# Playing haptics

Source: https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/playing-haptics
Skill: hig-patterns
Snapshot: 2025-02-02

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> **Source**: Apple Inc. Canonical content at https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/playing-haptics.
> This file is a structured index of that content, snapshot 2025-02-02.
> Apple HIG text and imagery are © Apple Inc.; this repository provides organization and cross-referencing for AI agent consumption only.

# Playing haptics

  * In an iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, or visionOS app or game, [game controllers](https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/game-controls) can provide haptic feedback (for developer guidance, see [Playing Haptics on Game Controllers](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/CoreHaptics/playing-haptics-on-game-controllers)).

  * [Apple Pencil Pro](https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/apple-pencil-and-scribble) and some trackpads can provide haptic feedback when connected to certain iPad models. (For details on Apple Pencil features and compatibility, see [Apple Pencil](https://www.apple.com/apple-pencil/).)

## Best practices

**Use system-provided haptic patterns according to their documented meanings.**

**Use haptics consistently throughout your app or game.**

**Prefer using haptics to complement other feedback in your app or game.**

**Avoid overusing haptics.**

**In most apps, prefer playing short haptics that complement discrete events.**

**Make haptics optional.**

**Be aware that playing haptics might impact other user experiences.**

## Custom haptics

  * _Transient_ events are brief and compact, often feeling like taps or impulses. The experience of tapping the Flashlight button on the Home Screen is an example of a transient event.

  * _Continuous_ events feel like sustained vibrations, such as the experience of the lasers effect in a message.

## Platform considerations

### iOS

  * Use standard UI components — like [toggles](https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/toggles), [sliders](https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/sliders), and [pickers](https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/pickers) — that play Apple-designed system haptics by default.

  * When it makes sense, use a feedback generator to play one of several predefined haptic patterns in the categories of [notification](https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/playing-haptics#Notification), [impact](https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/playing-haptics#Impact), and [selection](https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/playing-haptics#Selection) (for developer guidance, see [`UIFeedbackGenerator`](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/UIKit/UIFeedbackGenerator)).

#### Notification

**Success.**

**Warning.**

**Error.**

#### Impact

**Light.**

**Medium.**

**Heavy.**

**Rigid.**

**Soft.**

#### Selection

**Selection.**

### watchOS

  * Notification 
  * Up 
  * Down 
  * Success 
  * Failure 
  * Retry 
  * Start 
  * Stop 
  * Click 

**Notification.**

**Up.**

**Down.**

**Success.**

**Failure.**

**Retry.**

**Start.**

**Stop.**

**Click.**

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<!-- hig-doctor:canonical-footer -->
For the complete guidance, including worked examples and illustrations, see the canonical page: https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/playing-haptics