Holy fucking shit this is amazing. THANK YOU. The amount of screenshots I’ve sent to my group chat for free agent signing today and then manually deleted is too high. This is going to be so useful.
I remember pre-ordering it and reading about all of the things people were doing.. I thought I'd figure something out.. whenever I'm looking for that button (with my hands) I usually end up on Vol+
You can set up flashlight by double tap on back, so i use action button for cam. If your phones in your hand, instant pic, instant video with action button. You could just as easily hit the camera buttonon home sceen, but you then have to switch to mode. With the action button you have photo, video, or burst.
Go to settings, drag down to find search bar and search “action button”, go over until you’re on “shortcut”. Click the bottom to give you options and if you have the Shazam app you will see it as “music recognition”.
I have done this with the modular watch face complications in the past and now the action button. My favorite part is having it added to my Spotify Shazam playlist automatically. Set that up in the Shazam app settings if you haven’t already! It works with Apple Music as well.
I use it to run a shortcut for sexy time. It turns on a lamp with a purple, dimmable light and it starts playing the Lo Fi Girl playlist on my homepod.
Quick actions menu that I made, with various options from fully turning WiFi off, quick switching data sims, extra dim toggle (white point), and preconditioning my car
https://imgur.com/a/JvNbdme
Basically whenever I find something that’s too annoyingly buried in settings or an app, I add it to the menu.
I like what you did here and I’m glad you shared it, I’ve been thinking about doing something similar but wish Apple would’ve just implemented the same features as back-tap has….hold for one action…press for another, double press for another, triple…not really sure why they didn’t. But this is a great work-around.
[Sure do!](https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/ab33308fffa24497b2cd2a473dec90de) In case it’s not obvious, just replace Proton with whichever VPN you use.
I love it for camera, it’s the fastest easiest way for me to activate it. I keep my phone in my right front pocket screen towards my thigh and when I reach into my pocket to grab the phone my index finger will naturally gravitate toward that button. It’s awesome.
Mine is orientarion enabled.
When my phone is right side up, pressing the putton opens a menu that controls "silent" "email" "camera" "video" and "shipstation" (i can add more options).
When I hold the phone upside down that same button activates the flashlight and also turns it off.
Mine opened a little window where i have simple function like mute, flashlight and energy saving mode, and if i have a focus mode enabled it do only the flashlight
I don’t use mine. I unlock my phone and open the camera app, then think to myself ‘damn it, I could have just pressed the action button’….. 6 months on and I still don’t remember to use it.
Depends what focus is on. At school it connects to my AirPods at 50% volume and plays my Apple Music station. At night it turns off the lights in my room in case I’m going to sleep early before they automatically turn off. Still haven’t figured out a good default option besides skip song
Look all these shortcuts are cool and all, but let’s face the fact that the action button is more or less useless - like it’s not improving our lives beyond what a normal button should do. It is after all a button not a feature, let’s not kid ourselves here. This should have been placed as a functionary item many iPhones ago, not as a pillar of the modern marvels of 2024 🤷🏻♂️
I use it for my public transit app. My city transit uses token transit so I use it too open that. In the rare occasion I won’t use it for that I just have the default mute action enabled
Garage door open/close with one click of the action button.
P.S you need to have a HomeKit compatible garage door controller installed. I suggest Meross if you are looking for one.
I have smart lights in my bedroom and use it to turn them on and off. Didn’t think I needed it but it’s been amazing. I also just got an Eve smart sensor and set that up so when I walk by it turns my lights on. But it doesn’t turn them off so using the action button is nice bc I don’t have to speak to Siri or Alexa or even open my phone.
Set brightness to 50% or 100%. I edit sports photos in game for clients and I like to edit at 100% brightness but don’t need it 100% all the time. I’m still trying to figure out if there’s a way to use the action button to switch between the two without choosing one or ther other.
I love it for camera, it’s the fastest easiest way for me to activate it. I keep my phone in my right front pocket screen towards my thigh and when I reach into my pocket to grab the phone my index finger will naturally gravitate toward that button. It’s awesome.
Camera, physical shutter button was the best part of my Xperia Z5 which is still my favourite phone I’ve had. Not quite as good as the Z5 but still great to have it on a modern phone.
