What are you using your Action Button for?

[SweetPeaRevenge]

I initially had my Action button set to the flashlight.
I decided to try out a Shortcut. I set up a simple if shortcut to unlock my smart lock on the front door.

If door locked / unlock
Otherwise / lock

Works like a dream!

Share your Action button ideas!

 

[UltimateSyn]

Personally I wouldn't set such a sensitive security function to a button that can be accidentally pressed, but I also think it's exceptionally cool that you can do that.

 

[SweetPeaRevenge]

Personally I wouldn't set such a sensitive security function to a button that can be accidentally pressed, but I also think it's exceptionally cool that you can do that.

Fair point and I wouldn’t suggest it to anyone in a high traffic area. For me, I live in a quiet subdivision and I also have security cameras. The lock also has a timer which automatically locks the door after a few minutes in the unlocked state.

 

[Mr.Blacky]

I don't think it's possible (don't have an Ultra), but it would be nice if you could link different Action Button functions to different watch faces.

 

[Ansath]

I was trying to see if I could set the Action button to open the Walkie talkie app, or even specifically use the button to initiate talking to a specific contact, as there’s one I talk to often using it.

I can’t see you can set it to do it either in the menu or via shortcuts, although I’m. It great with the latter.

Anyone got any ideas that could work?

 

[sniffies]

If you're ok with FaceTime Audio instead of Walkie Talkie, you could create a FaceTime Audio shortcut in the Shortcuts app on iPhone and then select it in the Action Button setting in the Watch app.

 

[Ansath]

If you're ok with FaceTime Audio instead of Walkie Talkie, you could create a FaceTime Audio shortcut in the Shortcuts app on iPhone and then select it in the Action Button setting in the Watch app.

Hi, thanks for that, but no (I know I could do that), needs to be Walkie Talkie.

It adds that extra realism as to using a real Walkie talkie in a way, if it could be done.

 

[perezr10]

I don’t know the answer but using it for Walkie-talkie is a brilliant idea.

 

[Rainshadow]

So… shortcuts have been the most frustrating thing for me. Every time I start to get into making a shortcut or learning how, I find that the thing I want to do can’t be done.

Example 1. Because we are talking Apple Watch here - most recently I wanted to set my action button to start “just press record” or better yet, apple’s voice memos button and start recording. Upon hitting the button or the screen to end the recording, I wanted to have it emailed to myself.

Well… turns out, just press record - even though it allows you to open the app doesn’t actually start recording without another press. Also, the voice memo stops the moment the Apple Watch screen goes to sleep. So you get maybe a minute of recording if you don’t put your hand down.

This is infuriating. I’ve even looked for downloadable examples and unless you download more apps etc, you can’t do it - EVEN WITH APPLES OWN APP!



Example 2. I wanted - on my phone - to make a scan to pdf function that again emails to my work email. Well… THAT function doesn’t exist even with apples notes app - which CAN do this outside of shortcuts!!! I found a work around which requires a subscription to have it work and I can download the apps necessary, but come on!!!

There are not many things I do EVERY day. I don’t see why you can’t map out what you do within an app to work as a shortcut whether or not the app was specifically designed for it. Or if there is a way, I haven’t seen it.

You’d be surprised how successfully I’ve used the recorder on my phone or watch when negotiating prices and project details for work and with home contractors (even ATT/Verizon promising things over the phone). People lie, have bad memories, and bend their stories. Att tried to tell me a whole sweet of phone calls never happened. When you start plying them back to them, they start kicking you up the chain quick.

I would LOVE to have that action button set to record and save the file. If anyone has any suggestions that doesn’t require two more app downloads or a subscription, that’d be great.

 

[Rainshadow]

As I’ve said in another post… shortcuts always fail when I think of something I want to do - and always with apples apps.

Most recently I wanted to set the action button to start a voice recording and mail it to me when completed. Well… apples voice recorder turns off the moment the screen sleeps (aod or not) which is super frustrating because otherwise it works - yes there is a setting that says “upon touching the screen again” to turn it off but that is negated by the device going to sleep. And Just Press Record can be opened but you can’t seem to initiate a recording without hitting the screen again - which then also doesn’t allow it to be emailed right automatically.

I can’t for the life of me understand why there are limits on shortcuts at all. Should be able to run through a set of actions and save those actions without any other nonsense.

 

[cardfan]

So… shortcuts have been the most frustrating thing for me. Every time I start to get into making a shortcut or learning how, I find that the thing I want to do can’t be done.

Example 1. Because we are talking Apple Watch here - most recently I wanted to set my action button to start “just press record” or better yet, apple’s voice memos button and start recording. Upon hitting the button or the screen to end the recording, I wanted to have it emailed to myself.

Well… turns out, just press record - even though it allows you to open the app doesn’t actually start recording without another press. Also, the voice memo stops the moment the Apple Watch screen goes to sleep. So you get maybe a minute of recording if you don’t put your hand down.

This is infuriating. I’ve even looked for downloadable examples and unless you download more apps etc, you can’t do it - EVEN WITH APPLES OWN APP!



Example 2. I wanted - on my phone - to make a scan to pdf function that again emails to my work email. Well… THAT function doesn’t exist even with apples notes app - which CAN do this outside of shortcuts!!! I found a work around which requires a subscription to have it work and I can download the apps necessary, but come on!!!

There are not many things I do EVERY day. I don’t see why you can’t map out what you do within an app to work as a shortcut whether or not the app was specifically designed for it. Or if there is a way, I haven’t seen it.

