Master Your iPhone 16 Action Button: 15 Shortcuts + Tips!

Summary

This video covers how to maximize the functionality of the new iPhone 16/16 Pro's Action Button by programming it with various shortcuts. The creator provides 15 customizable shortcut ideas, from launching ChatGPT voice conversations to toggling HomeKit devices and managing focus modes. Bonus tips include organizing shortcuts into folders for easy access and using third-party apps for advanced automations like a makeshift clipboard manager. The video also explores using the button for time-based or focus-mode-specific actions, making the Action Button a versatile tool for personalized iPhone control.

Takeaways

• 🔘 The iPhone 16 and 16 Pro come with an Action Button that can be programmed for different tasks, including control center actions and shortcuts.
• 💡 You can create a folder of shortcuts for the Action Button, displaying up to eight shortcuts for easy access.
• 🚪 A new iOS 18 feature allows the Action Button to toggle HomeKit accessories, such as opening a garage door or a car trunk.
• 🎬 The Action Button can be customized to perform different actions depending on Focus modes or time of day using advanced shortcuts with IF statements.
• 📝 A ChatGPT voice conversation shortcut can be set up for quick access to AI-based assistance.
• 📱 You can create custom shortcuts to control Apple TV, such as waking it up and showing the remote control for specific devices.
• 🔕 The 'Super Mute' shortcut automatically adjusts silent mode and media volume depending on the current settings, ideal for quiet environments.
• 🔗 The Action Button can be programmed to open settings pages quickly, such as jumping to the Action Button settings itself.
• 📋 A makeshift clipboard manager can be set up to store, access, and retrieve clipboard content using a third-party app like Data Jar.
• 🎧 Shortcuts can be created to skip forward in podcasts or music, allowing for easy ad skipping by seeking forward by a set number of minutes.

Q & A

What is the action button on the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro used for?

The action button on the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro can be programmed for various tasks, including activating shortcuts, controlling smart home devices, toggling the flashlight, launching apps like the camera or notes, and even triggering specific control center actions.

How can you create a shortcuts folder for the action button?

To create a shortcuts folder, open the Shortcuts app, go to the folder view, and tap the new folder icon. Name your folder and add the desired shortcuts. Then, go to the action button settings in the Settings app, select 'Shortcuts', and choose the 'Show Folder' action to link the folder to the action button.

What is one way the action button can be used with ChatGPT?

The action button can be programmed to start a voice conversation with ChatGPT. After installing the ChatGPT app, you can create a shortcut that triggers the 'Start voice conversation' action and assign it to the action button.

How does the new 'toggle accessory state' feature in iOS 18 enhance HomeKit control?

The 'toggle accessory state' action in iOS 18 allows users to easily control HomeKit devices without needing an IF statement. It simplifies the process by toggling a device's state (e.g., opening or closing a garage door) based on its current status.

What is the 'Super Mute' shortcut, and how does it function?

The 'Super Mute' shortcut sets your phone to silent mode and reduces media volume to zero if the phone is not already in silent mode. If the phone is in silent mode, it disables silent mode and increases the media volume to 50%. This ensures that your phone behaves appropriately in quiet environments.

How can you use the action button to open a third-party camera app like Halide?

You can program the action button to launch a third-party camera app, like Halide, by creating a shortcut that opens the app and assigning it to the action button. This allows users to have the stock camera app on the camera button and a third-party camera app on the action button.

How can the action button be used to wake an Apple TV and control it?

The action button can be programmed with shortcuts to wake an Apple TV and automatically open the Apple TV remote control. Multiple actions can be combined to open a specific app on the Apple TV as well.

What is the 'clipboard manager' shortcut, and how does it work?

The 'clipboard manager' shortcut uses a third-party app called Data Jar to save and manage text clippings from your clipboard. You can program the action button to either save the current clipboard content or retrieve a previous clipping, creating a makeshift clipboard manager on iOS.

How can you change the action button's behavior based on time of day or Focus mode?

You can use IF statements in shortcuts to change the action button's behavior depending on the active Focus mode or the time of day. For example, it can perform one action during work hours and a different action in the evening or when a specific Focus mode is enabled.

What is an example of a simple action you can assign to the action button for podcast listeners?

A simple action for podcast listeners is using the 'seek' action to skip forward by 3 minutes in whatever audio you're listening to, helping users quickly bypass podcast ads or other segments.