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Best practices

Support the Action button with a set of your app’s essential functions.

For each action you support, write a short label that succinctly describes it.

Prefer letting the system show people how to use the Action button with your app.

Platform considerations

iOS

Let people use your actions without leaving their current context.

watchOS

Consider offering a secondary function that supports or advances the primary action people choose.

Prefer using subsequent button presses to support additional functionality rather than to stop or conclude a function.

Pause the current function when people press the Action button and side button together.


For the complete guidance, including worked examples and illustrations, see the canonical page: https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/action-button

Apple HIG text and imagery are © Apple Inc. This page is a structured index of Apple’s canonical documentation (snapshot 2025-02-02), provided for quick reference and AI-agent consumption — it isn’t affiliated with or endorsed by Apple. Read the original at developer.apple.com (opens in new tab).

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