The Volume Buttons On Your Iphone Has Many Hidden Functions

Any device’s full potential may often be unlocked by having a keen eye for the hidden gems beneath the surface; the iPhone’s hidden functions are no different.

Your iPhone has many hidden treasures that are just waiting to be discovered, from iMessage features to brighten every conversation to generation-specific features that maximize the technology in any particular iPhone.

A set of volume buttons is a characteristic that is common to all iPhone models. Unlike many Android phones, which only have one volume button, the iPhone has featured two different volume buttons since its original release.

The two buttons on the left side of the iPhone are used for functions other than volume control.

Like so many other locations, the phone’s buttons can be utilized for non-volume operations in addition to a few useful chores that can be accessed with their assistance.

Whether you’re a photography enthusiast seeking tactile finesse, a safety-conscious person needing quick access to emergency services, or someone who longs to have a physical snooze button again, the iPhone’s volume buttons offer a range of interactions that go far beyond their seemingly straightforward purpose.

When seconds count, the SOS feature on the iPhone helps users to rapidly summon help in an emergency.

By just holding down the side button and either volume button, the device can check the owner of the phone’s Medical ID or start an SOS emergency call.

Help is always available with this modest but impactful gesture, especially in difficult situations.

The SOS feature can also be triggered by quickly pressing the side button five times in a succession, however this needs the feature to be enabled in the settings.

The iPhone 14 Pro line enhances the iPhone’s powerful SOS features with satellite capabilities for scenarios when cellular connection is spotty.

When you make an SOS call, your phone notifies your approved emergency contacts of your location and the circumstances using the information you provide in the Medical ID section of the Health app.

With regard to Medical ID, users can store their emergency contacts, allergies, critical medical information, and other details in this function.

In an emergency, anyone can access this information. Even if your phone is locked, the Medical ID is still accessible for first responders’ use.

Switching off the power and more

Beyond emergency services, another important feature of the iPhone could be accessed by briefly depressing the side and volume down keys.

The menu that offers access to Medical ID and the emergency call slider is where you’ll find the power-off slider. Turning off the iPhone is done by using the designated slider.

Users may also use this screen to disable the Find My function on their phone when it is in sleep mode. Just below the power-off slider, there’s a popup to turn off Find My.

Find My Device will no longer work if the device’s setting is disabled through the power off menu; you will need to restart it and enter the passcode again to locate it.

This control layer significantly improves device security by granting users control over their location data even when their phone is off.

However, this feature is more intricate than it seems. Using the volume buttons to access the power-off menu has a security risk. The power off slider displays, briefly deactivating the Face ID and Touch ID functions.

This ensures the gadget can’t be turned off and prevents someone else from being able to forcibly access it when locked.

controls for the camera

Contemporary smartphones are renowned for their capacity to swiftly and effortlessly capture moments, with the iPhone outperforming rival flagship devices in terms of camera capability.

One of the more widely known features of smartphone camera apps is the ability to use volume controls.

While some Android devices allow users to zoom in, the primary purpose of the volume keys on the iPhone is to capture images.

Instead of fumbling with the on-screen shutter button, users may snap instant images by simply pushing the volume up or down button.

This small function mimics the feel of a traditional camera, offering a cozy, tactile experience that some users might find more acceptable.

Moreover, this feature is not limited to shooting photos. To start recording a video, you can also utilize the camera app’s volume buttons.

Because it provides users with control and stability during the process, allowing them to grasp onto the device steadily and capture dynamic footage, this function is very handy for recording video material.

A video recorder’s volume buttons are helpful for purposes other than merely starting a recording. If the iPhone’s camera app is still set up to capture images, you can use either volume button to begin a quick shot movie.

Users merely need to release the button to stop recording. You may also press and hold the volume up button to switch it to “Photo Burst” in the Settings app.

The Notes app’s document scanning feature and the Camera app both utilize the volume buttons for taking photos.

When scanning a document into the iPhone, users do not have to wait for the device to properly frame the document. As an alternative, you can snap a picture of anything that’s visible in the scanner’s viewfinder by pressing either volume button.

With enough time and work, such scans can be edited to appear as precise as what the iPhone can accomplish automatically.

Alarm mechanisms

It can be a surprising habit to turn off the alarm in the morning. Apple has given its users the chance to go back in time to a simpler time when they are trying to snooze their alarm in the morning.

You can immediately stop the alarm when it goes off by using the volume up or down button. This will spare you the trouble of looking for the on-screen button and give you some alone time while you get ready for the day. This method of using the volume controls also applies to vibrating, quiet alarms.

Using the volume buttons to snooze occasionally proves to be more convenient than reaching for the snooze or smaller dismiss button first thing in the morning.

Similar to the snooze button, the volume buttons are likewise simpler to reach in the early morning mist.

Slapping the enormous snooze button on an equally gigantic alarm clock radio combo doesn’t exactly feel the same.

Remember that you must first ensure that snoozing is enabled before using the volume buttons to snooze an alarm.

If the snooze setting is not enabled for an alarm, the volume buttons will simply refuse it. The alarm is programmed to sound again at the next specified time.

