The Action Button featured on the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max has been a source of both fascination and controversy among Apple users. While some may question its utility, others lament its absence in the standard iPhone 15 lineup. In this guide, we’ll unlock the full potential of the Action Button, revealing how to make the most of this intriguing feature.
Basic Action Button Settings
Before we delve into advanced functionalities, let’s explore the fundamental settings of the Action Button. Apple offers users the flexibility to customize this button according to their preferences. To access the Action Button settings:
- Navigate to Settings on your iPhone.
- Select “Action Button” (located within the third block of options).
Here are the primary actions you can assign to the Action Button:
- Silent Mode: Swiftly toggle between Silent and Ring modes for calls and alerts (this is the default setting).
- Focus Mode: Temporarily silence notifications to reduce distractions.
- Camera: Instantly launch the camera app, providing access to various modes such as Photo, Selfie, Video, Portrait, or Portrait Mode Selfie.
- Flashlight: Activate the built-in flashlight.
- Voice Memo: Initiate voice memo recording.
- Magnifying Glass: Activate this function to use the camera for magnified viewing.
- Shortcut: Open a specific app or run a selected shortcut.
- Accessibility: Quickly access accessibility features.
- No Action: Deactivate the button, rendering it non-functional.
Using the Action Button with Shortcuts
The real magic happens when we explore more complex functions using Shortcuts. This is where the Action Button’s potential truly shines. With a long press, you can initiate a sequence of actions that lead to a final task. Shortcuts offer extensive possibilities, and here’s how to access and create them:
- Launch the Shortcuts app on your iPhone.
- Navigate to the upper left corner and tap “Shortcuts” to access a higher level of the app.
- Select the “create a new folder” icon located in the upper right corner.
- Provide a name for the folder and choose an icon to represent it.
- Tap “Add,” which will return you to the main Shortcuts page.
- Access “All Shortcuts” (you’ll find the new folder at the bottom if you swipe down).
- Click “Edit” in the upper right corner and select the shortcuts that interest you.
- In the lower area, you will find the “Move” option.
- Tap “Move” and place the desired shortcuts into the new folder you created.
Now that your shortcuts are organized within a dedicated folder, let’s configure the Action Button to access this personalized “Control Center”:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Select “Action Button.”
- Choose “Shortcuts” from the available options.
- Use the search bar to enter the name of the folder. Alternatively, tap “Show folder…” to browse and select it.
With this setup, whenever you long-press the Action Button, a display containing your chosen shortcuts will appear on the screen, effectively functioning as your custom “Control Center.” You can swiftly access and select the desired shortcuts from this menu.
These are just a few examples of the possibilities that the Action Button offers. The integration with Shortcuts is undoubtedly one of its most compelling features and, at the same time, one of the lesser-known aspects of the iPhone 15 Pro. Rest assured, this innovative feature will no longer remain a mystery, but a valuable tool waiting to enhance your iPhone experience.
