The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max offers a brand-new button on the side that can be customized to trigger a specific function. Here’s how to use the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max Action button.
What is action button on iPhone 15 pro?
The Action button on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone Pro Max is a force-sensitive solid-state button that can be customized to perform specific function. The Action button sits in the same place as the side switch on previous iPhones and is used with a long press.
The Action Button switches the iPhone between ring and vibrate by default, which is vital since it has replaced the ring / vibrate switch that Apple has included on the iPhone since its debut in 2007. You can even feel haptic feedback when you switch between the modes.
Apple notes that when you change the Action button to something other than controlling Silent mode, you can head to Control Center or use Focus modes to change your ringer.
What does the action button do on iPhone 15 Pro?
The Action button can be programmed to control the following:
- Mute toggle
- Focus Mode toggle
- Launch Camera app
- Launch Voice Memos
- Flashlight toggle
- Launch Translate
- Launch Magnifier
- Perform Shortcut
- Activate Accessibility feature
The last two, Shortcuts and Accessibility, provide the widest range of options for users. Attaching any Shortcut or Accessibility option to the Action button gives you an unlimited range of controls of your iPhone.
For example, third-party apps won’t need to have direct access to the Action button. You can create a simple Shortcut that launches the app, and some apps have specific Shortcuts for launching directly into features.
How to use Action Button on iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max
Using an intuitive interface in the Settings menu, you can swipe through the various options for mapping functions to the Action button. Before we dig into the iPhone settings, here are the basics of the Action Button.
- To trigger most functions, you’ll need to press and hold the 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.
Customize the iPhone 15 Pro Action button
Should you want to get more creative with the Action Button, the Settings app is where to go. Open the app and scroll down until you find the Action Button tab.
The first thing you will notice is how different the user interface looks compared to other settings on the iPhone. There’s a fancy animation of the Action Button as you swipe through the programmable functions.
Your options include Silent Mode (default), Focus, Camera, Flashlight, Voice Memo, Accessibility, Shortcut, and Translate (arriving 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.
While there are eight main features the Action button can control, being able to set it to control Accessibility shortcuts or run a custom shortcut from the Shortcuts app is huge. That means the possibilities are pretty much endless.
Some features make use of the Action button once you’re in an app too. For example, if you launch the Camera with the Action button, you can press it again to take pictures. If you launch a Voice Memo recording, you can use the Action button to stop the recording, etc.
The Action Button, though subtle, is one of few visually noticeable changes to the exterior of the iPhone in many years — alongside the new USB-C port on the bottom of the device.
FAQs
What iPhone models have the Action Button?
Only the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max have the new Action Button. Older models instead have a physical alert slider that switches between sound and silent modes. Naturally, cases and covers made for previous iPhone models won’t fit on the iPhone 15 Pro series.
Can I map a third-party app to the Action Button?
You can, thanks to the Shortcut option in the Action Button menu. You first need to create a Shortcut with the desired app. Then, select it as the sequence to open when the Action Button is triggered. Due to how versatile Shortcuts can be, the possibilities for what the Action Button can do are endless.
What are you wanting to customize your Action button to control? Drop your ideas in the comments section below!