The Action Button is one of the best new features of the iPhone 15 Pro, but it is far from perfect. So it's a good thing that Apple is using iOS 17.1 to update the action button and change the way it works while the phone is in your pocket.

9to5Mac found code related to this in iOS 17.1 Beta 3, which was just released to developers. Part of the update means that your iPhone 15 Pro will be able to detect when it is in your pocket using the built-in proximity sensor. In these situations, you will need to press the action button longer until the assigned action is triggered.

The point here is to make sure that the action button is not triggered accidentally. Because the last thing you need is to have your entire life Shazaming or a flashlight trying to put a hole in your leg. At least iOS 17.1 should help preserve battery life for when you actually need it.

The best thing about this feature is that it is completely independent and works without the user doing anything. In other words, there is no need to go into the settings to turn this feature on.

Of course, this does not solve the main problem with action buttons. That is, there is no option with a second or third action that can be activated by a double-tap, for example.

However, the fact that Apple can update the action button with a software update gives me hope that further tweaks and upgrades will be made. Given that the action button is just a way to enter commands like any other button, Apple should be able to change how iOS 17 interprets that input, and hopefully fix other action button mistakes in the process.

In the meantime, you can fiddle with the action buttons to find the command that works best for you. You can open the camera, activate the flashlight, customize app shortcuts, and everything in between; be sure to check out this guide on how to use the action buttons on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.