iPhone 16: How to customize the action button

Apple’s iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus models have adopted the Action button that was exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro models last year. The Action button replaces the traditional Ring/Silent switch, a staple of the iPhone since its launch in 2007. Here’s a look at what it does.

The Action Button replaces the single-function switch used to toggle between ring and silent, providing additional options for users to choose between quickly accessing the camera or flashlight, activating voice memos, focus modes, translation, and accessibility features like the magnifier. Users can also assign it to shortcuts for more options.

A long-press gesture with refined haptic feedback and visual cues in the dynamic island ensures that the Action Button launches the intended action, which users can customize in settings and assign to different actions. Here’s what it can be programmed to do:

• Accessibility:Access various accessibility settings, such as VoiceOver, Zoom, AssistiveTouch, Live Speech, and more.
• Shortcuts:Open your favorite app or run a shortcut created or downloaded from the Shortcuts app, such as sending a message, playing a playlist, or controlling smart home devices.
• Silent mode:Like the Ring/Silent switch on existing iPhone models, toggle Silent Mode on or off, which will mute or unmute the ringer and alerts.
• Camera:Take a photo, selfie, video, portrait or portrait selfie with just one tap of the Action button.
• Controls:Quickly access your favorite Control Center button.
• Flashlight: Turn on or off the flashlight on the back of the device.
• To focus: Activate or deactivate a Focus mode.
• Magnifying glass:Turn on the Magnifier app to use the iPhone camera as a magnifying glass to zoom in on small text or objects.
• Recognize music:Launch iPhone’s built-in music recognition feature, powered by Shazam.
• Translate:Launch the Translate app and start a conversation or text translation by simply tapping the Action button.
• Voice Memos:Start or stop recording a voice memo with the Voice Memos app.

Action Button Customization

If you want to change the default Ring/Silent behavior of the Action button, here’s how to customize it in iOS 18. Open Settings ➝ Action Button and swipe left and right to cycle through the options.

If there are additional options for a selected action, two chevrons appear below the action. For Shortcut, Control, and Accessibility actions, you must tap the blue button below the action and select a specific option, otherwise the Action button does nothing.

Haptic feedback and refined visual cues in the dynamic island accompany each long press on the Action button, letting you know it’s performing the desired action. At the same time, a regular short press confirms the setting you’ve customized to control it.