Turning off phone calls and locating my

Picture this: a quiet moment or a crucial meeting cut short by a ringing phone. It doesn’t happen very infrequently. It’s simple to periodically forget to switch off your phone or even to switch it back on by accident.

The volume buttons on your iPhone soon create a barrier between you and anyone close and the ringtone you’ve selected when you receive one of these unpleasant robocalls. In far harsher situations, you can use the power button to reject or end a call.

The ringing phone can be muffled with a single press of either volume button. Using the volume button to end an unwanted call makes sense.

Controlling Find My notifications on the iPhone also heavily relies on the volume buttons.

The iPhone uses new buttons to secure your relationships and belongings in a world where those things are vital.

The position of your second Apple device can be found by pressing either volume button quickly to quickly muffle the otherwise loud warning when something close sends out a Find My notification.

As a result, receiving notifications is more manageable.

App features

Despite Apple’s best efforts to stop it, iPhone volume buttons can be utilized as tools for other app interactions.

the inventive usage of volume buttons in non-Apple apps—a feature that is usually free from Apple’s stringent constraints despite its usability.

By using this repurposing, a number of software developers have provided users with instantaneous shortcuts or actions, providing a haptic and seamless alternative to traditional on-screen taps.

One particularly straightforward approach is to utilize a counter app that allows users to tick up or down dependent on whether they use the volume up or down button.

However, employing volume buttons in non-Apple apps is a technique that should be utilized cautiously due to Apple’s app development constraints.

Maintaining a consistent user interface and preventing hardware control abuse—which can possibly mislead users or obstruct normal interactions—are given top attention in these standards.

Apple usually forbids developers from altering the functionality of hardware buttons in their apps as a result.

While some programs are able to effectively integrate volume button functionality while adhering to Apple’s standards, these instances are still quite uncommon due to the challenges these constraints pose.

Not only can developers not modify the behavior of the volume buttons, but users are also not allowed to use the volume buttons to run commands that were developed within the Shortcuts app.

But not everyone has been deterred by that. The volume buttons on your phone can theoretically be used to create shortcuts, but doing so involves using a complicated workaround function that connects an action to the volume.

Restart with force

At some time, everyone has either attempted or heard the sage advise to simply turn their device on and off again. Using the volume buttons to force an iPhone reset is a quick and simple solution in many cases.

When the device becomes unresponsive, sluggish, or has software problems, this can function as a reset to help restore it to a better state.

Users can force a restart by simultaneously pushing and holding the side button, the volume up and down buttons, and the volume down button.

The volume buttons here can be used to reach the shut-down menu, but the iPhone can also be turned off without the need for a slider by holding down the side button.

After turning off their phone, users still need to push and hold the side button down until they see the Apple logo on the screen.

My DIL Gifted Me a Box of Insects for My 60th Birthday, When She Heard My Announcement At The Party, She Made Herself a Victim

My DIL Gifted Me a Box of Insects for My 60th Birthday, When She Heard My Announcement At The Party, She Made Herself a Victim

On Martha’s 60th birthday, her daughter-in-law plays a cruel prank that causes chaos at the party. Amid the panic, Martha stays calm, knowing her big announcement will turn the tables.

So, it was my 60th birthday, and I was determined to make it a memorable one—after all, you only turn 60 once, right?

As I flitted from one room to another, making sure everything was in place, I couldn’t help but feel a little anxious. You see, a week ago, my daughter-in-law, Emily, and I had a bit of a blowout and I couldn’t help but feel it would come back to bite me.

Mature woman looking pensive | Source: Pexels

Emily has a gross habit of leaving food out for days—sometimes even weeks. So, I pointed it out to her, thinking she might appreciate the heads-up about potential insect problems. Boy, was I wrong.

“Mind your own business, Martha,” she snapped, her eyes flashing with anger. “You always have something to say about how I run my house.”

I stood there, taken aback. “Emily, I’m just trying to help. You know how quickly pests can—”

“I don’t need your help,” she snarled.

Woman crossing her arms | Source: Pexels

We hadn’t spoken since. That’s why, when she arrived at my party acting unusually sweet, I felt a knot of suspicion tighten in my stomach.

But I decided to forget about it, focusing instead on enjoying my day with my family and friends.

The party was in full swing when the doorbell rang.

“I’ll get it!” I called, hurrying to the door. The mailman handed me a brightly wrapped package with a big “Happy Birthday” label on it. My guests gathered around, their curiosity piqued.

“Open it, Martha!” someone urged.

Gift | Source: Pexels

With everyone watching, I placed the box on the dining table and carefully lifted the lid. My eyes widened in horror as hundreds of insects—ants, caterpillars, and other creepy crawlies—spilled out, swarming over the table and onto the floor.

Chaos erupted. People screamed and jumped back, knocking over chairs and spilling drinks.

“What the heck?!” my friend Lisa shrieked, swatting at a cockroach crawling up her leg.

“Who would do such a thing?” Aunt Jane gasped.

I knew Emily was behind this, but I said nothing, knowing that she’d soon get payback.

