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IN A SNAP

How to Snapchat without hands on iPhone and Android

We've got the workaround you need to overcome one of Snapchat's biggest limitations – with it you'll be able to record snaps without pressing the camera button

Want to get around Snapchat's main restriction that makes you hold down your finger on your phone screen to take a snap?

We've got you covered.

 An iPhone accessibility feature called AssistiveTouch also holds the key to hands-free Snapchat videos
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An iPhone accessibility feature called AssistiveTouch also holds the key to hands-free Snapchat videosCredit: Apple

 

Just follow this surprisingly simple guide and you'll be free to use your hands to strike even more selfie poses.

How to go hands free on Snapchat on iPhone

The iPhone trick relies on an accessibility feature called AssistiveTouch:

  1. Open the Settings app and go to General
  2. Then tap on Accessibility and go to AssistiveTouch
  3. Turn AssistiveTouch on and then Create New Gesture
  4. On the New Gesture panel, press and hold with one finger in the centre of the screen to let it record your touch (the blue bar at the bottom will fill up when it's done)
  5. Save the gesture

Next, open Snapchat and tap the little grey dot on your display.

  1. Then tap Custom and select the gesture you just saved
  2. Now, another grey dot will appear. Drag it down over Snapchat's record button and let go
  3. The app will keep recording and your hands will be free to vogue

Note that gestures can only be set to last 8 seconds, so you won't get Snapchat's full 10 second video length with this workaround.

And if you want ditch the little grey dot, you can turn it off via Settings and AssistiveTouch.

 On Android, the Snapchat trick takes a bit more creativity (and a rubber band)
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On Android, the Snapchat trick takes a bit more creativity (and a rubber band)Credit: Sean Keach, The Sun

How to go hands free on Snapchat on Android

Android doesn't have an AssistiveTouch mechanism, so we'll have to be a little creative:

  1. Firstly, find a rubber band (we're not kidding – get to it)
  2. Next, wrap it around the volume up button on your Android phone, which will prompt the device to begin the recording
  3. Make sure the rubber band doesn't wrap around the lock button or obscure your phone's camera
  4. Open Snapchat
  5. With the rubber band pressing down on the volume up button, your recording should start automatically

Best of all, the video should last the full 10 seconds.

And, all the while, you'll be able to do whatever you want with your hands.


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