We take the side button for granted. Lock, unlock, hold and talk Siri. Honestly – I didn't pay attention to him for a long time. But then I noticed how many times a day Siri I accidentally start when iPhone I pull it out of my pocket while running, or when I squeeze it tighter while making a phone call. And that's when I started to realize that the button's behavior can be customized a lot more than most people think.
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There are no experimental settings or developer menus. Everything is right there in the system – just a little hidden.
Where to find the settings
Adjusting the long press behavior of the side button is in iOS hidden in the Accessibility section:
Settings → Accessibility → Side button
This is where you decide what happens when you hold it down for a longer period of time. You can:
- ponechat activation Siri,
- switch to Voice Control,
- or turn the function off completely.
And it is the last option that makes the most sense to me personally.
Gallery
When is it worth it? Siri on the off button
I use "Hey Siri" (respectively Siri I use my iPhone less and less because I feel like Apple (perhaps for several years it has been ignoring a number of minor shortcomings that users constantly complain about) and often dictation. So I don't actually need to physically hold the button. When I turned off activation via the side button, 90% of unwanted actions disappeared. I was surprised how much more pleasant it makes everyday use.
Especially if you wear iPhone in a running belt, tight pockets, or if you use a more rigid case, you may accidentally press the button. A Siri, which comes in the middle of a call, is not exactly an elegant moment.
Adjusting the pressing speed
In the same section, you can also adjust the speed required to recognize double or triple presses. If you feel that iPhone reacts too sensitively or vice versa nestIf your pace is slow, try playing around with the Default / Slow / Slowest options. In some cases, it really does deliver a slower variaThis provides greater certainty that the system will correctly recognize the intended action.
Minimalism vs. full control
The longer iPhone the more I use it, the more I like it minimalistic settings. Fewer shortcuts, fewer random reactions, more peace of mind. Today, I use the side button primarily as a tool for locking and turning off the device. I handle everything else differently – via Control Center, widgety or voice.
Some people, on the other hand, will appreciate having instant access to voice control without having to say the activation phrase. And this is exactly what is happening on the current iOS strong – there is not just one “right” way.
So just turn this setting off CarPlay.