Smiling mature woman | Source: Pexels

Everyone fled to the backyard. My friends and family stood around, shaking their heads and murmuring about the audacity of someone pulling such a prank.

“Can you believe it?” Lisa asked, still swatting at imaginary insects. “Who would do something so cruel?”

Aunt Jane, ever the drama queen, clutched her pearls even tighter. “It’s despicable! What kind of person would ruin a birthday party like this?”

As the guests continued to express their disgust and confusion, I knew it was time for my big reveal.

Mature woman | Source: Pexels

I clinked my glass with a spoon. “Everyone, may I have your attention, please?”

The crowd quieted down, all eyes turning to me.

“First of all, thank you all for making my 60th birthday so special, despite the… unexpected turn of events,” I began, glancing at the house behind me. “As you all know, reaching this milestone has made me reflect on my life and my future.”

I paused, allowing my words to sink in before dropping the bombshell. “So, I’ve decided it’s time for a change. I’m retiring and moving to the countryside.”

A suburban home | Source: Pexels

A collective murmur ran through the crowd. I raised my hand to silence them. “And, I’m giving this house to my son, Mark, and his lovely wife, Emily.”

Gasps echoed around the backyard. Emily’s face turned ashen. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out.

Mark looked at her, bewildered. “Emily, what’s wrong?”

She stammered, her eyes darting around as if searching for an escape route.

“It… it was supposed to be a joke,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

A woman | Source: Pexels

Mark’s confusion deepened. “What are you talking about?”

Emily swallowed hard, tears welling up in her eyes. “The insects. It was me. I sent them as a prank. I never imagined we’d end up with the house!”

A stunned silence fell over the guests.

Mark’s face turned crimson with anger. “You did what?”

“It was just a joke!” Emily insisted, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I thought it would be funny. I didn’t think—”

Mark cut her off, his voice cold and furious.

Stern looking man | Source: Pexels

“You think it’s amusing to ruin my mother’s birthday?” Mark’s jaw clenched tight. “We need to talk. Now.”

He took her by the arm and led her away from the party, leaving the rest of us in stunned silence.

The guests exchanged shocked glances, the weight of the situation settling in. I watched Mark and Emily disappear into the house, feeling a mix of vindication and sadness.

I hadn’t wanted this day to end in such turmoil, but Emily had brought this upon herself.

Mature woman sitting | Source: Pexels

Minutes felt like hours, but finally, Emily emerged from the house, her eyes red and swollen from crying. She hurried past us without a word, got into her car, and drove away.

The sound of the engine starting and then fading into the distance felt like the closing of a particularly painful chapter.

Mark returned, his expression a mixture of frustration and resignation. He walked over to me, and I could see the weight of the situation bearing down on his shoulders.

“I’m so sorry, Mom,” he said quietly. “I had no idea she would do something like this.”

A bearded man | Source: Unsplash

I placed a reassuring hand on his arm. “It’s not your fault, Mark. This is something she’ll need to think about and hopefully learn from.”

The guests, sensing the end of the festivities, began to leave. One by one, they offered their goodbyes, their faces still marked with the shock of the evening’s revelations.

“Take care, Martha. And happy birthday,” Lisa said softly, giving me a hug before she left.

After everyone was gone, Mark and I sat in the now-quiet backyard. The decorations looked sad and out of place in the aftermath of the chaos.

Party decorations on a table | Source: Pexels

“What a mess,” Mark sighed, running a hand through his hair.

“It’s a mess, but it’s also a chance to clean up, literally and figuratively,” I replied, trying to offer some comfort. “Sometimes things need to break before they can be fixed.”

In the following days, the house felt emptier. Emily didn’t come back, and Mark was left to deal with the aftermath alone. He threw himself into cleaning up the remnants of the party, as if physical labor could somehow mend the emotional damage.

Man cleaning windows | Source: Pexels

One afternoon, as I packed the last of my belongings for the move to the countryside, Mark sat with me in the living room. “I’m really sorry about everything, Mom,” he said, his voice heavy with regret.

I looked at him, seeing the man he had become—the struggles, the growth, and the resilience.

“It’s okay, Mark. This situation isn’t easy for any of us. But sometimes, these difficult moments make us stronger.”

He nodded, a look of determination in his eyes.

Close up of a man’s right eye | Source: Pexels

“I just want to make things right with Emily. I need to understand why she did what she did and how we can move forward.”

“I know you will,” I said, giving him a reassuring smile. “And this house—it’s yours now. It’s a place for you to create new memories, to rebuild and grow.”

Moving day arrived, and as I looked around the empty house one last time, I felt a mixture of sadness and hope. This was the place where I had raised my family, where we had shared countless memories.

But it was also a place of new beginnings.

Packed boxes for moving house | Source: Pexels

As I drove to my new home in the countryside, I thought about Mark and Emily. I hoped this incident would be a turning point for them, a chance to reflect on their relationship and the values they wanted to uphold.

In the quiet serenity of the countryside, I found peace. The rolling hills and open skies offered a fresh start, a chance to embrace the next chapter of my life. And as I settled into my new home, I remained hopeful for my son’s future.