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

[Braindome]

I see it as only an upgrade. I never intentionally mute the phone, but often find it’s been accidentally silenced in my pocket.

 

[jman240]

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.

I'm surprised that's not one of the built in functions. The shortcut action makes you choose to turn it on or off. I wonder if there's a way to see what it currently is and do the opposite, otherwise that's going to be kind of lame.

My plan is going to be to use the action button to toggle a focus that does nothing, then have shortcut automations that trigger off that focus status to enable / disable orientation lock. Which is a really elaborate way to make that work in a decent fashion but whatever.

 

[ersan191]

Wish they also had single tap and double tap, ugh.

 

[appleken]

Nobody at Apple considered "launch an app" as one of the possible actions of the action button? Nobody?

 

[ipacers]

Nobody at Apple considered "launch an app" as one of the possible actions of the action button? Nobody?

Can't you set it to a shortcut that launches an app? I thought one of the promo photos showed it opening up notes.

 

[swiftapplefan]

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.

I think they made it that you have to keep pressed until haptics so it doesn’t get pressed accidentally

 

[swiftapplefan]

I honestly LOVE the customising screen!!!

 

[tgwaste]

i want it to act as a home button

 

[JV613]

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, and more.
• Shortcuts: 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: Launch the Camera app and/or take a photo or video 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

These “upgrades” are honestly comical at this point. See you next year…

 

[levis7878]

Awesome feature!! will be good to create my own shortcuts aswell...

 

[DogHouseDub]

Can I program it to open Settings--> Sound & Haptics so I can confirm my phone is muted when entering a meeting?

 

[4odomi]

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, and more.
• Shortcuts: 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: Launch the Camera app and/or take a photo or video 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

The real downside is that you can only programme one feature at any given time, which is a bit meh

 

[4odomi]

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?

One function only which is meh 😏

 

[4odomi]

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

One function only which is meh 😏

 

[4odomi]

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

One function only which is meh 😏

 

[ErikGrim]

Nobody at Apple considered "launch an app" as one of the possible actions of the action button? Nobody?

They literally showed that in the keynote. One of the actions through shortcuts were "Launch Snapchat"

 

[huge_apple_fangirl]

This is great idea but very un-Apple like; a customization button. Sounds like something a random Android maker would do.

 

[robbo_syd]

can i PLEASE set it to toggle Microphone Mute/Un-Mute for conference calls... I'm hoping this will be possible at least by linking to the shortcut app.

 

[ErikGrim]

This is great idea but very un-Apple like; a customization button. Sounds like something a random Android maker would do.

The home button could do all of this

 

[rockosmodurnlif]

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.

Got to have something for iOS 18.

 

[Darth Tulhu]

Cool.

So now I can pop the camera open instantly without looking when an encounter with the cops, Karens, crooks, or even the wife goes south.

 

[noSpeed]

Without the indicator on the side, how do you know if the ringer is on or off now?

 

[svish]

Will be good to use it as a silence button or for camera

 

[Braindome]

All the people asking for double tap functionality… did you miss the part where it only responds to a long press? If a tap could activate it, it would trigger accidentally in your pocket. They’ve opted to keep it simple for reliability.

 

[hirsthirst]

two pages in and no-one has asked for TouchID on it yet - progress!

personally I liked the binary, mechanical, at-a-glance certainty of silent on or off.

If this only mutes the phone OR does an action I'll be disappointed - I'd like it to be silent on / off with a long-press and a.n.other action with a short press. I have Camera on a triple back tap atm for "encounters going south" as above ...