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

First, be sure you’re working the most recent model of iOS. Head to Settings, choose Normal, and faucet Software program Replace. Permit the most recent replace to obtain and set up.

Go to Settings, choose Motion button, after which swipe by means of the obtainable actions. While you see an motion you want, merely exit Settings or return to the Dwelling display. The actions at present obtainable embody the next:

• Silent Mode – Switches between silent and ring mode for calls and alerts
• Focus – Places your cellphone into Focus mode to silence notifications
• Digital camera – Opens the Digital camera app
• Visible Intelligence – Prompts the Visible Intelligence function to investigate what you seize by means of the digital camera
• Flashlight – Activates the built-in flashlight
• Voice Memo – Permits you to file voice memos and different audio snippets
• Acknowledge Music – Makes use of Shazam to determine the tune at present 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 quite a lot of actions. These embody:

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

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

Triggering an motion varies primarily based 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 cellphone to silent mode; holding it down once more switches it again to ring mode.

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

After attempting out quite a lot of totally different actions, sure ones stand out. Since I’ve an iPhone 16 Professional, I take advantage of the devoted Digital camera 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 continuously 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 have to silence my cellphone or activate Do Not Disturb mode. At different occasions, Translate gives a fast method to translate a single phrase or sentence between English and one other language.

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

Of the controls, my favorites launch an AI in dialog mode: Open ChatGPT Voice Mode, Speak to Copilot, or Gemini’s Speak Dwell. 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 routinely performs the following episode, and a 3rd for Yelp that helps me discover close by eating places. For accessibility, I generally add the magnifier.