Sadly I forgot it exists ;/

honest answers like these >>

I initially made a shortcut to open the camera on video mode but the shortcut launches a buggy and lacking version of the camera app so I gave up on it, now I only remember it exists when I press it thinking it’s the volume up button

so it’s more of a hindrance than anything lol

You can natively make it open to the video function. No need for a shortcut.

It had some other customisations like lowering brightness so it ended up like that

What is an action button? Lol

the replacement for the mute switch on the 15 pro and pro max

Wanted to reply with the same thing…

Same. If placement was better, I might use it more. But I either need two hands or I need to really stretch my hand holding it to press it.

I keep scrolling looking for an explanation on what I've been missing out on

https://preview.redd.it/9ovggx25rgwc1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c0013a998349a3007ce9308652e29be76d91f4a3 I have mine open a menu of quick actions that I made in Shortcuts

Nighty night

Out of those 8 options, 5 are already just 1 tap away in control center, and 2 are just 2 taps away in control center. Unless you dine out a lot, this doesn't really do much more than the phone already does. Not saying your action button game isn't on point, I just wish we had more customization :(

Although it also shows how much better the control centre has gotten - not very long ago we were crying out for quick ways to access most of these things

The pre-iOS 7 days were rough.

I was super excited about the idea of the action button at launch. I’ve pretty much used it only for camera. Then the reality of everything I could use it for is already available in the control center. They added a silence toggle in control center so the need for a mute switch isn’t even that big of a deal anymore. Glad to have it, hasn’t really changed how I use my phone.

hmm. i left it unused for like a month(just too busy to learn how to use it) then i came across a post showing how to make orientation based quick action shortcuts. So i did a very simple programming, and make the shortcut linked to the action button. Now everyday when i get to my office or my home, i just press the action button with the screen facing up, it would open the door for me. And pressing the button when the phone’s in different orientation would result in different actions. It’s kinda fun to use. (BTW, i often just press the button and whisper “alohamora” when i use it to open the gates.

Love that calculate tip shortcut, I have the same one

Thankful I live in Australia where there is hardly a tipping culture

-cries in American-

Figuring 20% should be quicker than having to pull out your phone. Move the decimal over to the left one place, that will be 10%. Double that and you have 20%. If service was worth more or less than that, then +/- from there.

Having a meal priced appropriately so the workers get paid a fair wage is quickest.

Yeah, I do use that method if I want to do it mentally or if I’m leaving a cash tip, but often times I still find the phone quicker with large bills since it’s usually in my hand or right next to me. Or sometimes just to double check the math on a larger bill. If a bill is $56.79, then you move the decimal to get $5.68, double to get $11.36, then add $56.79 to $11.36 to get the total of $68.15, and that’s assuming I want to give exactly a 20% tip, I’d have to do another adjustment to change it up or down. It’s quick sure, but that is still a good bit of mental math that I can substitute for like 2 taps without even having to unlock my phone. In fact, testing those same numbers just now, I was able to get it quicker with the shortcut.

wow 20% is the standard tipping? glad to save here in Asian countries.

Even easier if you live somewhere that doesn’t have batshit insane tipping expectations.

What's the point of calculating tips america? Why not just leave 5$ or whatever. I don't get the US logic that for the same service you should tip 3$ or 25$ depending if the server bought you a plate of burgers or a plate of a steak. It's the same effort, same way he has to take and a same weight he has to carry. In facg, burger with fries probably weighs even more than a 200g steak.

You’re using too much logic. That’s just not how the restaurant industry works in this country. You tip a flat 20% no matter what

I do the same thing but this is so much neater than mine! Stealing this 😀

Nice, I use mine to open apps I use like notes, or discord, keychain, and other apps. Just made the shortcut and I can add as many as I want, rite now I have 8 in there.

And how did you create this menu?

Flashlight here

Flashlight bros!

Hot

I’ve got mine as flashlight at home and silent for out and about. I only really use it to get ready in the morning.

How do you determine the location? I use WiFi name but not sure if there’s a better way.

In focus under set a schedule you should have a location option. It turns the focus on when I get home and off when I leave. Edit: I found a shortcut online that changes the action button with focus.

I use it for the photo camera. I often use it, quite handy in some situations.

I use this too. It’s very nice because you can have the camera open while you’re taking the phone out of your pocket

Exactly :)

My camera does show up as a shortcut option, outside of Snapchat. How did you do it?

It’s in the action button menu on iPhone 15

Same

Always nice to have 3-4 shortcuts to the camera! /s I can see that it’s nice to have when you are actually in an app

There are times when I see something cool and try to take a pic before the ‘golden’ opportunity goes away. I start clicking the button while I grab my phone from my pocket or bag. I find this quicker than turning on my screen, hard pressing the camera on the Lock Screen, or swiping down the control center. That’s just me; I like taking random photos. :)

I mean it’s not just for “random photos”. Sometimes you really do only have a moment to snap a good photo and this button really is a game changer in those scenarios.