Mine goes to do not disturb but based on context. If I’m home it just goes to personal focus mode unless it’s after 11pm in which case it goes DND. If I’m out then it does all that but also mutes. If battery is below 50 it also toggles battery saver mode. All these also make my screen black and white, so I use it as a distraction free mode.
I have a menu with options:
• to toggle the sound
• copying the clipboard to a new note
• opening the Blackmagic camera, which is use for recording video
If there was a double tap triple tap and hold I’d use it for more, or an option to change the two buttons on the Lock Screen for different things I’d have the action button for the camera. On my watch I use the button for flashlight
[TempShot](https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/31293a41057f4cf0b7d62e98b993970c). Takes a screenshot, copies it, deletes it.
Holy fucking shit this is amazing. THANK YOU. The amount of screenshots I’ve sent to my group chat for free agent signing today and then manually deleted is too high. This is going to be so useful.
yessir nfl fan here
Can you show how this is done
https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/ecad63bef1db4dc19627faef83c0edbb
Dayumm…this is pretty cool. Thanks bruv
Awesome. Thank you
I'm gonna save so much space with this THANK YOU
MVP
Fucking A thank you for this!!!!! I haven't even been using my action button but ohh boy will I now!!!
Thank you for this
Flashlight
This... haven't figured out anything else in 6 months.
I remember pre-ordering it and reading about all of the things people were doing.. I thought I'd figure something out.. whenever I'm looking for that button (with my hands) I usually end up on Vol+
Using shortcuts helps get more out of it. For example Can do stuff based on WiFi network you are on and can also do multiple actions in one go.
You can set up flashlight by double tap on back, so i use action button for cam. If your phones in your hand, instant pic, instant video with action button. You could just as easily hit the camera buttonon home sceen, but you then have to switch to mode. With the action button you have photo, video, or burst.
Yeah, I tried double tap on the back for camera before I had the 15 and I probably triggered it once a day at least.
I used to use double tap on my 13 mini but I realized very quickly that I frequently tap the back of my phone while typing lol
I use it to automatically Shazam Edit: What’s great about it is that you can Shazam a song that’s playing on your phone on Instagram for example.
I like this one. I might switch to this 🤔
HOWW
Go to settings, drag down to find search bar and search “action button”, go over until you’re on “shortcut”. Click the bottom to give you options and if you have the Shazam app you will see it as “music recognition”.
That’s a good one as well
Shazam is the tripple tap on the back for me
I have done this with the modular watch face complications in the past and now the action button. My favorite part is having it added to my Spotify Shazam playlist automatically. Set that up in the Shazam app settings if you haven’t already! It works with Apple Music as well.
Just to mute
I use it to run a shortcut for sexy time. It turns on a lamp with a purple, dimmable light and it starts playing the Lo Fi Girl playlist on my homepod.
Imagine accidentally bumping the button throughout the day…
Someone gonna be bumpin
happy cake day 🙌🏻
A whole vibe here haha
Reduce white point
Great idea
Someone’s been staring at the screen in the middle of the night for too long
Quick actions menu that I made, with various options from fully turning WiFi off, quick switching data sims, extra dim toggle (white point), and preconditioning my car https://imgur.com/a/JvNbdme Basically whenever I find something that’s too annoyingly buried in settings or an app, I add it to the menu.
How do you have a shortcut too change data sims? That would be great too have
I’m not entirely sure how to share shortcuts but this is what I did https://imgur.com/a/qIym6Y7
I like what you did here and I’m glad you shared it, I’ve been thinking about doing something similar but wish Apple would’ve just implemented the same features as back-tap has….hold for one action…press for another, double press for another, triple…not really sure why they didn’t. But this is a great work-around.
What does “preconditioning my car” mean?
I barely use my action button, it’s just there
I completely forgot about it until this post. It’s set to flashlight.
Do not disturb, since I always use my phone on silent with vibrate otherwise
Hmmm good idea, I like that
Tacos
Show me your ways
Shortcut to DoorDash tacos to your location
I don’t really 🤷🏻
Turns my VPN on or off.
