How To Customize Camera Control Button On An iPhone 16

One of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro’s most advertised new features is the Camera Control button. This button is capable of much more than just taking pictures; it can also be used to switch between camera settings, open third-party camera apps, or even turn off the button completely. This is the best way to utilize the Camera Control button on an iPhone 16.

What The iPhone Camera Control Button Does

The camera control on the lower-right side of the iPhone 16 series of smartphones is a capacitive button. It serves as a shutter button, lets you quickly start the camera, and lets you change camera settings. For instance, you can zoom in or out by opening the camera and sliding your finger over Camera Control. You can use the Camera Control button on an iPhone 16 Pro to zoom in up to 25 times. Camera Control also lets you choose and easily adjust different video controls, like exposure, zoom, and depth, while in video mode.

How To Customize The iPhone Camera Control Button

The true fun lies in personalizing the functionality of the Camera Control button. To begin, navigate to Settings > Camera > Camera Control. The term “Light Press” is used by iOS to describe pressing the Camera Control button. It’s handy to have the Clean Preview option enabled by default because it makes it easier to see how your shot will look by turning off the user interface while you make adjustments using the Camera Control button.

You can also change what happens when you press the Camera Control button while you’re here. Select Double Click from the same settings page if you want your Camera (or third-party) app to start after two taps rather than just one.

Launch A Third-Party App Using The Camera Control Button

A list of apps will appear beneath that Double Click option in the Camera Control settings. Here, you have the option to choose which app—other than the built-in Camera app—you want to open when you press or double-tap the button. All of your phone’s installed camera apps are displayed in this list. Additionally, you will notice the magnifier and the QR code scanner.

Set up Your Preferred Button Press Intensity

Spend a moment adjusting how hard you need to press the button to activate Camera Control. Select Lighter or Firmer under Settings > Accessibility > Camera Control to make the button easier to use. As I become more accustomed to the button, I might eventually change my preference for a firmer press in order to prevent unintentionally turning on the camera. To adjust the speed at which the double-press of Camera Control registers, you can also scroll down. This allows you to give yourself more time to complete the task.

Disable The Camera Control Button on iPhone 16

Although it’s a nice new feature, not everyone will find the Camera Control button useful. You can turn off the button if you’re one of those people who keeps hitting it by accident. To accomplish this, disable the Camera Control toggle by going to Settings > Accessibility > Camera Control. To make it more difficult to accidentally press the button, you can disable the Light Press gesture by disabling Show Adjustments if that’s too drastic.

Power Up Camera Control Using Automation

The Camera Control button will be an iPhone automation playground for some users. A fantastic one that allows you to use the new button as a second Action Button caught my eye on Reddit. With Apple’s Shortcuts app, it’s quite simple to set up. Installing a camera app that you don’t plan to use, then opening the Shortcuts app, and creating a new automation that starts when the camera app opens, will accomplish this. After selecting the “Go to Home Screen” action, you can add any other action you want to the automation, like switching between dark modes or opening an app. To select that camera app, select it from the list at the bottom of the Settings > Camera > Camera Control menu.

Conclusion

The iPhone 16’s new Camera Control button offers a versatile and highly customizable experience for users. Whether you’re looking to adjust settings with ease, launch third-party apps, or automate actions through the Shortcuts app, this feature goes far beyond just taking photos. By personalizing the button’s functionality and sensitivity, users can tailor it to their specific needs or even disable it altogether if it becomes cumbersome. With such flexibility, the Camera Control button becomes a powerful tool for enhancing your photography and overall iPhone experience.

Neeraj Gupta

Neeraj is a Content Strategist at The Next Tech. He writes to help social professionals learn and be aware of the latest in the social sphere. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Technology and is currently helping his brother in the family business. When he is not working, he’s travelling and exploring new cult.

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