9 Useful Things You Can Do With Your Phone’s Volume Buttons

Most people use the volume buttons on their smartphone for one simple job: turning the sound up or down.

But depending on your phone, those two little buttons can do much more.

They can sometimes control the camera, help you take screenshots, navigate media, silence calls, and even make certain tasks easier when you’re using your phone one-handed.

Not every function works on every device, so some features may depend on whether you’re using an iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, or another Android phone.

Here are nine useful tricks worth knowing.

1. Take Photos More Easily

One of the most useful volume-button shortcuts is using it as a camera shutter.

Open your camera app, frame your shot, and press either volume button.

On many smartphones, this will take a picture.

This can be particularly useful when your phone is held horizontally or when reaching for the on-screen shutter button is awkward.

Some camera apps also allow the volume buttons to be configured for other functions, such as zoom.

2. Record Videos Without Touching the Screen

On some devices, the volume buttons can interact with the camera while you’re recording.

Depending on the phone and camera app, pressing a volume button may control zoom or another camera function.