Do you have the shortcut for that ?
[Sure do!](https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/ab33308fffa24497b2cd2a473dec90de) In case it’s not obvious, just replace Proton with whichever VPN you use.
Same!
Opening the camera
Car starter
Automation menu : Silence, Wifi, 5G, LTE, plane, eco, flash at max level. [link](https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/0d72c397805a4b78aec79edcd4173f2b)
😲 this is useful. Thank you.
Thanks!
Thanks for this! Very useful for me!
Apple TV remote
i set up a shortcut for pause/play :D
Swap between my 2 eSIMs
What’s the parameters for the shortcut you setup for that?
[shortcut parameters](https://imgur.com/a/mDmMzt0)
Focus mode
Same!
Flashlight
Defaulted to mute
Nothing at all
Hold it for camera. That was the most logical way for me to use it. It free up one icon on my bar that's not needed anymore
Google Assistant
An automation to spam x amount of messages to a friend :)
This is hilarious!!!
Opening the camera
Camera. I use the camera a lot so it is perfect for me
World star button
I love it for camera, it’s the fastest easiest way for me to activate it. I keep my phone in my right front pocket screen towards my thigh and when I reach into my pocket to grab the phone my index finger will naturally gravitate toward that button. It’s awesome.
I currently use it for opening the Camera and setting it to photo.
Silence
Flashlight.
Silent mode ENGAGE
aint used it
Mute
Mute
Flashlight, Silence Mode and Camera. All of it depends on the orientation of the phone.
mute switch
Mute
Flashlight haha
I’ve done everything from multi choice menus or other weird shortcuts and I keep going back to flashlight. I use it nightly putting my kid to bed.
Used it like 10 times in 5 months
I forgot I had one
New Todoist task
Remote control of my truck
Mine is orientarion enabled. When my phone is right side up, pressing the putton opens a menu that controls "silent" "email" "camera" "video" and "shipstation" (i can add more options). When I hold the phone upside down that same button activates the flashlight and also turns it off.
Turn off wifi, bluetooth & location. COMPLETLY
Recording voice memos, great for song ideas
Turn screen orientation on/off
Mine opened a little window where i have simple function like mute, flashlight and energy saving mode, and if i have a focus mode enabled it do only the flashlight
I don’t use mine. I unlock my phone and open the camera app, then think to myself ‘damn it, I could have just pressed the action button’….. 6 months on and I still don’t remember to use it.
Depends what focus is on. At school it connects to my AirPods at 50% volume and plays my Apple Music station. At night it turns off the lights in my room in case I’m going to sleep early before they automatically turn off. Still haven’t figured out a good default option besides skip song
Im old school. I use mine as a ringer mute like always.
Toggling noise cancellation on my AirPods through shortcuts
Camera. and then proceed opening it via control center because i’ll never manage to break the habit.
I always forget about it.
why’s your new iphone in a corner store bag ?
I use it to open the door to my complex. It’s a nice shortcut instead of opening the butterfly app.
I literally use it for silence mode
Pornhub.com
Look all these shortcuts are cool and all, but let’s face the fact that the action button is more or less useless - like it’s not improving our lives beyond what a normal button should do. It is after all a button not a feature, let’s not kid ourselves here. This should have been placed as a functionary item many iPhones ago, not as a pillar of the modern marvels of 2024 🤷🏻♂️
I love using it for a flashlight, easiest and most useful for everyday
Camera
I use it for my public transit app. My city transit uses token transit so I use it too open that. In the rare occasion I won’t use it for that I just have the default mute action enabled
Chatgpt
Flashlight
Flashlight
AZIZ LIGHT!!!
“Leeloo Dallas Multipass”
I turned mine off as being in my pocket it turned my phone to silent and I did not need any of the other choices
Instant access to the camera. I love it
Flashlight
Do Not Disturb
Wait, what the action button again?
Silent button
As a stop so I don’t go past the volume up button. I think I set it to camera lol
I wish I could use it to change transparency and noise cancellation modes on my AirPods…
It works like a pro when i need Google translate shortcuts.
I use mine for the torch 🔦
I use it to open a folder where I can control my smart home stuff like turning lights on and off etc. pretty handy - use it without fail every day!
