Options for using the Home button in different versions of iOS

Apple devices, including the iPod Touch, iPhone, and iPad, all come with a Home button located at the bottom center of the device. This button can be used to return to the Home screen, but it also has several other hidden functions. The functions that the versatile Home button can perform vary among the versions of iOS. Here is a description of the different uses of the Home button according to iOS version.

iOS 3 and earlier versions

On devices with iOS version 3 or earlier, the Home button can be set as a shortcut to access the Favorites you have stored in the device. To access your Favorites with the Home button, go to the Home screen and tap Settings-->General-->Home-->Phone Favorites. There should now be a check mark next to Phone Favorites, and double-pressing the Home button will take you to your Favorites section.

iOS 3 and later

If you have iOS 3 or 4 on your device, you can hold the Home button down for a few seconds to turn on Voice Control, which allows you to verbally instruct your phone to call a particular person or play a particular song. If you have iOS 5, holding down the Home button activates a more advanced version of Voice Control called Siri, which is described below under "iOS 5."
People with iOS 3 or later can also adjust their settings so that the Home button can be used to turn on the Camera or Search feature. To set your Home button to perform either of these functions, go to the Home screen and tap General-->Settings. There, you should see check boxes for setting shortcuts for these features.

iOS 4

iOS 4, the second-newest version of the iOS, was released in 2010. On devices programmed with iOS 4, double-pressing the Home button launches the Fast App Switcher. When the Switcher is open, you can multitask by oscillating between apps and programs, something you would be unable to do if you had iOS 3 or earlier.

iOS 5

With the introduction of iOS 5 in 2011 came the arrival of Siri, a unique program that enables you to perform various functions on your phone by speaking verbal commands into it. On devices programmed with iOS 5, holding down the Home button for a few seconds will turn Siri on regardless of whether the device is locked or unlocked. Note that Siri must be enabled on your device in order to use it; to check that it is enabled, tap Settings-->General-->Siri. If the slider is not already in the On position, put it there.

On the iPad

Finally, the Home button on the iPad is especially versatile. On every iPad, you get to choose the function that is performed upon triple-clicking the Home key. To set your iPad's triple-click Home button functionality, open the Home screen and tap Settings-->General--Accessibility--Triple-click Home. You will be presented with a list of functions from which to choose. Select the function that you want to be able to perform by triple-clicking the Home button to set up the shortcut.