On the iPhone 15 Pro series, Apple replaced the ringer/mute switch with a new Action button. In this article, we will explain how to customize and use the iPhone Action button.
How to Customize the iPhone Action Button
To use the iPhone Action button, firstly, you will have to decide what action will be triggered when you press the button. By default, the Action button serves to mute the iPhone’s ringer exactly what the mute switch it replaces used to do. But, that’s far from the only thing it can do. There are a number of pre-built options for the Action button, and one that gives you almost infinite flexibility.
Follow these steps below to customize the iPhone Action button:
1. Click on Settings.
2. Click on Action Button.
3. Swipe side to side to select what you want to have happen when you long-press the Action button. The options are:
- Silent mode: The default option. Mutes the phone’s ringer.
- Focus: Turns on, or off, a Focus.
- Camera: Opens the Camera app.
- Flashlight: Turns the Flashlight on or off.
- Voice Memo: Start or stop recording a memo in the Voice Memos app.
- Magnifier: Opens the Magnifier app.
- Shortcut: Trigger the Shortcut you specify.
- Accessibility: Open an accessibility shortcut that you choose.
- Nothing: Makes the button do nothing when pressed.
- Translate: Opens the Translate app (not available as of this writing; Apple will release this later in 2023)
4. For some actions such as Accessibility and Shortcut there’s an additional selection to make, as indicated by the up/down arrows below the selection. If you want to use this action, you will be required to tap those arrows and make a selection for the Action button to work. Examples of these choices include what Shortcut or Accessibility tool you want the Action button to launch.
How to Use the iPhone Action Button
To use the iPhone Action button, press and hold the button. You don’t need to hold it for very long haptic feedback will let you know when you can let go. For example, three quick haptic taps indicate going into Silent mode, while exiting Silent comes with one haptic vibration. Once you’ve felt that feedback, you can let go.
Needing to hold the button for an extra bit is designed to prevent accidental presses in pockets or purses.
Remember, the button can enter and exit a mode assigned to it. In addition to the Silent mode example, pressing the Action button once can put you into a Focus mode, and then pressing it again will exit Focus.
iPhone Models with the Action Button
The Action Button requires iOS 17 and up and is available on the following models:
- iPhone 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 15 Pro
