Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

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

BAZ1307 said:
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.
Click to expand...
I had mine set to be play/pause but I changed it because it wasn’t very useful in my pocket… seemingly all shortcuts refuse to run if it decides it’s in a pocket.
 
  • Wow
Reactions: NetMage
I’m sure this is just money grubbing Apple up to their anti-competitive tricks again, but I really can’t figure out how.

That only means they’ve gotten even MORE devious! The EU better be looking into this!

/s
 
  • Haha
Reactions: R2DHue
I set the button to bring up a menu with Silent Mode, Messages, Email, Camera, Flashlight, Magnifier, Files. I am getting used to the button position, but would not like the button to be low. If anything, a little higher would work better for me.
 
  • Like
Reactions: NetMage and steve09090
boak said:
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.
Click to expand...

I’m pretty against adding more external buttons, per se… (But if the E.U. mandates never-ending new buttons, I guess Apple will just have to comply. 😆)

Apple could’ve NOT added another button…while…adding a true multifunction button, 🤔 and here’s how:

Keep the Mute slider switch (which, importantly, shows state — physically), but make it less recessed, and make its “switch” depressable regardless of state.

Then no need for long presses except if one first long press is always necessary to prevent unintentional presses (found out through extensive in-house user testing).

But a required long press, plus double “click,” “triple press” action, long+short, etc. would give advanced users the option of the instantaneous advantages of a multiple function button/Mute switch, while not imposing on non-advanced users (like my older sister) who’d never understand how the multifunction button would work — only the Mute switch aspect.

Just like Shortcuts, which requires some level of sophistication, it wouldn’t have to be used at all — unless as a Mute switch.

All this without adding a new button surplus to the Mute switch.

(I’d like to be able to send emergency SOS signals in Morse Code via radio from my phone, hidden in my pocket, via long and short presses. 😂 I’m pretty sure Qualcomm modem chips are capable of traditional radio, it’s just turned off in software on iPhones and Androids — so as not to compete with Streaming Music services would be my guess… 🤷‍♂️ later model iPods could do FM radio…using the wired headphones as the antenna.)
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: NetMage
My pocket must have been holding my phone wrong this whole time. Silly me!
 
  • Like
Reactions: ifxf
till said:
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.
Click to expand...
I have my action button set to toggle rotation lock (similar to the iPads of old) and the placement is absolutely perfect for my use case, exactly where I need it to be as I turn my phone and adjust my volume to watch a video, look through photos, or play a game
 
  • Like
Reactions: PixelsMaster
Have the 15 Pro since release and haven’t touched this button a single time.
If it would be possible to assign more features to it I might think about it. In the current state it’s useless for me.
 
  • Like
Reactions: NetMage and R2DHue
Unregistered 4U said:
I’m sure this is just money grubbing Apple up to their anti-competitive tricks again, but I really can’t figure out how.

That only means they’ve gotten even MORE devious! The EU better be looking into this!

/s
Click to expand...

Apple’s capitulated to an E.U. dictate.

Now the E.U. is psyched! (Rubbin them hands together!)

“What more can we dictate?” “iMessage on Android?” “Required colors for text bubbles? Beige being the obvious best?”

“Only one Universal operating system for all mobile phones — that being Android?” “Removable batteries no matter how it ruins design?”

“Force always-on GPS so we can track people at all times?” “Give the E.U. Parliament the ability to turn on the camera so we can see what the hell people are doing?! 👁️‍🗨️🪬😠”

🤣
 
  • Like
  • Disagree
  • Angry
Reactions: jmonster, NetMage, Unregistered 4U and 3 others
HiRez said:
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).
Click to expand...
My car alerted me I was using my microphone in camera mode today, and I was like what?? My phone is in my pocket.

Some .... features.... are way overdue.

I have so many issues with things getting pressed in my pocket when I'm out in the heat and there is a small bit of moisture from sweat in my pocket.
 
  • Like
  • Angry
Reactions: NetMage and HiRez
MacRumors said:
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.
Click to expand...
Can we elaborate more about these "unwanted recordings and images" inside one's pocket?
 
kalafalas said:
I have my action button set to toggle rotation lock (similar to the iPads of old) and the placement is absolutely perfect for my use case, exactly where I need it to be as I turn my phone and adjust my volume to watch a video, look through photos, or play a game
Click to expand...
Great use. Thanks for sharing.
 
  • Like
Reactions: kalafalas
cocky jeremy said:
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.
Click to expand...
Who is "most of us"? I use the mute switch at least 10 times a day.
 
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: NetMage, withitnow, sos47 and 4 others
MacRumors said:


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.

iphone-15-pro-action-button-settings.jpg

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
Click to expand...
This makes sense, however they should get rid of the camera & flash light from the Lock Screen now, and allow a double click for another function!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Indypendent
I can’t wait to use it the action button on my next iPhone. I use shortcuts so much. But I wish Apple adds more types of button presses, from my understanding it has only one function.

Removing the switch allows the mute toggle to be synced across all devices now.
 
symphony said:
Removing the switch allows the mute toggle to be synced across all devices now.
Click to expand...
I wouldn’t want that. I often alternate between muting my iPhone and my iPad, because I want one of them to be unmuted, but not both.
 
  • Like
Reactions: NetMage
kalafalas said:
I have my action button set to toggle rotation lock (similar to the iPads of old) and the placement is absolutely perfect for my use case, exactly where I need it to be as I turn my phone and adjust my volume to watch a video, look through photos, or play a game
Click to expand...
The people moaning don't use it and also a large majority don't have the 15pro
 
  • Like
  • Angry
Reactions: Victor Mortimer and kalafalas
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back