That little button above the volume keys replaced the mute switch on newer iPhones, and most people still have it doing the least exciting thing possible.
Updated August 09, 2026, after a fresh review, with updated visuals and links.
It can launch Shazam, fire up the camera, run any Shortcut you invent or kick off a whole routine. Two minutes of setup, daily dividends.
Get this ready first
- An iPhone 15 Pro or newer (any model with the Action Button)
Step by step
- Find the settings. Settings, Action Button. A slick horizontal carousel shows every built in option; swipe through to preview what each does before choosing.
- The crowd favorites to consider first. Silent Mode (classic), Camera (choose which mode it opens: selfie fans smile), Flashlight (instant, beats Control Center fumbling), Voice Memo (interviews and ideas), Focus (flip between work and personal mode physically).
- Unlock the real power: Shortcuts. Pick Shortcut in the carousel and you can run anything from the Shortcuts app: log water intake, start a commute ETA text to your partner, toggle WiFi, open your favorite playlist, even multi step mini automations.
- The Shortcuts gallery has hundreds of pre-made ones
- One Shortcut can show a menu of actions: the button becomes a Swiss army knife
- Visual Intelligence on supported models. On the newest iPhones the button (or its camera-control sibling) can identify what the camera sees: plants, products, restaurant reviews. Point, press, learn.
- Train the muscle memory. A long press and hold activates it (a quick click does nothing, by design). Give it a week of deliberate use and it becomes reflex: flashlight in dark parking lots without a screen glance.
Small tweaks, big difference
- Only one assignment at a time, but a Shortcut with a 'Choose from Menu' step gives it many jobs in one button.
- Pair with Focus modes mentally: work Focus equals work Shortcut, though the button itself stays one action globally.
- Accessibility settings can adjust the press speed if the long hold feels awkward.
What trips people up
- Don't assign something with a confirmation delay: the beauty of the button is instant results.
- Forgetting it's on Silent Mode and missing calls for a day: check the icon in the status bar after experimenting.
Before you ask
Can the button open any app?
Yes, via a one step Shortcut ('Open App'). Many users dedicate it to their notes or camera app.
Which iPhones have it?
iPhone 15 Pro lineup and everything newer, including the standard models of later generations.
Keep reading
- How to Switch From iPhone to Android (Without Losing a Single Thing)
- How to Switch From Android to iPhone (The Move to iOS App, Explained Properly)
- How to Prepare Your iPhone for Trade-In or Sale (The Safe 8-Step Checklist)
The short version
One button, one habit: pick a job you'll use five times a day and the small piece of hardware finally earns its spot.