You’d be surprised how successfully I’ve used the recorder on my phone or watch when negotiating prices and project details for work and with home contractors (even ATT/Verizon promising things over the phone). People lie, have bad memories, and bend their stories. Att tried to tell me a whole sweet of phone calls never happened. When you start plying them back to them, they start kicking you up the chain quick.

I would LOVE to have that action button set to record and save the file. If anyone has any suggestions that doesn’t require two more app downloads or a subscription, that’d be great.

To be honest it’s pretty frustrating apple cant add phone call recording.

 

[NicoTRZ]

i use multiple focus mode during the day: sleep mode / morning / work / lunch break / evening.

preciously I settled automations based on time of day to change focus mode but it’s not the most practical since some days I’m at home earlier than other, or I’m out for a drink or whatever.

so now I use the capabilities of watchOS 9.1 beta to use my action button with shortcuts for changing to the next focus mode automatically:

if sleep => set morning
if morning => set work
if work => set lunch break
etc…

works really well! It will be easier than activate it manually and more flexible than let it activate it based on time of day.

 

[CyberDavis]

At the moment I’m simply using it to start the workout app before I run or walk the dog.

 

[Sciomar]

I’m in the workout camp for the moment, it’s nice to have a dedicated button instead of messing with small icons on the screen.

 

[Bacasable]

I initially had my Action button set to the flashlight.
I decided to try out a Shortcut. I set up a simple if shortcut to unlock my smart lock on the front door.

If door locked / unlock
Otherwise / lock

Works like a dream!

Share your Action button ideas!

Hi could you share the iCloud link of your shortcut ? I would like to do the same for my tv but I can’t

 

[akidokraja]

i use multiple focus mode during the day: sleep mode / morning / work / lunch break / evening.

preciously I settled automations based on time of day to change focus mode but it’s not the most practical since some days I’m at home earlier than other, or I’m out for a drink or whatever.

so now I use the capabilities of watchOS 9.1 beta to use my action button with shortcuts for changing to the next focus mode automatically:

if sleep => set morning
if morning => set work
if work => set lunch break
etc…

works really well! It will be easier than activate it manually and more flexible than let it activate it based on time of day.

How do you do this automation? Could you share please?

 

[canyonblue737]

I initially had my Action button set to the flashlight.
I decided to try out a Shortcut. I set up a simple if shortcut to unlock my smart lock on the front door.

If door locked / unlock
Otherwise / lock

Works like a dream!

Share your Action button ideas!

I'm boring, I use it to launch the workout app (not the auto-workout start, but to launch the app) and then once I pick the workout I have precision workout option on (that should be the default IMHO, it isn't!) so that the button acts as a instant start button rather than the 3 second count down. I believe it then acts as a lap button once the workout begins, but I'm not sure.

I think you can set the action button to do different things during different focus modes so I might explore that. I'd also be careful with your cool shortcut because if you inadvertently press the action button with a sleeve or something and don't realize it, you may have just unlocked your door when you aren't even home etc.

 

[JWGold]

I push the action button by accident many times a day. So rather than accidentally start or stop a workout I just have it mark a waypoint. If I happen to create a waypoint, no harm, no foul.

 

[CharlesShaw]

As I said in another thread, I‘m keeping it on flashlight until I re-learn how to press the side button without also squeezing the action button. Two weeks in and I’m still saying DOH!.

The flashlight has been handy a few times, though, especially since I sleep in a dark room and am now wearing AW during sleep.

And tinkering with the Action button gave me a reason to explore Shortcuts for the first time since they were introduced. Someone in another thread mentioned his Action button triggering a shortcut for turning on AOD (something I’ve never had, coming from S4) and I only use at the gym, so I now have shortcuts to turn it on and one to turn it back off, but I‘m just using the complication on my watch face.

 

[newellj]

I initially had my Action button set to the flashlight.
I decided to try out a Shortcut. I set up a simple if shortcut to unlock my smart lock on the front door.

If door locked / unlock
Otherwise / lock

Works like a dream!

Share your Action button ideas!

Seems a little lazy or something like that, but I used it to start workouts. Yeah... It's almost crazy but having the d@mned workout start NOW rather than THREE SECONDS from now felt like a big deal. I know it's not, but it felt like a big improvement!

 

[nippyjun]

im still trying to figure out how to make a shortcut that will turn the Wi-Fi on my phone on and off by using the action button on the watch.

The way that I have it now it turns the Wi-Fi on and off of the watch but not the phone. Any ideas how to make it happen on the phone?

 

[Radeon85]

Set mine up to turn off the hue bedroom lights and set my devices to the sleep focus mode, works great. Really would love to see them bring the shortcut button to the regular series watches as it's such a handy button to have.

 

[CharlesShaw]

Set mine up to turn off the hue bedroom lights and set my devices to the sleep focus mode, works great. Really would love to see them bring the shortcut button to the regular series watches as it's such a handy button to have.

Hmm, shortuts. I do like the idea of combining a couple of my nightly tasks into a shortcut. Currently, I use a Hue switch by the bed (and of course the scenes programmed for that are different from HomeKit).

As long as there’s little risk of automating my life to point where any tech changes/interruptions create stress, I’m willing to experiment a bit, but regarding my personal life, I’m starting to use ”out of the box” whenever possible these days.

 

[rhemy123]

Anyone have a Siri shortcut for toggling home kit lights? I’d love to use it for that.

 

[1rottenapple]

Short cut to bypass the security pin in my Tesla. Beats having to type in my pin to drive it. Very cool function.