iPhone 16e Has an Action Button: Here's Everything It Can Do

[MacRumors]

Apple's new entry-level iPhone 16e has inherited the Action button first seen on the iPhone 15 Pro and now found on all iPhone 16 models. The Action button replaces the traditional Ring/Silent switch – a staple of the iPhone since it launched in 2007. For users unfamiliar with the Action button, here's a rundown of its functions – including one that is (currently) exclusive to iPhone 16e.

The 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.

• How to Customize the Action Button
• How to Assign Two Functions to the Action Button

A press-and-hold gesture with fine-tuned haptic feedback ensure the new Action button launches the intended action, which you can customize in Settings and assign to different actions.

Action Button Functions

Here's what the Action button 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, you can 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.

Action Button Control Center Options

In iOS 18, you can assign the Action button to one of the dozens of controls available in the Control Center gallery, allowing the Action button to invoke Dark Mode, Airplane Mode, Personal Hotspot, and more.

Available Control Center actions in iOS 18 include:

• Calculator
• Stopwatch
• Alarm
• Home
• Timer
• Dark Mode
• Scan Code
• Airplane Mode

• Cellular Data
• Personal Hotspot
• Dark Mode
• Quick Note
• Remote
• Wallet
• Tap to Cash
• Ping My Watch
• Visual Intelligence

The last assignable Action button option in the list, Visual Intelligence, is an Apple Intelligence feature that was previously exclusive to iPhone 16 models with a Camera Control button, which the iPhone 16e does not have. It was thought that the extra button was necessary to activate the feature, but on iPhone 16e, Visual Intelligence can be assigned to the device's Action button or enabled via Control Center.

On iPhone 16 models, Visual Intelligence lets you use the camera to learn more about places and objects around you. It can also summarize text, read text out loud, translate text, search Google for items, ask ChatGPT, and more. Apple has confirmed that Visual Intelligence is also coming to the iPhone 15 Pro in a future software update.

Article Link: iPhone 16e Has an Action Button: Here's Everything It Can Do

 

[alexandr]

You can also create a a bundled shortcut.

 

[vegetassj4]

Waiting on the 17 pro:

CUPERTINO, California—October 4, 2025—Apple® today announced iPhone® 17 Pro, the most amazing iPhone yet, packed with incredible new improved and larger Action Buttons for blazing fast performance and stunning button mashing; an all new camera with advanced optics; full 8K Ultra Retina HD resolution video recording; and Siri Pro™, an Apple Intelligence assistant that helps you get things done just by thinking.

 

[danielfgom]

The biggest shortcoming is that it can only be programmed to ONE function.

I don’t know why they didn’t allow double and triple press as well.

That was you could long press for silent/ring and still have 3 more presses for all the other available functions.

 

[johnrlaporta]

It can’t read my fingerprint, which was the most important feature of the old button.

 

[alexandr]

The biggest shortcoming is that it can only be programmed to ONE function.

I don’t know why they didn’t allow double and triple press as well.

That was you could long press for silent/ring and still have 3 more presses for all the other available functions.

You can do what I did — action button gives you a menu.

 

[citysnaps]

The action button is great. I use it all the time when I make photos.

 

[tomtad]

"Ping my Watch"

Just.....why?

 

[Apple_Robert]

"Ping my Watch"

Just.....why?

If someone misplaces the watch in the house etc will be able to locate it faster by pinging.

 

[mevans7]

As long as it can turn on silent mode, I’m good.

 

[ifxf]

The biggest shortcoming is that it can only be programmed to ONE function.

I don’t know why they didn’t allow double and triple press as well.

That was you could long press for silent/ring and still have 3 more presses for all the other available functions.

They are saving as one of the major features in 19.0.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Have they ever thought of giving the buttons a slightly different texture or height profile so they could be better identified by feel?

I also hate having a button perfectly across from the right side power (or whatever it's called) button

The amount of unintentional screenshots I take is ridiculous

 

[verniesgarden]

personally would like to map apple intelligence to it on my 16pro. the number of times I accidentally have it pop up when I intended to open the camera app is higher than actually getting the camera app

 

[B4U]

Perhaps implement that with the "power button" instead of locking it to Siri only.
This way the silent toggle switch can remain the way it was.
Cannot tell if the phone is in silent by feeling this action button inside a pocket alone.

 

[D-a-a-n]

Have they ever thought of giving the buttons a slightly different texture or height profile so they could be better identified by feel?

I also hate having a button perfectly across from the right side power (or whatever it's called) button

The amount of unintentional screenshots I take is ridiculous

I know right! Their whole button situation is kinda bad: the action button is meh, the camera button is a disaster, and the placement of the power button (as you said) is bad.

On topic: I use the action button to Shazam, and have a shortcut on my lock screen to silence my phone.

 

[jent]

You can also create a a bundled shortcut.

View attachment 2486732

Do you mind explaining how to do this?

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Apple: iPhone 16e customers don’t want MagSafe

Also Apple: Our customers want a button that can perform hundreds of actions

 

[Reeneman]

„ It was thought that the extra button was necessary to activate the feature…“

Sometimes this Apple fanboyism/stupidity really hurts.
Thanks to magic Apple engineering it’s already possible to start the camera and take photos without an hardware button.

 

[alexandr]

Do you mind explaining how to do this?

Sure thing, here's a great video:

 

[thefrost]

So basically everything we knew already plus Visual Intelligence.

 

[allenvanhellen]

The biggest shortcoming is that it can only be programmed to ONE function.

I don’t know why they didn’t allow double and triple press as well.

That was you could long press for silent/ring and still have 3 more presses for all the other available functions.

Just like the headphone mic button.

 

[Andy_2341]

Perhaps implement that with the "power button" instead of locking it to Siri only.
This way the silent toggle switch can remain the way it was.
Cannot tell if the phone is in silent by feeling this action button inside a pocket alone.

You can't physically feel the button itself, but you can feel it turn it on/off through haptics. More vibration=silent mode turned on. Less vibrations=silent mode turned off.

 

[B4U]

You can't physically feel the button itself, but you can feel it turn it on/off through haptics. More vibration=silent mode turned on. Less vibrations=silent mode turned off.

I don't need the phone to vibrate in the pocket to tell whether it is on silent or not during a meeting if it is a physical toggle.

 

[svish]

Think it does everything the action button can do from the 15 series but with an added Visual Intelligence feature limited to the 16 series. I don't use the button much on my 15 Pro Max.

 

[Andy_2341]

I don't need the phone to vibrate in the pocket to tell whether it is on silent or not during a meeting if it is a physical toggle.

True. I’ve come to live with it on my 15Pro, but I didn’t really need the physical feeling anyways with my SE3. Shortcut automation takes care of silent mode for me.