TikTok Is Testing an Auto-Scroll Feature So Users Can Give Their Hands a Break

We've all been caught up in the mindless task of spending an hour (or two. Or three...) scrolling through TikTok videos. There's no denying how easy it is to get sucked into the many dance challenges, hilarious trends, and explanations of influencer drama.

Scrolling from one video to the next might not take much physical effort for most people, but what if that effort could be removed completely? Thanks to the new auto-scroll feature TikTok appears to be testing out, that might be in our future!

First, the bad news: Right now, only some TikTok users have access to the new auto-scroll feature. However, assuming everything goes well, there's a good chance that it may be coming to every account in the near future. To see whether you already have access to the feature, start by making sure that your app is fully up-to-date.

Then, go to your For You Page and press and hold your finger on the screen while watching a video. You'll get a pop-up menu that includes options to save the video, report it, switch to clear mode, or — if you're lucky — enable auto-scroll. If you enable the feature, the app will automatically scroll from one video to the next. If you don't have the feature yet, don't despair! There's another workaround you can use in the meantime until TikTok decides to roll out auto-scroll to everyone.

The steps to scrolling through TikTok without your hands are actually relatively straightforward if you're using iOS. All you need to do is head to your phone's settings and select "Accessibility." From there, you should tap on "Voice control" and then "Set up voice control" or make sure the setting is on if you've set it up previously. After that, you can set up a command to scroll by clicking on "Customize commands" and then "Create new command."

In the box that appears, you can enter a phrase you'd like to use, such as "next," whenever you want the phone to scroll. Then, tap "Action" and select "Run custom gesture." Then, swipe up on the screen, which should leave a short blue line behind. Then, you tap "Save." Return to the New Command screen and then click on "Application" and select "TikTok." Or, if you want the setting to be more generally applicable, you can leave it set to "Any."

The process is similar for Android phones and involves accessing your accessibility settings and setting up a custom voice command.

Once the command has been set up, you can start scrolling through your phone without using your hands at all. All you need to do is say "next" and your phone will replicate the gesture that you inputted. So, if you told it to scroll down, that's what it'll do.

Although this feature is great for people who have difficulty using their hands, it's also proved to be a handy feature for those who want to use their phones while they are doing something else. If you're trying to put makeup on or do your hair, using this accessibility feature will allow you to scroll through your phone at the same time.

This particular trick has existed for some time, and users have been talking about it on TikTok that whole time. It may feel pointless, but for those who find it useful, it may actually be a lifesaver. If you're so addicted to TikTok that you need to be looking at it even when your hands are doing something else, then this feature is great for you.

Of course, it's worth evaluating your own addictions. This feature is great for those who need it, and it's pretty cool for everyone else, too. It may enable your love of TikTok, but you should be sure that you really need to be spending more time on your phone before you decide to turn it on.