I usually use orientation lock a couple times a day, I can't remember the last time I had my phone out of silent mode.
Either way, both controls are now just a swipe away in the Control Panel.
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Best Ways to Use the iPhone 16 Action Button
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Either way, both controls are now just a swipe away in the Control Panel.
I don’t doubt there are many people who have never used it (probably why they got rid of it in the first place), and many people who use the mute button regularly. It’s good to have options! I was just surprised orientation lock was not one of the standard functions given the original use of the switch.
My phone is always on silent so it’s nice to be able to change it. I use it as a selfie camera.
I wish pushing the actual camera button would bring up the other camera after you press the selfie button, but it just remembers the last mode, although it does reset after a minute.
I wish pushing the actual camera button would bring up the other camera after you press the selfie button, but it just remembers the last mode, although it does reset after a minute.
The reason that wouldn't work is that you already have the press it in longer than normal, which they did to prevent inadvertent presses, so a double click with the first click being a longer press just doesn't work...
I totally forgot the switch used to toggle orientation lock! I’ll probably use the action button for this.
But I thought iPhone can only lock orientation in portrait, no?
Better yet, you could confirm it was silenced by feel while it was still in your pocket.
Who are these people toggling silent mode all the time? Like you, I am in silent mode 100% of the time because I’m not an annoying boomer blasting ring tones and notifications all the time. Seriously, the mute switch should have been retired in 2005, just like notification sounds.
I have the action set to open the flashlight while I’m at home and to open my vehicle app so I can remotely start my car while I’m away from home. Shortcuts can be a powerful tool, allowing you to create actions based on location, time etc… a bit confusing at first but once you get the hang of it, you can really get quite granular about what you want the action to do.
You can create custom shortcuts that do different things based on location, time, apps in use, etc… when I’m at home, I use the flashlight a lot. When I’m out I like to be able to remotely start my vehicle (primarily during the heat of summer or the cold in winter). So I was able to make a shortcut that opens the torch while I’m at home and opens my vehicle app when I’m not. Mapped that shortcut to the action button and it works beautifully.
You can have the action button present 8 Shortcuts to you. I went from never using the action button to now using it every day multiple times…
appleinsider.com
Turn the Action Button into a launcher for up to eight apps
The Action Button on the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 provides one-click access to features, but strangely it can only perform one action. With a quick workaround in the Shortcuts apps, it's possible to use the Action Button to trigger up to eight applications or automations.
appleinsider.com
There simply is no 'best' way. It's just nice that you can configure it to do just about anything you want and that differs for everybody.
Sure it does double click first press is short second is long.
Does this button have a long-press function or anything? Would be handy to have it do one thing with a short press and another thing with a long press. I need it to do the silent/ring action since I often want to avoid missing an important call when it's not in my pocket, but then it can't do anything else.
You’ll probably find the camera control button useless too once you get an iPhone with it. At least that’s what a couple of people who got a 16 told me. I think Apple needs to go from adding new useless buttons to actually making a meaningful redesign.
I think this is the most useful way of using the Action button
I think using long-press is to prevent accidental pressing of the Action button.
Of course it is. However, they could let users decide, depending on the selected function. Nobody is worried about accidental presses on the power or volume buttons, for example.
Off to Japan in a few hours (currently sat in a lounge in Heathrow Terminal 5) so have the action button set to open Google Translate. Figure I’ll be using that more than anything else!
They always make half-baked features at first so they will have space for improvement in the future. Maybe iPhone 20 will have superior redesigned action button.
I don't know why Apple can't add a double push, triple push and/or Long hold to perform different tasks like the airpod pros do.
I decided to use the action button for something that I hardly ever used before, but could be very useful. It just never appealed to me because it just took too long to find it, and start it, and even remember it existed. And it's the Voice Memo App. It's GREAT! A thought comes in my head and I just click on the Action button and record my thought for later use. Or even what someone else said that I want to remember.