With the release of the iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max, the traditional mute switch is no more. In its stead, Apple has introduced an Action button, reminiscent of the one found on the Apple Watch Ultra. Interestingly, this new button still retains its mute-switch functionality. By pressing and holding the button, users can seamlessly toggle between ringer and silent modes. Additionally, iOS provides helpful feedback by indicating if the button isn’t held down long enough. It’s a neat and convenient feature!
The physical mute button isn’t going anywhere; it has evolved into something more versatile. It’s not limited to muting or unmuting anymore; instead, you have the power to choose its function when you press it. Apple has designed a user-friendly system for customizing the actions performed by this button.
On the Pro iPhones, known as the iPhone 15 Pro (please note that the standard iPhone 15 retains the old mute switch), the Action button serves as a quick launch key for a variety of standard iPhone features. You can easily customize this action by navigating to Settings > Action Button whenever you like.
The Action button offers convenient shortcuts, such as swiftly opening the camera without the hassle of on-screen controls. It can also toggle your flashlight on and off, eliminating the need for the Home Screen shortcut or Control Center tile. Additionally, it can initiate Voice Memos recordings, launch the Magnifier app, activate a Focus mode, or open the Translate app (although this feature might become available later in the year). Furthermore, you can activate any accessibility shortcut with the Action button, allowing you to toggle functions like VoiceOver, AssistiveTouch, and more.
In terms of shortcuts, the Action button supports Shortcuts as well, enabling you to effortlessly create and assign shortcut automations to the Action button. Whether it’s a simple task like opening Spotify, selecting a specific playlist, or executing a complex automation, you can accomplish it with a press of your iPhone 15 Pro’s new Action button. If it’s possible to create it in Shortcuts, you can trigger it with this button.
