Master the Action button on iPhone

Carry out quick actions with just a tap

- ALEX BLAKE

FOR YEARS, THE iPhone came with a mute toggle that was rigid in its functionality — it could do one thing, and one thing only. Recently, though, it has been replaced with an Action button, and this is a far more flexible alternative that can be customized to your heart’s content.

The benefit of the Action button is that you can assign one of a number of different functions to it (yes, including muting and unmuting your iPhone). That can include launching apps, toggling a Focus mode, and identifying music with Shazam. There are more complex options, too, including running shortcuts using the Action button.

In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to get started with the Action button, including choosing an action and using it day-to-day. Along the way, we’ll examine how it integrates with Apple’s Visual Intelligence, as well as ChatGPT and Google Images, too. By the end, you should be a certified Action button expert.

HOW TO Get started

Pick an option

Open the Settings app and select Action Button. Here, you can swipe through various options, such as having the button toggle Silent Mode or switch on your iPhone's torch. You can also opt for it to perform no action.

Configure options