iOS 17.1 Beta 3 Prevents Action Button From Activating the Camera or Flashlight in a Pocket

[MacRumors]

Apple in the third beta of iOS 17.1 tweaked the functionality of the Action Button to prevent certain actions from being triggered while the iPhone is in a pocket or a bag. The Camera, Flashlight, Voice Memo, Focus, and Magnifier functions will no longer activate when the Action Button is pressed if the iPhone is tucked away in a pocket.

Actions that make sense to trigger in a pocket like the mute function and a shortcut can still be activated while the iPhone is inside of a pocket by long pressing on the Action Button, but other features are disabled.

In earlier versions of iOS 17 and iOS 17.1, all of the Action Button functions can be accidentally activated in a pocket, draining iPhone battery and causing unwanted recordings and images.

Though the Action Button requires a long press to activate, there have still been complaints about it triggering unintentionally while in a pocket, which this change will prevent for functions that cannot be used when the iPhone is in a pocket.

Note that these changes apply only to the Action Button, so it is still possible to accidentally trigger the Camera or the Flashlight from the Lock Screen while the iPhone is in a pocket.

Article Link: iOS 17.1 Beta 3 Prevents Action Button From Activating the Camera or Flashlight in a Pocket

 

[midkay]

This mostly makes sense, for things like flashlight and camera, but setting a Focus is a strange thing to prevent. That seems like something you might want to toggle in-pocket, just like Silent mode.

 

[NCPine]

If they wanted to add another button, they should have done so without removing the mute switch. This was not a well thought-out design.

 

[bollman]

And when will they make a toggle for activating camera by swiping on the lockscreen while locked? It is stupid! I have had the camera go on in my pocket soooo many times.

 

[now i see it]

and yet the flashlight and camera buttons are still live on the lock screen

 

[till]

The biggest UX issue with the action button is that it's just too high, even on the non-Max phone. Like it's perfect if you hold your phone in your left hand, but in your right hand it's super awkward.

 

[boak]

The biggest UX issue with the action button is that it's just too high, even on the non-Max phone. Like it's perfect if you hold your phone in your left hand, but in your right hand it's super awkward.

Yup. They really thought replacing the switch directly was a great idea. If it’s going to be a button, why there? Should have been at the lower half of the phone, mirroring the Apple Watch Ultra design.

 

[jntdroid]

#unintendedconsequences

 

[Havalo]

This action button is probably going to end up with the same fate as the TouchBar.

 

[t0rqx]

stop fixing stuff that does not need to be fixed. fix the overheating and battery life.

 

[klasma]

I wonder which sensor(s) they use to determine “in the pocket”. Both light and proximity detection could have inconvenient false positives.

 

[contacos]

If they wanted to add another button, they should have done so without removing the mute switch. This was not a well thought-out design.

yep, the position is dumb anyway. It’s so uncomfortable. I’d hardly use it. Should be below the power button

 

[Fuzzball84]

So many times in the past Id see people walking around with their flashlights unintentionally switched on... I told a few but it got to the point where I gave up...

Good to see this added.

 

[BanjoDudeAhoy]

Well, great. I happen to like taking pictures of well illuminated pocket lint.
What about my use case?!

[I may or may not be joking]

 

[cocky jeremy]

If they wanted to add another button, they should have done so without removing the mute switch. This was not a well thought-out design.

Most of us never touch the mute switch. It was completely useless for a huge portion of us. The new design is much better. If muting and unmuting is important to you, you still have it. If it isn't, this new design makes a useless switch into a useful, programmable button.

 

[Lakersfan74]

I’m like that the button gives me more options. The position no matter what its in people will complain.

 

[DownUnderDan]

Thanks to all the beta testers out there who bought an iPhone 15. Looking forward to seeing the fruits of your work on iPhone 16.

 

[NMBob]

#unintendedconsequences

Great book.

 

[BAZ1307]

This has already been the case since iOS 17.0.1 for me. I straight away set my action button to unlock my car and open the boot. I thought it wasn’t working as I walked upto the car and kept mashing the action button from my pocket with no response, however once I took my phone out of my pocket then pressed it, it worked.

I’ve set my phone to vibrate twice if the shortcut activation is successful so I know I’ve done it. It’s worse in terms of functionality this way, but it may save some accidental shortcut triggering that could be awkward.

 

[dguisinger]

I hate the button.... I hit it 1 in every 2 times I try to turn the volume up.

 

[daabido]

Just give me the damn option to get rid of the camera and flashlight on my home screen. Or is like Internet Explorer, so baked into the operating system that it will break if they remove it? I know how to swipe down from the top right to access those faster than a McLaren pitstop.

 

[HiRez]

Would be nice to have the option to automatically turn the flashlight or camera off when put into a pocket or bag (I've forgotten quite a few times).

 

[Born Again]

If we only had a switch button instead….

Wait a minute

 

[macduke]

The Action Button really seems half-baked to me. It needs press, double press, triple press, and the existing long press. I would like the normal press to only work outside of my pocket as well.

As it currently exists, I don't use it very often if at all. It is difficult to press quickly to activate the camera vs. the shortcut on the Lock Screen because it's so high up on the device, especially on the Max. And speaking of which, why doesn't Apple allow us to change what the Lock Screen buttons map to?

I've tried using various Shortcuts to get around this, but they seem finicky to me. Apple also needs to add a Shortcut Action that can detect the current ambient light using the ambient light sensor on the iPhone and use that to dynamically trigger an action. For instance, when it's pitch black, I probably want to use my flashlight and not my camera!

 

[csnwbd2251]

and yet the flashlight and camera buttons are still live on the lock screen

...as well as changing the wallpaper. Wish they would have an option to remove that function from the lock screen along with the camera & flashlight.