It seems some iPhone users are running into a strange problem after the iOS 26 update. The Silent Mode option has disappeared from their Action Button settings, leaving them unable to set their favorite mute shortcut.
On Reddit, user aweyeahdawg described the frustration: “Just updated to iOS26, I can’t seem to find the control for the silent mode in the settings for the action button.” The user confirmed that while they can see Silent Mode in Control Center, it’s completely absent from the Action Button options.
Yackole, another Reddit user with an iPhone 15 Pro Max, had the same complaint: “I’m experiencing the same thing on iPhone 15 Pro Max. What the heck dude. Apple. You have some explaining to do.”
Even more concerning, SpecialistLoss811 reported losing both silent mode and flashlight from their Action Button settings, though aweyeahdawg noted they still had flashlight available.
Over on Apple’s discussion forums, Maximus1500 shared a similar experience with their iPhone 16 Pro after updating to iOS 26. Despite multiple troubleshooting attempts, including force restarting the device, the Silent Mode option remained missing from their Action Button settings. The user listed their available options as: “No action, shortcut, controls, magnifier, translate and voice memo.”
A potential solution emerged from the Apple forums when lobsterghost1 suggested checking if “Show in Status Bar” is enabled in Settings > Sounds & Haptics. However, Maximus1500 confirmed that their Show in Status Bar setting was already enabled, yet the Silent Mode option still didn’t appear.
Facebook user Dickson Ding also reported the same issue on their iPhone 16 Pro Max running iOS 26, though several commenters responded that theirs was working fine. This inconsistency suggests the bug might be affecting users randomly rather than universally.
If you see the screenshot, it’s clear that some options are indeed missing, especially the Silent Mode option, which should appear just before Focus.
When I tested this on my iPhone 16, I could not reproduce the bug. Silent Mode shows up as an option in my Action Button settings. I tried toggling off the “Show in Status Bar” setting in Sounds & Haptics to see if it would make the option disappear, but it didn’t change anything for me. This suggests the connection between these settings might not be the complete picture.
If you’re stuck in the same boat, you can try setting up a ‘Silent mode’ shortcut. It will take less than a minute. Open up the Shortcuts app > Tap the + icon > Search for ‘Silent’ and add the ‘Set Silent Mode’ shortcut. Now go back to the Action Button settings, navigate towards the end of the list until you find Shortcut, and select the Silent Mode shortcut. Now, when you press and hold the Action Button, your phone will go quiet.
At the moment, it’s unclear what might be causing this bug because a vast majority of users do seem to have the Silent Mode option present in the Action Button settings on iOS 26.
I’ll keep an eye out for any further developments and will post an update if there’ something to share. That said, this isn’t the only problem users are running into, some users are also facing issues with the new Spatial Scene lockscreen wallpaper feature.
You can stay tuned to our dedicated Apple section, where we’ll be highlighting similar issues and providing workarounds or solutions where possible.
Dwayne Cubbins
1731 Posts
My fascination with Android phones began the moment I got my hands on one. Since then, I've been on a journey to decode the ever-evolving tech landscape, fueled by a passion for both the "how" and the "why." Since 2018, I've been crafting content that empowers users and demystifies the tech world. From in-depth how-to guides that unlock your phone's potential to breaking news based on original research, I strive to make tech accessible and engaging.
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