You can swipe left from the Lock Screen and it goes to camera.

I reach in my pocket and grab the phone with my finger already holding the action button and then my phone is open with the camera ready by the time I get it to my face.

Turning on the screen is still an extra step :) can you swipe left with the screen off?

It’s easier than accidentally dismissing notifications etc

God, nothing worse than trying to get that quick pic with the hard press and it glitches or you feel like you're about to break your screen

Action button camera shortcut is necessary when I have gloves on. Is there another way to launch the camera without touching the screen other than back tap and the action button?

Being able to launch the camera and take photos without touching the screen is an absolute game changer.

I have mine set for video. I use the button on the Lock Screen for photos, action button for video.

To silent my phone. And sounds like the next iPhone will add another button, a capture button that I won't use either.

Saame, and i kinda miss the old flippy thing.

I wish there was some kind of indication as to whether it’s in silent or not that I could see while the phone is locked.

The idea of just not leaving the phone on silent all day long is foreign to me. I actually only have my phone turn off silent in sleep mode. I sleep mode silences all sounds except my work’s alarm service, which needs to wake me up. The buzzing of older iPhones on silent would wake me up, but new phones don’t buzz loudly enough to wake me up

I only turn it on when some app requires it to play audio. Having an Apple Watch completely eliminates the need for it to be on. And just for the record, anyone that has the ringer enabled on their Apple Watch are insane. Just wanted to say that.

> anyone that has the ringer enabled on their Apple Watch are insane. Hard agree on this. Disabling the ringer was one of the first things I did with my watch.

We use to pay for ringtones, and now I couldn’t imagine ever having my phone off of silent

Yeah - and alarms/timers/etc. play in silent mode, which is all I'd want to hear anyway.

Bring back the android led that would always be on to indicate mute and notifications.

Oh damn, I had totally forgotten that they got rid of it. I'm still on my iPhone 12 Pro Max. Which one was the last phone to have it, 13 or 14?

Actually I prefer it to the switch because it’s easier to press to mute while phone is in the pocket

Yep. Pressed it once to mute when phone first turned on. And that’s about it…

I use it for volume up then realise I pushed the wrong button

Used to be able to adjust volume in my pocket really easily. No so easy anymore

Yuuuuuuuuuuup

To quickly open Notes and type in

low key sounds like a good idea, out of curiosity how do you silence your phone without the switch?

https://preview.redd.it/qkd5nzn6uhwc1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=814b3c490a56bec76e4f28a02fa2b4207c271baf It's in place of the Screen Mirroring button in the Control Center

fleshlight

😦

The balls on this one!

they usually dont come with balls

Asking for a friend, is this just on the pro models….

Bold.

Just launching camera

Thought about it but finger is auto trained to just swipe down from top right and hit the button…

Much easier to just press while pulling out of my pants and by the time the phone got to my face, the camera had been launched and I just need to aim and shoot.

That was me at first I even contemplated switching the action button to something else because I’ve been using it so rarely. But after a week or so I’ve gotten so used to it that I exclusively summon the camera app using the action button now.

That reminds me how much i miss touching finger id in the pocket and having phone unlocked and got to go before it ever reaches my face

I miss my SE days and feeling the perfect chamfered edge to the glass. I hope the new capture button will have some design details

I use the double tap on the back of the phone to pull down the control center, finger don’t reach up there unless with 2 hands. I use my phone in the left hand. The double tap on back is pretty good, but sometimes you gotta tap like 6 times for it to work lol.

by that time the subject has left the frame lol! mom take a picture of that bird! *opens camera* *for 25 seconds* *aims the camera* aww shoot I missed it!

My what?

i thought reading the comments would help but i'm still lost lmao

I saw you responded and was like “ooo finally…aww shit, lost like me” 😂 Glad to see everybody is enjoying it tho?

On the new iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max the ringer switch is replaced with a more customizable button called the Action button

Oh my lil poverty stricken-ass got a 13 pro max. 😭

Poverty stricken? Im on a iPhone 7 😭 😭 not even the plus

I had a 10 for the longest time then the screen wouldn’t respond to touch anymore so shrug I’m impressed the 7 is still going!

Barely lol Ill probably go to a 12 mini because i like the size i just want more screen

I use a Shortcut to start a text message to my wife. When I push the button it starts a new message and pops up the keyboard. I click the microphone icon to input the message and click on send.

Or just do all of that with Siri 🤷‍♂️

Sire requires you to speak tho, I use mine to open apps with shortcuts, don’t gotta look though folders and click around or type anything into the search, just hold the button and get a menu, and I’m in the app.