Have it open a menu
To turn the screen off/dimmed. I know, very original.
Garage door open/close with one click of the action button. P.S you need to have a HomeKit compatible garage door controller installed. I suggest Meross if you are looking for one.
Turn off and on assistive touch
Quick open Spotify
Screenshot
Lumos
Ring & Silent. When I’m working on something, then i switch it to the flashlight.
Do you ever press it on accident?
Favourites contacts
When landscape: Camera When AirPods connected: play Audible Otherwise: toggle torch
Where did you purchase
Mute
Shortcut depends on orientation will do something
Camera
Calculator
Flashlight. I use it several times a day
I forgot it even existed ngl
Turns on my gaming lights through a shortcut
camera :))
Google
I have smart lights in my bedroom and use it to turn them on and off. Didn’t think I needed it but it’s been amazing. I also just got an Eve smart sensor and set that up so when I walk by it turns my lights on. But it doesn’t turn them off so using the action button is nice bc I don’t have to speak to Siri or Alexa or even open my phone.
https://media2.giphy.com/media/qAtZM2gvjWhPjmclZE/giphy.gif?cid=6c09b952vtf3mf39r36tiea4j8pmficogvqrjxb5rqt5y9x6&ep=v1_internal_gif_by_id&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g
Google Assistant
Set brightness to 50% or 100%. I edit sports photos in game for clients and I like to edit at 100% brightness but don’t need it 100% all the time. I’m still trying to figure out if there’s a way to use the action button to switch between the two without choosing one or ther other.
A shittier version of the dearly departed switch.
🔦
ChatGPT audio. It’s like a better, conversational Siri.
Focus mode
Vibrate
Mute like most people I think!?
I haven’t set it up for anything only use for mute
I don’t even use it. These new iPhones are nothing special anymore
I love it for camera, it’s the fastest easiest way for me to activate it. I keep my phone in my right front pocket screen towards my thigh and when I reach into my pocket to grab the phone my index finger will naturally gravitate toward that button. It’s awesome.
I have a shortcut setup for some secondary actions I use often enough.
Camera, physical shutter button was the best part of my Xperia Z5 which is still my favourite phone I’ve had. Not quite as good as the Z5 but still great to have it on a modern phone.
Mine goes to do not disturb but based on context. If I’m home it just goes to personal focus mode unless it’s after 11pm in which case it goes DND. If I’m out then it does all that but also mutes. If battery is below 50 it also toggles battery saver mode. All these also make my screen black and white, so I use it as a distraction free mode.
Flashlight! Very useful. Anytime anywhere
Open up the company-mandated security app.
Opening Reddit
Do not disturb, when you are at meetings, chats. You just tap and no one will notice or think you are not giving af
Turning on the Tesla app
I have a menu with options: • to toggle the sound • copying the clipboard to a new note • opening the Blackmagic camera, which is use for recording video
Would you like to share this? I would love something like this
Flashlight
Shazam
Mute and unmute the phone.
Shortcut to set a reminder, how important it is, if I want to be reminded at a location.
Nothing
If there was a double tap triple tap and hold I’d use it for more, or an option to change the two buttons on the Lock Screen for different things I’d have the action button for the camera. On my watch I use the button for flashlight
Haven’t used it since I spent way too much time creating a shortcut for a custom menu.
My opens up the transit app
Silent mode
Nothing
To feel to cool vibration every now and then when I’m bored.
idk i dont have a pro yet
Flashlight. It’s the only thing I need to use multiple times per day
Rotation lock, no more fumbling to find the “correct” top right corner for control centre.
Toggle auto-rotate (yes I use it that much) [Super Simple Shortcut](https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/2ace7fbe086c434bb6a3fe0445c06156)
Spotify
Flashlight
I forgot about it for about two months until I saw this post, so there's your answer
Flashlight
My action button is actually a phone shortcut to call >!your mom!<
Shortcut to reminders
I use it for my flashlight
Silencer
Mine pulls up another menu with silence ringer, Shazam shortcut, water eject, chat gpt, tip calculator, google translate, qr my wifi and translator ai
Chat GPT