iPhone Users Report Missing Silent Mode After iOS 16 Update

Some iPhone users have reported issues with the newly updated iOS 16, specifically the absence of the Silent Mode option in their Action Button settings. Following the update, users expressed frustration as they found themselves unable to access their preferred mute shortcut. The problem seems to be affecting various models, including the iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 16 Pro.

On Reddit, a user identified as aweyeahdawg shared their experience: “Just updated to iOS 16, I can’t seem to find the control for the silent mode in the settings for the action button.” They confirmed that while the Silent Mode option is visible in the Control Center, it is completely missing from the Action Button settings. Another user, Yackole, who also has an iPhone 15 Pro Max, echoed this sentiment, stating, “I’m experiencing the same thing on iPhone 15 Pro Max. What the heck dude. Apple. You have some explaining to do.”

In a more concerning report, SpecialistLoss811 mentioned losing both the Silent Mode and Flashlight options from their Action Button settings. However, aweyeahdawg noted that they still had access to the flashlight feature.

Additional complaints surfaced on Apple’s discussion forums, where user Maximus1500 described a similar predicament with their iPhone 16 Pro. After updating to iOS 16, they attempted several troubleshooting methods, including force restarting the device, but the Silent Mode option remained elusive. The user’s available options now include “No action, shortcut, controls, magnifier, translate and voice memo.”

One potential workaround came from forum user lobsterghost1, who suggested checking the “Show in Status Bar” setting located in Settings > Sounds & Haptics. Nonetheless, Maximus1500 confirmed that this setting was already enabled, yet the Silent Mode option still did not appear.

On social media, Dickson Ding also reported the issue with their iPhone 16 Pro Max running iOS 16. Interestingly, several commenters noted that their devices were functioning correctly, indicating that not all users are affected by this bug, suggesting a potentially random occurrence.

Upon testing on an iPhone 16, I found that the Silent Mode option was indeed available in the Action Button settings. I toggled off the “Show in Status Bar” setting in Sounds & Haptics to determine if it would impact the visibility of the Silent Mode option, but the setting remained unaffected. This suggests that the relationship between these settings may not be the sole factor contributing to the problem.

For those experiencing difficulties, a temporary solution is to create a ‘Silent Mode’ shortcut. This can be done in just a minute by opening the Shortcuts app, tapping the + icon, searching for ‘Silent,’ and adding the ‘Set Silent Mode’ shortcut. Users can then return to the Action Button settings, locate the Shortcut option, and select the newly created Silent Mode shortcut. This way, pressing and holding the Action Button will enable the device to enter silent mode.

At present, the specific cause of this bug remains unclear, as many users still have access to the Silent Mode option in their Action Button settings on iOS 16. Further developments will be monitored, and updates will be posted as new information becomes available. In addition to this issue, users are also reporting problems with the new Spatial Scene lockscreen wallpaper feature.

For ongoing coverage and advice regarding similar issues, readers are encouraged to consult our dedicated Apple section, where we will provide updates and potential solutions as they arise.