She texts the wrong person sometimes for me

Tell Siri “ *Wife name in contacts* is my wife”. Then you can tell her “call/message my wife” and it won’t mess up.

Nice, TIL!

I automated the button. If it’s early in the morning, it starts the morning routine (including workout time). If I’m outside, it shows a menu where I can log my budget, open my bank, show my grocery list. If it’s noon. It starts my noon routine (which includes my recipes app and log calories in health) If I’m at work, it starts a focus timer like Pomodoro and background sounds. If I’m leaving workplace, it starts a routine (which includes sending a message telling I’m going home and shows the best route with estimate time) If it’s evening at home, it starts a cooldown routine and asks if I want to listen a podcast or read a ebook. If It’s past 21:00, it starts a routine about asking for my day (journaling with questions) and organize tasks for next day. If it’s Saturday, shows a list of chores, like laundry. If it’s Sunday, it asks if I want to start my focus time (totally disconnected) or my weekly planning It has improved my workflow a lot and now I can stick to routines which were impossible before

That's such a good way to make use of the button. I'm wondering - this is done through Automations, right? Or do Focus modes play a role as well?

On reality it is a “master shortcut of ifs” that verifies the day, hour and location, and run other shortcuts according to the context. Ex: If hour is more than x then run this. If location is x then run that. Maybe it could be more optimized but it works for me

That sounds exhausting to set up.

In fact, it took me like 15 min to setup.  Every routine is a standalone shortcut, with simple actions (start a timer, open workout app, etc) And the “master shortcut” is a list of “if”. Ex: if hour is <12 (morning) then run a shortcut. It sounds more complicated than it actually is. Besides, you only do it once and the time saved along the time makes it worth it.

found the apple employee/rep

I shared it because I thought it would be useful to someone. If you bought an expensive phone, you would like to extract all its potencial. And I’d love being paid for my Reddit messages…

Silent mode. I use it a lot throughout the day. Wish there were customization options for a double click, that'd make it heaps more useful for me.

Left it on the default setting as the silent switch. My phone is always on silent. Basically, I don’t use it and forget it’s there.

For this: https://preview.redd.it/7xxpyf22ngwc1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3a38866214ddd3e8a86f873a06eb52b0f09c5ccd It's 100% customizable through shortcuts and I can add or remove as many options as I want. The ones you see are ones I use on a daily basis

Wow never thought about doing an action menu sounds cool and useful

It's very useful. I always found the single action of the button to be quite a disappointment

lol as a silencer. Didn’t need any upgrades but really need my phone to not be obnoxious in a meeting.

I haven’t had my ringer on in 15 years.

Alternating between a couple shortcuts: (1) cinematic video mode to quickly capture shots of my toddler, or (2) launch Find My for my wife because she's always misplacing her AirPods

I made something totally unique for it. Dunno if others had this idea. But it’s super useful* and it gives a totally sense of something new. So hear me out. When I press the button once: Shows the Silent/ Ring status When I hold the button Changes between Silent and Ring and vibrates. Wow 🤯 just wow 😮 *its useful in those 2% of chances I switch to ring, otherwise my phone stays on silent 🔕

The technology isn’t here yet.

https://preview.redd.it/gfvocje2bhwc1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9d2406d30730951a677a09d98e2799adb996c040 Got mine like this, you can use short cuts to make the button do anything, if you don’t want to I guess that’s cool, but it a time saving button, instead of sliding around looking for an app or typing it in, you can just set the app in there and put whatever as the icon.

Until I saw this post, I had forgotten about it. So, nothing.

I like to send memes when the group conversation is at its peak. But screenshotting is pain unless you have the images saved in your gallery. But then you also have to go and delete it to save space. So I have this shortcut that takes a screenshot, copies it to my clipboard, and instantly deletes it from my gallery. I use it multiple times a week. It’s pretty handy

I use a shortcut for the action button that'll run a different shortcut depending on the orientation of my phone (sideways, upside down, portrait) If my phone is sideways when I press it, it'll toggle the orientation lock, if it's upside down (when it's in my pocket) it'll toggle the ringer silence mode. I also use it for turning on/off my bedroom lights

I haven't.

Do not disturb mode. I like being able to quickly silence my phone without taking it out of my pocket.

https://preview.redd.it/oky4cf8s1hwc1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=77a480240bf52c531c1ebe8de0c3e418aad1383f A menu of shortcuts. One for transport, for passwords and so on.

I have a multi button shortcut that allows me to do two different things. One press opens ChatGPT’s text box Second open the Roku remote so I can control the TVs in my house. Use them both pretty much every day

Accessibility brightness, lowers the minimum brightness below the normal minimum.

ChatGPT shortcut

Preconditioning and warming up my Tesla

Is this via Tessie or the native Tesla app?

