Button Combinations Shortcuts
Compare Button Combinations keyboard shortcuts across iOS, Android, with actions, key combinations, and usage notes.
How to use this reference
Use this category reference to compare the same kind of task across your devices. Start with the section for your operating system, read the action and description, and try the shortcut in an appropriate application. Keys joined with a plus sign are held together; alternatives let you choose the combination that works on your keyboard. A gesture requires a compatible touchpad or touch screen rather than a physical keyboard.
Before practicing, check which window has focus. Text fields, browser tabs, terminal sessions, and system dialogs can interpret the same keys differently. Save any open work before testing commands that close a window, delete content, or change system settings. Accessibility commands may need to be enabled in settings first, and a laptop may require the Fn key for function keys. If a combination is intercepted by an application or a custom keymap, consult its built-in help and your operating system settings. Follow the full platform guide for related commands and additional context.
iPhone
| Action | Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Take Screenshot | Side Button + Volume Up | Press both simultaneously to take a screenshot — it appears as a thumbnail in the bottom-left corner |
| Power Off / Slide to Power Off | Side Button + Volume Down (hold) | Hold both buttons together until the power-off slider appears, then slide to turn off |
| Emergency SOS (rapid press) | Side Button (×5) | Rapidly press the side button 5 times to call emergency services and notify your emergency contacts |
| Emergency SOS (hold) | Side Button + Volume (hold 3s) | Hold the side button and either volume button for 3 seconds to trigger Emergency SOS |
| Invoke Siri | Side Button (hold) | Hold the side button and release to speak your Siri request |
| Force Restart | Volume Up → Volume Down → Side Button (hold) | Quickly press Volume Up, then Volume Down, then hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears |
| Toggle Accessibility Shortcut | Side Button (×3) | Triple-click the Side button to trigger whichever Accessibility Shortcut is configured in Settings |
| Mute / Unmute (Ring/Silent) | Ring/Silent Switch (left side) | Flip the small toggle switch on the upper-left side of the phone to silence all ringtones and alerts |
| Adjust Volume | Volume Up / Volume Down | Adjust speaker volume during calls, media, or ringtones |
| Wake / Sleep Display | Side Button (tap) | Tap the side button once to lock or wake the screen |
| Action Button (iPhone 15 Pro+) | Action Button (hold) | Hold the customisable Action Button on the left side to trigger your assigned action: Mute, Camera, Shortcut, Translate, and more |
Android
| Action | Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Take Screenshot | Power + Volume Down | Press both simultaneously to capture the current screen |
| Scrolling Screenshot | Power + Volume Down → Capture More | After taking a screenshot, tap 'Capture More' to create a long scrolling screenshot |
| Power Off / Restart Menu | Power (hold) | Hold the power button to open the power menu (Power Off, Restart, Emergency, Lockdown) |
| Emergency SOS | Power (×5 rapid presses) | Rapidly press the power button 5 times to call emergency services |
| Lockdown Mode | Power (hold) → Lockdown | Disables biometrics — only PIN/password can unlock the phone. Useful in sensitive situations. |
| Force Restart (frozen phone) | Power (hold 10s) | Hold the power button for about 10 seconds to force a restart on an unresponsive phone |
| Open Google Assistant | Power (hold) | On Pixel phones: holding the power button opens Google Assistant (configurable in Settings) |
| Silence Incoming Call | Volume Up or Volume Down (once) | Press either volume button once while the phone rings to silence the ringer without declining |
| Open Camera Quickly (Pixel) | Power (×2 quickly) | Double press the power button on Pixel phones to instantly launch the Camera app |
| Wake Screen | Double Tap Screen | Double tap the display to wake it without pressing any button (if enabled in Settings > Display) |
| Mute / Vibrate Toggle | Volume Down (hold) | Hold Volume Down to cycle into Vibrate or Do Not Disturb mode |