Is your iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max Action Button not working? Follow these troubleshooting steps to get it fixed.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- If your iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max Action Button is not working, try restarting your iPhone, updating the software, or restoring it.
- If nothing works, it’s likely there’s something wrong with the iPhone itself. You should contact Apple or go to an Apple store for repair.
The Action Button, which replaces the ring / vibrate switch, can be programmed to do things like activating the camera, turning on the flashlight, starting a Voice Memo, opening a note, switching Focus modes, or running your own custom shortcuts. You can also set accessibility options like Magnifier. If your iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max Action Button is not working, we certainly feel your pain. In this article, we’ll help you figure out why your iPhone 15 Pro Action Button won’t work, how to fix the problem, and help you repair the broken Action Button if you can’t fix it yourself.
Does My iPhone Need To Be Repaired?
Not necessarily. Software problems _and_hardware problems can cause iPhone 15 Pro Action Buttons to stop working. Software problems can usually be fixed at home, but if we find out your iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max Action Button isn’t working because of a hardware problem, I’ll help you get it repaired.
First things first: Let’s make sure you are using the iPhone 15 Pro Action Button correctly before we move on to the fixes.
How to use the Action Button on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max
Here are the basics of the Action Button.
- To trigger most functions, you’ll need to press and hold the Action Button.
- By default, a press and hold of the Action Button switches between sound and silent modes, much like how the original alert slider behaved.
- On a per-app basis, a single tap of the Action Button will also trigger a secondary function. For example, a single tap while the camera is open prompts the shutter. A single tap while Voice Memo is on will stop the recording.
Should you want to customize the Action Button, the Settings app is where to go. Start the Setting app on your iPhone. Scroll down and tap on the Action Button. Here, you can set the Action button to launch:
- Silent mode (default)
- Focus mode
- Camera app
- Flashlight
- Voice Memo app
- Magnifier and other Accessibility features
- Shortcut
- Translate (arriving with an update "later this year")
Apple allows you to map a specific function with the broader categories. For example, a drop-down box on the Camera slide gives you the options of Photo, Selfie, Video, Portrait, and Portrait Selfie.
The Two Categories Of iPhone 15 Pro Action Button Problems
Software Problems
Software problems occur when your iPhone 15 Pro doesn’t respond correctly when you press the Action Button. The hardware could be sending the signal, but if the software isn’t paying attention, nothing happens. When your iPhone’s software becomes corrupted, overloaded, or a helper program (called a process) crashes in the background of your iPhone 15 Pro, your Action Button may stop working.
Hardware Problems
If you’ve dropped your iPhone recently, you may have damaged the Action Button.
How To Fix An iPhone 15 Pro Action Button That Won’t Work
A general rule of thumb: If your iPhone 15 Pro Action Button stopped working after your device was physically damaged or dropped in water, your device may needs to be repaired by Apple or an authorized technician. Otherwise, we may be able to fix it at home.
1. Test The Action Button Itself
Click the Action Button with your finger. Does it feel normal, or does it feel stuck? Gently move your finger from side to side — does the Action Button feel loose? If it doesn’t feel the way it should, we may be dealing with a hardware problem — but if it has always felt "a little off" and it only recently stopped working, it could be an underlying software problem.
2. Inspect Your iPhone 15 Pro For Damage
Take a close look at the Action Button, your iPhone’s display, and inside the charging port on the bottom of your iPhone. Is there any physical damage or corrosion? Is it possible your iPhone got wet? Did other components (like the camera) stop working too, or is it only the Action Button that’s having the problem?
If you discover physical or liquid damage, it’s almost certain that your iPhone 15 Pro Action Button isn’t working because of a hardware problem, and your phone may need to be repaired.
3. Turn Your iPhone Off And Back On, And Test
We’re heading into the software troubleshooting phase of the tutorial. As we discussed, your iPhone 15 Pro Action Button may not work if your phone’s software doesn’t react the way it should when you press the Action Button. If your iPhone feels very slow, apps keeps crashing, or your Action Button stopped working after you upgraded to a new version of iOS, a software problem may be the reason why your iPhone 15 Pro Action Button won’t work.
The first (and least invasive) software troubleshooting step is to turn your iPhone off and back on again.
When you turn your iPhone off, all the little programs that keep your iPhone running, one of which processes "events" like a Action Button press, are forced to shut down. When you turn your iPhone back on, those programs start fresh again, and sometimes that’s enough to fix a minor software glitch.
Press and hold the Side button and one of the volume buttons until "slide to power off" appears on the screen. Swipe the red and white power icon from left to right to shut down your iPhone. Wait about a minute to let your iPhone completely shut down. Then, press and hold the Side button again until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
4. Update Your iPhone
If you’ve tried the above solutions and your iPhone 15 Pro Action Button is still not working properly, you might have a glitch that can be resolve by a software update.
Here’s how to check for an update on your iPhone and install it:
- Tap **Settings **and then General.
- Tap on Software Update. Your iPhone will now start searching for the latest iOS update.
- If an update is available, tap Install Now.
5. Reset And Restore Your iPhone, And Test Again
More significant software problems can only be fixed by restoring your iPhone, which means that you erase and reload all the software on your iPhone. If you make an appointment at the Genius Bar to fix iPhone 15 Pro Action Button and it’s not obviously a hardware issue, the tech will always restore your iPhone to make sure it’s not a software problem before making a repair.
Back up your iPhone to iTunes, Finder, or iCloud, and then follow these instructions to reset your iPhone.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap General.
- Go to Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap Erase all Contents and Settings.
After the reset process is complete, you’ll be able to reload your personal information from your iTunes, Finder, or iCloud backup, and the iPhone 15 Pro Action Button problem should be solved for good.
5. Repairing A Broken iPhone 15 Pro Action Button
If your iPhone 15 Pro isn’t physically damaged, head straight for an Apple Store (make an appointment with the Genius Bar so you don’t have to wait for help) or start a mail-in repair on Apple’s support website.
Action Button: Working As Usual
An Action Button that won’t work is one of the most frustrating problems that iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max owners can face. We hope this troubleshooting guide has helped you fix the issue.