My First Phone Action Button: What Do You Use Yours For?

Hardware
1

I just upgraded from an iPhone 13 to the 17. I now have an Action Button. I’m not sure what I want to use it for. I use the Action Button on my Ultra 2 to activate my workout, so I don’t need that on the phone.

What do you use the iPhone Action Button for?

2

Flashlight / torch for me

4 Likes
3

Upgrading from a 12 I too am now the proud owner of an action button :blush: At the moment very much appreciating the convenience of using it to run a one-step WhisperMemo “start recording” shortcut and having random thoughts occurring out and about transcribed and sitting in my Drafts inbox ready for me when I get to my desk

3 Likes
4

I have assigned it to Shazam, but don’t use it that often.

So I might be interested in what others reply here…

5

I had a button on my watchface and had to remove it after numerous random accidental initiations of whisper memo! Resulted in some interesting transcripts….

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Gemini AI

7

Quick access to my task manager’s input.

Previously, I had it open ChatGPT but I didn’t use that as much as I thought I would.

8

I currently have it set to open Halide, a third-party camera app. But if I switch it would be to the flash light or voice memos. Those are the things I would want on quick access.

9

I may try the calculator.

10

I have set my iPhone action button to the new ios26 reminders control. So I can quickly add reminders to my to do list - just need to remember to use it!

On my Ultra watch it runs a shortcut that starts a timer that goes off 5 min before my next work appt. I had found in the past that I miss calendar notifications- perhaps on a call or talking to someone so I feel the alert but choose to ignore for 10 minutes and miss the appt. This way I just hit the action button and I know that when a timer goes off I need to wrap up whatever I am doing to allow me to go to the next meeting or call.

11

I’ve not heard of this. What is it?

12

I would imagine it’s the same as the new control center action to quickly add a reminder?!

1 Like
13

Yes that is it. It is the new control centre add reminder button

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14

On my iPhone 15 Pro, I had it open the camera, but now that I have a dedicated camera button, I’m experimenting with different options. I have it set to silent mode now, but realize I don’t really use it that often. I think I use the flashlight more often.

15

I have the Action button set to trigger a shortcut that opens the Final Cut Camera app. I use the action button when I want to make a video. The videos are saved locally on the iPhone instead of the Cloud. I set the Camera Control button to open the Camera app, and I press that button when I want to take a photo. My photos are saved in the Cloud.

16

I have a FUJIFILM camera which has an app that (if you remember to connect) will use your phone to add gps data to the photos taken.

To make it easy to remember to do that, I set opening that app as the action button action

1 Like
17

I use a shortcut to have the action button do different things depending on what focus mode I’m in or other device conditions.

For example, when Overcast is playing, I can use the action button to skip to the next chapter (useful for skipping ads!).

At other times, it launches a menu of shortcuts I use for capture, fitness, messaging etc.

3 Likes
18

I use it to start a new note on iAWriter but I want remind me faster to have a shortcut for action button soon.

19

I also use it for the Flashlight, and I find it super convenient and helpful. Using the flashlight more now too, because it’s so easy to turn on.

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Perplexity voice query