How the iPhone 15 Pro’s Action button might work in the Camera app

Depending on the amount of pressure applied to the force-sensitive Action button, you’ll invoke different features of the stock Camera app on the iPhone 15 Pros.

Closeup of the iPhone 12 Pro Max mute switched turned on
The Mute switch will morph into an Action button | Image: TheRegisti/Unsplash
  • The rumored Action button on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max could serve different purposes in apps like Camera.
  • Also expected: new button combinations for shutting down and force restarting.
  • The Action button should be customizable for specific apps on the device.

iPhone 15 Pro: The Action button in the Camera app

According to a tipster behind the Twitter account @analyst941, you will be able to assign different functions to the rumored multi-purpose Action button in supported apps on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.

In the Camera app, for example, the Action button will let you focus the camera, take a picture or record video. That’s because the button is expected to feature force sensors allowing it to determine how hard the user is pressing it.

This tipster has recently leaked a bunch of iOS 17 details and tidbits, including things like active iPhone widgets with buttons, slides and other interactive elements.

They also correctly predicted the Dynamic Island feature before the iPhone 14 unveiling. On the other hand, @analyst941 lacks an established track record, so its claimed info about the Action button shouldn’t be taken for granted.

How the Camera buttons currently work

Currently, you can press the Volume Up button to take a picture in the Camera app.

Holding the Volume Up button will take burst images if Use Volume Up for Burst is switched on in Settings > Camera. If you hold the Volume Down button, you’ll capture a QuickVideo without switching out of the Photo mode.