How to enable multitouch gestures on 4.3.1 [The complete how to guide!]

In the beta for iOS 4.3 Apple introduced multitouch gestures. However this never made it to the final release. Why? We don’t know. I have made a little tutorial on how to get the multitouch gestures back.

In this tutorial we will be editing a few .plist files, it is not hard but you should backup your .plist files before editing. I strongly recommend that you get a .plist editing program.
[ Windows ]
[ Mac ]

Step 1

SSH into your iDevice.

Step 2

Navigate to: /System -> Library -> CoreServices -> SpringBoard.app
Find one of the following files depending on what iDevice you have, and copy it over to your desktop.

• iPad: K48AP.PLIST
• iPod touch: N81AP.PLIST
• iPhone 3GS: N88AP.PLIST
• iPhone 4: N90AP.PLIST

Step 3

Now open the .plist file on your computer. Add the following lines, you can add them anywhere, however I do recommend to do the same as shown on the screenshot.

<key>multitasking-gestures</key>
<true/>

Step 4

Navigate to: /var -> mobile -> Library -> Preferences

Copy the com.apple.springboard.plist file to your computer and add the two following lines:

<key>SBUseSystemGestures</key>
<true/>

Then copy the file back to your iDevice in the same folder.

Step 6

Now navigate to: /Applications -> Preferences.app

Copy the General.plist file to your desktop.

Replace this block of code:

<dict>
   <key>cell</key>
   <string>PSGroupCell</string>
   <key>footerCellClass</key>
   <string>MultitaskingGestureExplanationView</string>
   <key>id</key>
   <string>Mutltitasking_Gesture_Group</string>
   <key>requiredCapabilities</key>
   <array>
    <string>multitasking-gestures</string>
   </array>
  </dict>
  <dict>
   <key>cell</key>
   <string>PSSwitchCell</string>
   <key>default</key>
   <true/>
   <key>defaults</key>
   <string>com.apple.springboard</string>
   <key>id</key>
   <string>Mutltitasking_Gesture_Switch</string>
   <key>key</key>
   <string>SBUseSystemGestures</string>
   <key>label</key>
   <string>Multitasking_Gestures</string>
   <key>requiredCapabilities</key>
   <array>
    <string>multitasking-gestures</string>
   </array>
</dict>

With this block of code

<dict>
   <key>cell</key>
   <string>PSGroupCell</string>
   <key>footerCellClass</key>
   <string>MultitaskingGestureExplanationView</string>
   <key>requiredCapabilities</key>
   <array>
    <string>multitasking-gestures</string>
   </array>
  </dict>
  <dict>
   <key>cell</key>
   <string>PSSwitchCell</string>
   <key>default</key>
   <true/>
   <key>defaults</key>
   <string>com.apple.springboard</string>
   <key>key</key>
   <string>SBUseSystemGestures</string>
   <key>label</key>
   <string>Multitasking Gestures</string>
   <key>requiredCapabilities</key>
   <array>
    <string>multitasking-gestures</string>
   </array>
  </dict>

Then you must copy the file back to your iDevice at the same place.

Step 6

Now all you have to do is reboot or respring your iDevice.

Step 7

Go to Settings -> General and turn Multitasking Gestures ON, now you have multitasking gestures on your iDevice!

The following gestures can be performed once you have done this.

• Swipe up for Multitasking bar
• Swipe left/right to switch between apps
• And pinch for home screen

If you have any questions let us know in the comment section.