I’ve used my iPhone 16’s Action button many ways – but this one is my favorite

First, ensure you’re operating the most recent model of iOS. Head to Settings, choose Basic, and faucet Software program Replace. Enable the most recent replace to obtain and set up.

Go to Settings, choose Motion button, after which swipe by the out there actions. Whenever you see an motion you want, merely exit Settings or return to the Residence display. The actions presently out there embrace the next:

• Silent Mode – Switches between silent and ring mode for calls and alerts
• Focus – Places your telephone into Focus mode to silence notifications
• Digicam – Opens the Digicam app
• Visible Intelligence – Prompts the Visible Intelligence characteristic to investigate what you seize by the digital camera
• Flashlight – Activates the built-in flashlight
• Voice Memo – Allows you to document voice memos and different audio snippets
• Acknowledge Music – Makes use of Shazam to determine the music presently enjoying
• Translate – Interprets phrase or conversations between two totally different languages
• Magnifier – Activates the magnifier to zoom in on close by objects
• No motion – Disables the Motion button

Three of the screens allow you to select from a wide range of actions. These embrace:

• Controls – Allows you to use a selected management, such because the timer, clock, calculator, or one from a 3rd occasion
• Shortcut – Allows you to use a Siri shortcut
• Accessibility – Allows you to select an accessibility characteristic, akin to distinction, VoiceOver, or Zoom

For these, merely faucet the Select button after which choose the precise motion you wish to use.

Triggering an motion varies based mostly on the motion itself. For many of them, press and maintain the Motion button. With sure actions, urgent the button switches between two states. For instance, with Silent Mode, holding the button as soon as switches your telephone to silent mode; holding it down once more switches it again to ring mode.

In some instances, you may as well faucet the Motion button to carry out a follow-up motion. For instance, with Digicam arrange as an motion, urgent the button launches the digital camera; tapping it then snaps a photograph.

After attempting out a wide range of totally different actions, sure ones stand out. Since I’ve an iPhone 16 Professional, I take advantage of the devoted Digicam management to activate the digital camera and launch Visible Intelligence, so these are already set. 

Among the many direct actions, those I’ve used most ceaselessly are Silent Mode, Focus, and Translate. Silent Mode and Focus each come in useful when my spouse and I attend stay performances or different occasions the place I must silence my telephone or activate Do Not Disturb mode. At different occasions, Translate supplies a fast solution to translate a single phrase or sentence between English and one other language.

Past utilizing a couple of direct actions, I like to make use of the Motion button to launch a selected management, shortcut, or accessibility characteristic.

Of the controls, my favorites launch an AI in dialog mode: Open ChatGPT Voice Mode, Speak to Copilot, or Gemini’s Speak Reside. To set these up, set up the ChatGPT, Copilot, or Gemini app; totally different choices for every seem while you view the Controls display.

Among the many shortcuts, I’ve one for Music that lets me select an artist or album to play, one other for Podcasts that mechanically performs the following episode, and a 3rd for Yelp that helps me discover close by eating places. For accessibility, I generally add the magnifier.