Install
What you need
Section titled “What you need”- An Android phone or tablet on Android 10 or later.
- A switch, or a front camera for camera switches. See Connect a switch.
- Bluetooth Low Energy, only if you want to control a PC. See Pair a PC.
Switchify does not run on iOS.
Install
Section titled “Install”Install Switchify from Google Play. Updates come through Google Play; when one has downloaded, the app shows a bar and installs it by itself a couple of seconds later, which restarts Switchify. If you dismiss that, a later reminder lets you install when you choose.
The setup steps
Section titled “The setup steps”The first time Switchify opens it walks you through setup. You can go back a step at any time, and it remembers where you were if you leave.
- Welcome. Choose I’m new or I have an account to sign in and restore your settings.
- Share diagnostic data. Off unless you choose Share diagnostic data. See Privacy.
- What best describes you. User, specialist, carer or family, or other.
- Understanding scan modes. Auto uses a single switch to scan and select. Manual uses several switches to move and select. You can change this later in Settings.
- Set up your switches. Add an external keyboard key, a Bluetooth switch, or a camera switch. You can skip this for now.
- Enable the accessibility service. See below.
- Pro. An optional step describing Pro. Choose Maybe Later to continue.
- Practice. Four boxes to activate with your switch. Needs the accessibility service to be on.
Turn on the accessibility service
Section titled “Turn on the accessibility service”Switchify works as an Android accessibility service, so Android has to allow it. Choose Enable Accessibility Service in the app, or open Settings → Accessibility → Switchify on the device, and turn it on. Android explains that the service can read what is on screen and perform actions for you; that is how it scans and taps.
Back in Switchify, the home screen says Switchify is on. If it says Switchify is off, tap it to go back to the system setting.
Permissions
Section titled “Permissions”| Permission | When Switchify asks | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Accessibility service | During setup | To read the screen, scan it, and perform taps, swipes and other actions. |
| Camera | When you add a camera switch, or from Enable camera on the home screen | To recognise facial gestures. Only used while a camera switch is active. |
| Nearby devices (Android 12 and later) or Location (earlier versions) | When you set up PC control | To find and connect to computers over Bluetooth. On older Android versions, Location must also be turned on; Switchify does not use your location. |
The free session limit
Section titled “The free session limit”Without Pro, the accessibility service runs for one hour, warns you ten minutes before the end, and then stops. Turn it off and on again in Android’s accessibility settings for a fresh hour. A new session cannot start while the device is locked. See Pro and your account.
Your first scan
Section titled “Your first scan”Close Switchify and press your switch on the home screen. The highlight starts moving. Press again when it reaches an app you use every day. If it moves too fast, slow it down under Settings → Scanning → Scan Speeds; scan speed is the setting most worth taking time over.