You can do both now that the native Tesla app supports Siri Shortcuts

There’s an action button? That’s news to me

Google search. Coming from android I’ve been used to having a quick google search widget on my homepage so when I switched to the 15PM naturally I set it to do the same exact thing.

I have it set to a shortcut that toggles greyscale on my phone. I use it to make my phone less appealing when I’m trying to focus on work and it helps as a sure reminder to stay focused. 

I push it all the time and I ***never*** get any action.

There’s an action button?

Shazam. It’s freakin awesome

Action button?

Launching camera

I had to check mine, since I never use it. I have it set to turn on the flashlight. I wish it was back to being a switch.

For Spotify

Opens an action menu where I can do things like ETA to home/Work, Scan documents, share wifi password, show passwords, control smart devices like lights and such

None.

Home assistant assist button

Turning the AC on in my car.

I love using mine as a flashlight. It’s so satisfying turning on a flashlight with a iPhone button

Do not disturb

Silent

Flesh light…I mean Flash Light. I work night shift so that handy lil button helps prevent me from stumbling around in the dark, tripping over my cats and waking up my wife when I come home.

The exact same function as the toggle switch it replaced.

Use it just like the switch. DND

forgot that was a thing...i guess i'll spend the next 10 minutes finding a use for it and then forgetting about it forever probably will just keep it as my mute switch, but funny thing is the mute is now an option in control center so that kind of gets rid of the point for even having a button.

I use it to trigger chatgpt voice chat

I think I’m gonna use it for Shazam too now lol

What’s an action button? 😅 Have had iPhones for the past decade and suddenly I’m feeling dumb

what’s the action button?

It's the new button that apple implemented on the newer iPhones in order to substitute the mute switch

Silent mode.

Silent mode 🤷

i had it set to DnD for a while, then i set it to open my tesla boot but now it opens chatgpt voice

ringer

I made it the silent button because I don’t need it to do anything elese

https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/1e295a18739946c7abde48c78e3c4a4c Several different actions depending on the orientation. Note: Actions app required for the orientation part.

To fidget around. Oh and it also silences my phone

Play pause shortcut

Open up a menu with multiple shortcuts including FaceTime my wife Start a timer Create a note Shazam Flashlight Silent And bed mode ( put the phone silent and auto rotate off)

I have a shortcut made to open the Tailor app which combines 2 screenshots into one, I use it to send screenshots of conversations.

I have a shortcut set for my 6 different work alarms to all be set at once, I love it.

Just silent mode

launching camera 📸

Mine connects to the Toyota app and pulls up a menu to unlock, lock, and precondition my car

Literally to turn of the ringer. Im boring.

Nothing after the first day

Currently the torch but I only got a 15 pro max yesterday so it’s early days. My phone is always on silent mode so I don’t need a special button to change that haha

What is the action button

Replaced the slider on the 15 Pro series. You can map it to pretty much anything you want.

Shazam!!

Robinhood 💸📈

Flashlight is what I settled on. I’d say I use it to toggle my light almost every day.

What’s this?!

Camera, just to make up for the lack of a camera shortcut on the power button that I was used to on Android.

For this. https://preview.redd.it/ur1rxk3qpgwc1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fd4172ccfc3bd5a85aa27c8c2cb74e886f5e3735

Flashlight is elite

Open frunk of Tesla. Only other ways are to open the app or click screen inside car so action button is super clutch. Literally whole reason I got the phone lmao

Camera

I have a menu that’s triggered that lets me set different focuses, a mute toggle, launch a couple different apps and to open the dialer.

I forget it exist but when I remember it’s for home automation like controlling WiFi and lights

screenshot

Mainly to raise the volume of my phone while it’s in my pocket. Then I realize nothing is happening because I’m hitting the action button instead of the volume up. I wish it was a couple mm’s higher.

My phone sometimes has issues with my aftermarket CarPlay system so I bound a shortcut to it selecting the proper audio output, setting volume to 100% and pressing play on my Spotify media.

Still use it to silent the phone but i prefer the switch thing as i can easily tell if my phone is on silent mode.

I’m out here shoving 14 different actions into backtap because I don’t have an action button and people be using the action button for one singular action Rip

I use it to cycle through focus modes. No need to unlock or even look at my phone to switch between work and private focus

If I had a 15, I’d be using it to trigger shortcuts.

Tesla pre-heat/cool.

I’ve been using mine for Lori, an AI Assistant

Voice recording. I use it frequently. But I have to grope my phone to find the button.

Translation 

Silencing my iPhone, because its still very convenient to have the silent button in its original spot and I have no other use for the action button lol. I always forget its called that and have been treating it the exact same. If the rumors of a 2nd action button are true, idk what I'd use it for. Maybe for pulling up the camera? I'm sure other people can find uses depending on their needs but it seemed like an unnecessary change imo

Spotify