Depending on your device, you may be able to use button combinations to pause, resume, or skip media.
Because these functions aren’t universal, check your phone’s accessibility, shortcut, or gesture settings to see what is supported.
6. Use the Buttons When the Screen Is Difficult to Touch
Physical buttons can be particularly helpful when your hands are wet, you’re wearing gloves, or your touchscreen isn’t responding perfectly.
For example, you can use the volume buttons to adjust sound without unlocking your phone or navigating through menus.
The buttons are also easier to locate by touch, making them useful when you’re not looking directly at the screen.
7. Navigate With Accessibility Features
Modern smartphones include extensive accessibility tools.
On some Android devices, third-party accessibility apps or system shortcuts can assign additional actions to physical buttons.
Depending on your phone, you may be able to create shortcuts for features such as:
- Accessibility controls
- Flashlight
- Voice assistant
- Magnification
- Emergency functions
The available options vary significantly between manufacturers.
8. Start Emergency Functions More Quickly
Many smartphones use physical-button combinations for emergency features.
For example, certain devices allow repeated presses of the power button—or combinations involving physical buttons—to activate an emergency call or safety feature.
Because these shortcuts can vary by country, operating system, and device, it’s worth checking your phone’s Emergency SOS settings.
