Apple processes all eye-tracking data entirely on your device using the secure enclave and local machine learning. Third-party apps cannot access your gaze data.
How do I turn it off quickly?
If your screen gets stuck or you want to return to standard touch control, you can triple-click the side button (if you've set up an Accessibility Shortcut) or ask Siri to turn off Eye Tracking.
