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Productivity · Tip

Configuring the iPhone 15 Pro Action Button

How the Action Button settings interface works and available trigger options

From the Xiry library · Updated 11 October 2026

The iPhone 15 Pro replaces the physical mute switch with a customizable Action Button. Settings provides a full-screen carousel interface with distinct color coding for each quick action, including Silent Mode, Camera modes, Focus filters, and custom Shortcuts. Pressing and holding the physical button instantly triggers the configured action.

How it works

The Action Button replaces the mute switch on iPhone 15 Pro. In Settings you swipe through assignable actions, each with its own screen and colour: Silent Mode ('Switch between Silent and Ring for calls and alerts', orange), Shortcut ('Open an app or run your favorite shortcut', with a 'Choose a Shortcut...' button), Focus ('Turn Focus on to silence notifications and filter out distractions', e.g. Do Not Disturb, purple), and Camera ('Open the Camera app to capture a moment', default Photo, yellow). Other icons visible in the swipe carousel include flashlight, magnifier and voice memo. After setting it to Camera, pressing the Action Button launches the Camera app directly (demoed at an Apple Store hands-on area, 'LIVE' photo mode, 48MP RAW MAX).

What it's for

  • Map the physical button to quick camera capture or voice memos
  • Trigger custom iOS Shortcuts to run complex workflows or open third-party apps
  • Toggle Focus modes or classic silent mode without waking the display

Key points

  • Full-screen swipeable setup carousel with dedicated colors per tool
  • Quick presets for Silent Mode, Camera, Focus, Flashlight, Magnifier, and Voice Memo
  • Shortcuts integration to launch arbitrary apps or automated routines
  • Specific mode selection within presets (such as default Photo mode for Camera)

Pricing

Free

Details

Type
Tip
Category
Productivity
Topic
Mobile OS Tips
Open source
No
Platforms
iOS
For
iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max users
Tags
ios, iphone, shortcuts, hardware, settings

Why it was saved

  • @neilcybart, 12 September 2023: Shows concretely how the Action Button is configured in Settings and which actions it supports, shortly after the Apple Event announcement.

Related

Updated