How to Use iPhone Action Button for Note-Taking: Némos, Setup, and Speed Guide

What the Action Button Is

The Action Button is a physical button on the left side of iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. It replaces the previous mute/silent switch and can be configured to trigger any action with a single press.

Unlike the Side button (sleep/wake) or the Volume buttons, the Action Button: - Works from the lock screen without Face ID - Is customizable to any of a dozen actions - Triggers immediately with a single press - Can launch a specific app function directly, not just the app

For note-takers, this is significant: it means starting a voice recording requires only pressing the button — not unlocking, not navigating, not finding the widget.

Configuring Action Button for Némos

Step-by-step setup:

1. Open Settings → Action Button (or Settings → scroll to find "Action Button")
2. Swipe through the action options to find Voice Memo or a Shortcut
3. For the fastest path, select Shortcut → choose or create a shortcut that opens Némos
4. Alternatively: select Accessibility → Guided Access won't help here; go back to Shortcut

The most direct method:

1. Open Shortcuts app → create a new shortcut
2. Add action: Open App → select Némos
3. Name it "Némos Record"
4. In Settings → Action Button → Shortcut → select "Némos Record"

Now: one press on the Action Button → Némos opens to recording. Tap record (one more tap) or configure Némos to auto-start recording on open.

Even faster — Automation:

1. Shortcuts app → Automation → "+" → Action Button
2. Set action: Open Némos
3. Enable "Run Immediately" (no confirmation dialog)

Result: press Action Button → Némos recording starts without any tap.

Why Action Button + Némos Beats Every Other Capture Method

The Action Button is the single fastest capture method available on supported iPhones. The difference between 1 second and 6 seconds is the difference between capturing and not capturing most fleeting ideas.

Best Note Apps for the Action Button

1. Némos — Voice recording with instant transcription Single press → recording starts. No screen touch required after setup. The transcription happens on-device.

2. Apple Notes — New note via Shortcut Configure a Shortcut to create a new Apple Notes note. Requires one additional tap to start typing after opening, but works with the Shortcut action.

3. Drafts — New draft via URL scheme Drafts supports URL schemes. Create a Shortcut that opens `drafts://create` → new draft opens immediately.

4. Reminders — Quick reminder Configure the Action Button to add a Reminders item via Siri shortcut. Voice-activated reminder creation.

Action Button Use Cases Beyond Notes

While this guide focuses on notes, the Action Button also works for: - Silent/Ring toggle (the original function) - Camera (opens camera to specific mode) - Flashlight - Translate (opens translation interface) - Accessibility features - Focus modes

You can only assign one action at a time, so choose based on your most frequent need. For knowledge workers, voice notes typically win.

iPhone 16-Specific Features

iPhone 16 adds the Camera Control button (separate, right side), which means the Action Button on iPhone 16 is fully freed for your custom action rather than potentially being used for camera.

iPhone 16 also improves the on-device Neural Engine performance, which benefits Némos's transcription speed.

FAQ

Which iPhones have an Action Button? iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max. The standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 14 series do not have an Action Button.

Can the Action Button record audio directly without opening an app? Yes — set it to Voice Memo in Settings → Action Button → Voice Memo. This opens Voice Memos and starts recording immediately. The drawback: Voice Memos doesn't transcribe.

For transcription, use the Shortcut → Némos path instead.

Does the Action Button work when the phone is locked? Yes. That's what makes it so valuable for note capture — you press the button on a sleeping phone and Némos opens immediately, without Face ID.

Can I change the Action Button to different apps at different times? Not automatically (requires manual change in Settings). However, you can create Shortcuts that do different things based on time of day or Focus mode. Advanced: use a Shortcut with conditional logic ("if Focus mode is Work → open Némos; if Exercise Focus → start Workout").

What if I accidentally press the Action Button? The Némos recording screen appears. Tap the back button to dismiss without saving. The accidental trigger cost is less than 2 seconds.

Setting Up the Full Capture Stack

The fastest possible iPhone note-taking setup combines all three:

1. Action Button → Némos recording (hardware, any screen, locked phone)
2. Lock screen widget → Némos recording (software, one tap from lock screen)
3. Apple Watch complication → Némos recording (hands-free, no phone handling)

These three cover every capture context: hands free (Watch), phone in hand but locked (Action Button or widget), phone in hand and unlocked (widget or open app).

Related Reading

• Best Note-Taking Widget for iPhone
• iPhone Shortcuts for Note-Taking in 2026
• How to Set Up Apple Watch for Notes
• Best Quick Note App for iPhone in 2026

Sources

• Apple Action Button documentation, support.apple.com
• iOS Shortcuts developer documentation, developer.apple.com

---

One press, note captured. Download Némos free and configure your Action Button today.