iPhone 15 Pro: Here's Everything the New Action Button Can Do

[MacRumors]

Apple's newly announced iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max models introduce a new Action button that replaces the traditional Ring/Silent switch – a staple of the iPhone since it launched in 2007. Here's a rundown of its functions.

The all-new Action button replaces the single-function switch used to toggle between ring and silent, offering additional options so users can choose between quickly accessing the camera or flashlight, activate Voice Memos, Focus modes, Translate, and accessibility features like Magnifier. Users can also associate it with Shortcuts for more options.

A press-and-hold gesture with fine-tuned haptic feedback and visual cues in the Dynamic Island ensure the new Action button launches the intended action, which users can customize in Settings and assign to different actions. Here's what it can be programmed to do:

• Accessibility: Access to various accessibility settings, such as VoiceOver, Zoom, AssistiveTouch, Live Speech, and more.
• Shortcuts: Open your favorite app, or run a shortcut created in or downloaded from the Shortcuts app, such as sending a message, playing a playlist, or controlling smart home devices.
• Silent Mode: Like the Ring/Silent switch on existing iPhone models, toggle silent mode on or off, which will mute or unmute the ringer and alerts.
• Camera: Take a photo, selfie, video, portrait, or portrait selfie with a single press of the Action button.
• Flashlight: Turn on or off the flashlight on the back of the device.
  Focus: Activate or deactivate a Focus mode.
• Magnifier: Activate the Magnifier app to use the iPhone's camera as a magnifying glass to zoom in on small text or objects.
• Translate: Launch the Translate app and start a conversation or text translation with a single press of the Action button.
• Voice Memos: Start or stop recording a voice memo with the Voice Memos app.

The standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus models retain the traditional Ring/Silent switch, making the "Action" button one of the key differentiating features of the ‌iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, and also something that makes the new models‌ stand out from their predecessors.

Article Link: iPhone 15 Pro: Here's Everything the New Action Button Can Do

 

[k.alexander]

So can it be set up for two actions?
Press and HOLD for Silent,
AND
Quick press for another custom action from the list above?

OR is it just one or the other?

 

[cadewii]

If it is only one action… this is the lamest thing ever. I hope it is more than just 1 action.

 

[cocky jeremy]

So can it be set up for two actions?
Press and HOLD for Silent,
AND
Quick press for another custom action from the list above?

OR is it just one or the other?

That's what I'm trying to figure out. At first it seemed two functions, now I'm not so sure.

 

[oneteam]

So now we have 25 different ways to access the camera

 

[MacFan782040]

Now that we have 25 ways to access the camera and flashlight, can we please make the 2 home buttons customizable.

Edit: that’s weird I literally posted the same thing

 

[mrr]

I will use the action button for my camera, but I’m going to still need a quick way to mute my phone

 

[WilliamG]

I hope you can’t activate the silent button while it’s in your pocket. Hopefully only works when the screen is on/screen is on and unlocked.

 

[kerr]

Should have two action buttons and a way to invoke two different actions with each one.

 

[Kebabfar88]

So can it be set up for two actions?
Press and HOLD for Silent,
AND
Quick press for another custom action from the list above?

OR is it just one or the other?

I have the exact same question. Or can it be programmed to even more things depending on how many times you press it?

 

[WilliamG]

Should have two action buttons and a way to invoke two different actions with each one.

My phone lives on Silent. Hopefully we can set up two completely different things.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Check it out in action.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1701681730351202621

 

[jedaily]

It looks like people coming from the iPhone SE or other Touch ID device should be able to create a simple Shortcut with a single action ("Go to Home Screen") that will let the Action Button mimic the home button, at least to an extent.

 

[Baywatchboy]

Can't you already do most of these with the Back Tap?

 

[Jett0516]

Was hoping the action button is a quick push to open macrumors. But nope!

Just another way to open the camera. SMH.

 

[henrikhelmers]

Camera: Launch the Camera app and/or take a photo or video with a single press of the Action button.

This should be the default. I bet they will make it the default after everyone is used to control silent mode with software.

 

[netsped]

What about double press, triple press, press and hold, etc... the possibilities were unlimited but they decided to just allow one press for one action. LAME.

 

[JohnApples]

I’ve always wanted that switch to control orientation lock, and I guess I can now do that with the action button via shortcuts which is cool.

I do also hope it can be programmed to multiple options. If not, I’m almost certain it would be able to in a 17.x update.

 

[k.alexander]

What about double press, triple press, press and hold, etc... the possibilities were unlimited but they decided to just allow one press for one action. LAME.

Next year, but ONLY if you upgrade to iPhone 16 Pro, because the new advanced chip and neural engine will be required to do the double and triple press.

 

[eicca]

Can't wait to accidentally trigger who knows what action when I'm just trying to change the volume or snap a photo.

 

[daniesy]

This is incredibly dumb. On the older models, you could easily tell without looking whether the phone is silent or not. Now you can’t anymore. They really don’t know what else to add to make people buy the new models.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Check out the new iPhone 15 Pro models Action Button icons.

 

[contacos]

Now it’s time to add the silent icon to the status bar to still be able to tell if your phone is actually on mute or not

 

[scaramoosh]

I just like the mute switch, it's something I use all the time and tbh I see this as a step backwards as it's not a hardware switch, just be controlled by software so can reset itself.

 

[Braindome]

Hope you can change the action using a shortcut. Would be nice to have the action dependent on your focus mode