The Volume Buttons on Your Phone Aren’t Just for Sound: 6 Hidden Functions You Should Know

Most people use the volume buttons on their smartphone for one simple purpose: turning the sound up or down. But those two small buttons can actually perform several useful functions that have nothing to do with adjusting audio.

Depending on your phone model, operating system, and app, the volume buttons can act as camera shutters, alarm controls, scrolling shortcuts, accessibility tools, and emergency-related controls.

Some features work on both iPhone and Android, while others are specific to certain devices. So if one shortcut doesn't work on your phone, don't assume your device is broken—it may simply use a different gesture or setting.

Here are six useful functions worth knowing.

1. Use the Volume Button to Take Photos

One of the most useful hidden functions is using the volume button as a camera shutter.

On many smartphones, opening the Camera app and pressing either the volume-up or volume-down button can take a photograph. This can be much easier than tapping the on-screen shutter button, especially when you're holding your phone horizontally.

This shortcut can also make it easier to take selfies or group photos because you can position your hand more naturally.

On some devices, the volume buttons can also be configured for additional camera actions, such as zooming or recording video.

For example, certain Android phones allow users to choose what the volume keys do while the camera is open. Depending on the manufacturer, the options may include shutter, zoom, or volume control.

On iPhones, pressing either volume button can generally capture a photo when using the Camera app.

Why This Is Useful

Physical buttons can provide a more stable way to take a picture. Instead of reaching toward the screen and potentially moving the phone, you can hold the device securely and press the button with a finger.

This is especially handy for:

• Selfies

• Landscape photography

• Group photos

• Photos taken with gloves

• Quick snapshots

2. Control Your Alarm Without Unlocking Your Phone

Your volume buttons may also have a role when an alarm is ringing.

Depending on your phone and alarm application, pressing a volume button can silence or snooze an alarm.

The exact behavior varies between devices. Some phones allow the volume buttons to snooze alarms, while others may only lower the alarm volume or silence it.

If you frequently struggle with alarms first thing in the morning, check your Clock app's settings.

Look for options involving:

Volume buttons → Snooze, Dismiss, or Control volume

This can be particularly convenient because you don't always have to stare at a bright screen and navigate through menus while you're half asleep.

However, don't assume the same shortcut works identically on every phone. Test it during the day before relying on it for an important morning alarm.

3. Take Screenshots Faster

On many smartphones, the volume buttons are part of the standard screenshot shortcut.

For example, many Android phones use:

Power + Volume Down

Pressing both buttons simultaneously can capture whatever is currently displayed on the screen.

Some Android manufacturers provide additional screenshot gestures, while newer devices may offer other methods through the notification panel or gesture controls.

On an iPhone with Face ID, screenshots are generally taken using:

Side Button + Volume Up

This can be particularly useful when you need to quickly save something on your screen.

You might use it to capture:

• A confirmation number

• A message

• A shopping receipt

• A map

• An important webpage

• A social media post

The exact button combination depends on the device, so learning your phone's shortcut can save time.

4. Scroll Through Pages or Photos

Here's a function that many people don't realize may exist: on some phones and applications, the volume buttons can be configured to scroll or navigate through content.

Certain reading apps, browsers, camera applications, accessibility tools, and third-party apps may allow the volume buttons to perform actions other than changing sound.

For example, an app might allow volume-up to move to the previous item and volume-down to move to the next one.

This can be particularly convenient when reading long content because you don't have to repeatedly swipe the screen.

However, this feature is not universal. Whether it works depends heavily on your phone, operating system, and the specific application.

If you find an app that supports it, though, it can become surprisingly convenient.

5. Use the Volume Buttons for Accessibility

Volume buttons can also play an important role in smartphone accessibility features.

Modern phones include tools designed to help people who have difficulty interacting with a touchscreen.

Depending on the device, accessibility shortcuts can sometimes be triggered by pressing physical buttons in a specific sequence.

For example, Android's accessibility features may allow certain shortcuts involving the volume keys. These can provide faster access to functions such as screen readers or other accessibility services.

The exact shortcut depends on the version of Android and the manufacturer's software.

On iPhones, accessibility shortcuts are generally associated with the Side button or Home button, depending on the model, rather than simply pressing the volume keys.

The broader lesson is important: physical buttons aren't merely mechanical controls. Smartphone manufacturers increasingly use them as shortcuts for software functions.

6. Help Trigger Emergency Features

Perhaps the most important hidden function involves Emergency SOS.

Modern smartphones can use physical buttons to quickly initiate emergency-related actions. The exact procedure differs between iPhone and Android devices, but repeated or combined button presses may bring up an emergency call interface or activate Emergency SOS.

Because this feature can potentially contact emergency services, you should learn how it works on your specific phone rather than experimenting randomly.

On supported iPhones, Emergency SOS can be activated using a combination involving the side button and volume buttons. Some Android phones also offer emergency functions through repeated presses of the power button or other configured shortcuts.

These features can be valuable if you are unable to navigate the screen normally during an emergency.

It is worth opening your phone's safety or emergency settings and learning what is configured on your device.

Bonus: Change the Type of Volume You're Controlling

Another feature that often confuses smartphone users is that the volume buttons don't always control the same thing.

Depending on what you're doing, the buttons may adjust:

• Media volume

• Ringtone volume

• Alarm volume

• Call volume

• Notification volume

• Accessibility audio

For example, pressing the volume buttons while watching a video usually changes media volume. Pressing them while the phone is idle may change the ringtone or another configured audio level.

Many phones display a volume panel that lets you expand the controls and adjust each category separately.

Understanding this can prevent the classic problem of thinking your phone is "too quiet" when you've actually adjusted the wrong volume category.

Important: Features Vary by Phone

The biggest thing to remember is that there is no universal set of six volume-button functions that works on every smartphone.

Apple, Samsung, Google, Xiaomi, OnePlus, Motorola, and other manufacturers can implement different shortcuts.

Even two phones running the same operating system may behave differently because manufacturers add their own software features.

Some functions may also change after a system update.

If you want to discover what your phone can do, open the Settings app and search for terms such as:

Volume buttons

Side button

Accessibility shortcut

Camera settings

Emergency SOS

Alarm settings

This is usually the fastest way to discover shortcuts available specifically on your device.

The Bottom Line

Those two small buttons on the side of your smartphone can do much more than make your music louder.

Depending on your device, they may help you take photographs, control alarms, capture screenshots, navigate content, activate accessibility shortcuts, and access emergency features.

Some of these shortcuts can save only a few seconds, but others can make your phone significantly easier to use—and the emergency functions could be especially important in a genuine crisis.

So the next time you reach for the volume buttons, remember: they aren't necessarily just volume buttons.

Your phone may be hiding several useful shortcuts right under your fingertips.