The new Action button on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max replaces the iconic Ring/Silent switch, also called the mute switch. You can set the Action button to perform a particular function from a predefined set of options. It is easy to reach and ideal for performing frequently used functions. All you have to do is press and hold the Action button. By default, the Action button is set to silence the iPhone. Let’s see how you can set up and use the Action button to perform different tasks on iPhone 15 Pro models.
Table of Contents
1. Choose Focus Modes
Focus modes on the iPhone are a great way to reduce distractions and help you focus on the task at hand. We use custom focus mode at work to disable notifications from social media or messaging apps and only allow notifications from work-related apps if required. The Action button can be handy for enabling and disabling the focus modes quickly. Here‘s how to set it up.
1. In the Settings of your iPhone, tap on the Action Button.
2. By default the Action button is set to Silent mode. Swipe left through the option, and stop at Focus. Now the action button is set to open the Focus mode which by default is linked to Do Not Disturb.
3. To change the Focus mode, tap on the up and down arrow button.
4. Select the Focus mode you want to be enabled when the Action button is pressed and hold.
Note: Different Focus modes will only appear on the Action button list after setting up the Focus modes.
2. Launch Camera
The camera unit on the iPhone 15 series, especially the Pro models, is really good. Although the camera app can be accessed from the lock screen directly, the Action button can be set to launch a specific feature of the camera.
1. In the Settings of your iPhone, tap on the Action Button to customize the actions.
2. Swipe right through the options, and stop at Camera. The Action button is now linked to open the photo mode in the camera app.
3. To set the Action button to open different camera modes, tap on the up and down arrow buttons.
4. Select the mode you want to open using the Action button. You have 5 options at the time of writing this guide. They are Photo, Selfie, Video, Portrait, and Portrait Selfie.
Pro Tip: When the Action button is set to the camera app, it can be used as a shutter button to click photos and start video recordings too. However, you won’t be able to stop the video recording using the Action button. We hope this changes with a future update.
Meanwhile, we have made a list of some cool accessories to buy for your iPhone 15.
3. Launch Any Siri Shortcut
Siri shortcuts are personalized automation sequences that can do a variety of tasks such as opening apps, sending messages, and much more. With Shortcut and the Action button, the possibilities are endless.
1. Go to Settings > Action Button > swipe right and stop at Shortcut.
2. Tap on Choose a Shortcut…
3. A popup of the Shortcut app will open and you can select any automation here just by tapping on it.
4. We have selected Shazam and now, we have to simply press and hold the Action button to activate Shazam and it will recognize any song or music playing.
You can open any app with the combination of the right shortcut and the Action button. Siri shortcuts combined with the Action button make pretty much every feature accessible via the Action button on the new iPhone 15.
4. Open Accessibility
Accessibility on the iPhone is all about making the device super user-friendly for people who are differently abled. It’s packed with useful features and settings that are specifically designed to cater to their needs. Adding the Action button to accessibility makes it more convenient to use these features.
1. Go to Settings > Action Button > swipe right and stop at Accessibility.
2. Tap on Choose a feature…
3. Here, you can select any feature under the Vision, Motor, Hearing, and General sections to pair it up with the Action button.
You may like: Since the new iPhone 15 series now supports USB-C chargers, we create a list of Type-C chargers for your iPhone 15 model.
5. Try Some Non-Customizable Actions
There’s a lot more you can do with the Action button. Not all the options in the Action button are customizable and they just perform a single pre-defined task. To set these options, again go to Settings > Action Button > swipe right and stop at the feature you want to pair with the Action button. Here are all the non-customizable actions you can pair with the Action button on your iPhone 15:
1. Silent Mode: Replacement for the silent switch. Tap and hold to mute and unmute Ring for calls and alerts.
2. Torch: Tap and hold to turn the torch on and off. However, the torch button is already available on the lock screen and is easy to access from there.
3. Voice Memo: You can record as well as stop the recording using the Action button. Using the Action button for voice memos reminds us of old-generation tape recorders. Quite handy.
4. Magnifier: Enable this to use the camera of your iPhone as a magnifying glass.
5. No Action: Selecting this will make the Action button useless. Pressing or holding it will do nothing. You can use this feature if you keep pressing the Action button accidentally like while working out or during some other activity.
Using a case might help solve these accidental presses reducing incidents where the Action button is pressed inadvertently.
Every Action Has a Reaction
A lot of new updates were announced at the Apple event. The Action button was one of the biggest changes on the iPhone but wasn’t the only one. The Action Button brings a lot of value to your iPhone, making it more efficient and customizable. It reminds us of the action button on the Samsung Galaxy smartphones. Not exactly innovative but definitely efficient.
