Gloves and Apparel
How to Use an iPhone With Gloves On: Five Ways That Work
Most gloves block an iPhone's capacitive screen. Five fixes: touchscreen gloves, conductive thread, liquid or stickers, a stylus, or Voice Control.
Most gloves block an iPhone screen, so you need a glove with a conductive fingertip, a conductive add-on, a stylus or your voice. iPhones use capacitive touchscreens, which sense the electrical change a bare finger makes on the glass, as the Wikipedia touchscreen article explains. Ordinary glove material insulates the finger, so the screen often cannot detect it.
Part of the leather gloves and apparel guide.
Your options at a glance
| Option | How it works | Watch out for | Fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Touchscreen gloves | Conductive fingertip passes charge from skin to screen | Fit and fingertip shape matter too | – |
| Conductive thread sewn into the fingertip | Stitches touch your skin inside and the glass outside | A little stiff; thicker than normal thread | – |
| Conductive liquid | Soaks through to form a conductive path | Results vary on leather; test a hidden spot | – |
| Conductive stickers | Thin adhesive patch on the fingertip | The film may wear out | – |
| Capacitive stylus | Held in the gloved hand | One more thing to carry | – |
| Voice Control | Tap, swipe and type by voice | Not in all countries or regions | – |
Why gloves don't work on an iPhone
Glove thickness and material play a large part. Very thin gloves, such as medical gloves, are thin enough to use on touchscreens. Some screens can sense a finger through light gloves without contact. Thick winter or work gloves block it partly or completely.
Some Android phones have a touch-sensitivity setting for gloves. Apple's support page for an unresponsive screen does not mention gloves or a glove mode.
Do it yourself: thread, liquid or stickers
You can sew conductive thread through the index and thumb tips so it touches your skin on the inside. One stainless-steel thread is hand-sewable with a medium-eye needle and safe to wash.
Leather needs more care. One conductive-liquid maker says results on leather vary with the leather type and finish, that it may need a larger area and more than one coat, and that it may discolor light gloves. The same maker sells a separate formula for leather.
Hands-free: Voice Control and Siri
Voice Control lets you tap, swipe and type by voice. Set it up in Settings > Accessibility > Voice Control; it needs iOS 13 or later and a one-time download. Say "Tap" plus the name of an item, or "Show numbers" when items have no names. You can also turn it on with "Hey Siri, turn on Voice Control".
Touch Accommodations, in Settings > Accessibility > Touch, is a different tool. It changes how the screen times taps, swipes and holds for people with tremors or limited dexterity, and Apple's guide does not mention gloves.
Leather gloves and touchscreens
Some glove makers build conductive leather or touch fabric into the thumb and forefinger. Thin conductive-print liners can also go under another glove. Fingerless gloves leave the fingertips bare for the screen; see why people wear fingerless gloves. Convertible mittens, or glittens, have a flap that folds back off the fingers; see names for fingerless gloves.
Leather Collection lists no touchscreen gloves. Its Leather Collection men's leather gloves include thin 0.8-0.9 mm lambskin winter gloves, which the store says let you feel keys or a phone; it makes no touchscreen claim for them. Add a thread or sticker if you need one.
FAQ
Why do touch screens not work with gloves on?
Phone screens sense the electrical charge of your finger, and most glove materials block it.
What does Touch Accommodations do on an iPhone?
It changes how long a touch must last and how repeated or moving touches are read. It is meant for tremors and fine-motor needs, not gloves.
Can I use my phone with gloves?
Yes, with conductive fingertips, a stylus, very thin gloves, or voice commands. For warmer hands, compare gloves vs. mittens.
HitKB Editorial Team
HitKB articles are researched from published sources, cited in the text, and reviewed before publication.