I cover Android with a focus on productivity, automation, and Google’s ecosystem, including Gemini and everyday apps. With a background in engineering and software development, I tend to go beyond surface-level tips.
Before joining AP, I wrote for tech publications such as Gizbot in 2023 and iJunkie (formerly known as iPhoneHacks) from 2021 to 2022.
Google Pixel's Quick Tap feature lets you double-tap the back of a Pixel phone to trigger an action. I liked the idea of a shortcut at my fingertips, but I did not want to switch phones to get it.
That is when I came across an open source Android app that brings back-tap gestures to a wider range of devices. After trying it, I realized it could do more than I expected.
How I got the Quick Tap feature on my phone
Recreate the shortcut without switching devices
I found a way to bring the feature to my Android phone without buying a Pixel: an open source app called Tap, Tap. It brings Google's back-tap gesture to all Android devices, letting you assign actions to double and triple taps.
You can download the app from its GitHub repository, where you'll also find its releases and installation files. Tap, Tap works on Android 7.0 and later, although your phone needs an accelerometer and a gyroscope for gesture detection to work.
After installing the app, you can configure what happens when you double-tap or triple-tap the back of your phone.
The app supports more than 50 possible actions, including launching apps and shortcuts, toggling the flashlight, simulating button presses, and running Tasker tasks.
I made double tap my everyday shortcut
It's my go-to shortcut for Gemini
I assigned double tap to Launch Assistant in Tap, Tap. Since Gemini is my phone's default assistant, this gesture opens the app so I can ask questions, dictate reminders, or get help without searching for its app icon.
To set it up, open Tap, Tap and go to the Double Tap Actions section. If your preferred action is not listed, tap Add Action.
If another action is taking priority, you can remove it or adjust the order. Tap, Tap can run multiple actions in sequence, so the order matters.
I recommend adjusting the sensitivity if the app misses taps or triggers accidentally. Tap, Tap offers different device models and sensitivity controls because gesture detection can vary depending on the phone's size and hardware.
I assigned triple tap to screenshots
Capture the screen without pressing a single button
I wanted my second gesture to be just as practical, so I assigned triple tap to take a screenshot. Instead of pressing the power and volume buttons together, I can tap the back of my phone three times to capture the screen.
It's useful when I want to save an order confirmation, keep a reference handy, or capture something in an app before it disappears.
To set it up, I opened Tap, Tap and selected Triple Tap Actions. I tapped Add Action and chose Screenshot from the available actions.
This is how I stop accidental back taps
One of my favorite aspects of Tap, Tap is the flexibility of my back-tap gestures. The app has a feature called Gates that lets me decide when gestures can trigger.
For example, I can prevent a gesture from running when my screen is off, when I am on a call, or when a particular app is open. That means I can reduce accidental triggers and make my shortcuts behave more accurately.
To configure this, open Tap, Tap and head to the Gates section. You can add conditions depending on when you want back-tap gestures to work.
That means I can tailor the gestures to how I use my phone, instead of having shortcuts fire at inconvenient moments.
Take back-tap shortcuts further with Tasker
Experiment with custom automations
For more advanced shortcuts, Tap, Tap can work with Tasker, an Android automation app that lets you combine multiple actions into a single task.
Instead of opening an app or toggling the flashlight, a back tap can trigger a sequence of actions tailored to a particular routine.
For example, a Tasker task could turn on Do Not Disturb, adjust media volume, and open a reading app when it's time to focus. Another could change audio settings and launch a navigation app before a drive.
You must configure these custom automations in Tasker; they aren't ready-made Tap, Tap actions.
Here's how to set it up:
- Install Tasker and create a new task.
- Add the actions you want Tasker to perform.
- Open Tap, Tap and choose Double Tap or Triple Tap.
- Tap Add Action and look for the Tasker integration under the advanced actions.
Select the task you created, enable it, and test the gesture.
A Pixel-style shortcut, with more room to experiment
Tap, Tap is a useful upgrade for anyone who wants to trigger actions by tapping the back of their phone. Google's Quick Tap feature offers similar functionality on the Pixel 4a and newer models, including taking screenshots, controlling media, showing notifications, and opening apps.
What makes Tap, Tap even better is that it supports both double- and triple-tap actions, conditional Gates, and Tasker integrations. That means you can go beyond a single back-tap shortcut and build a setup around the actions you use.