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How to Set Grok Bot as Your iPhone Action Button

Facts last checked October 20, 2026 · About a 4-minute read

On October 19, 2026, the official Grok Bot account announced that you can set Grok Bot as your iPhone's Action Button and "press it to talk with Bot."[1] This guide walks you through it one step at a time. Take your time. You can change it back whenever you like.

Or press Ctrl+P (Cmd+P on a Mac). Printing uses large type and leaves out the menus and signup box.

What This Does

The Action Button is a small button on the left side of some iPhones. It takes the place of the Ring/Silent switch that older iPhones have, and you get to choose what it does.[3]

Once you set it up, pressing and holding that button starts a voice chat with your Bot.[2][3] A voice chat is a live, spoken conversation with your Bot.[5] In the official demo video, the call shows at the top of the screen with a microphone button and a red button, while your Home Screen stays in view.[1]

Does Your iPhone Have an Action Button?

The official setup post says this works on an iPhone 15 Pro or later.[2]

Apple says these iPhones have an Action Button:[4]

  • iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max
  • iPhone 16e and iPhone 17e
  • iPhone 16 and later models that have Camera Control

The regular iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, and earlier models have the Ring/Silent switch instead.[4]

Not sure which you have? Look at the left side of your iPhone. If you see a small switch that can show orange, that's the Ring/Silent switch, and your iPhone doesn't have an Action Button.[4]

No Action Button? This shortcut needs one, so iPhones without an Action Button can't use it. You can still talk with your Bot the regular way: open the Grok Bot app, open a chat with your Bot, and with the message box empty, choose Start voice chat.[5]

What You Need First

  1. An iPhone with an Action Button (see above).
  2. The Grok Bot app, version 1.16 or newer.[2] Grok Bot has its own app, separate from the regular Grok chat app. Get it from the official listing: Grok Bot on the App Store. The listing shows the seller as X Corp. and says it needs iOS 18 or later.[6]
  3. You're signed in. Open Grok Bot, choose Log In or Sign Up, finish signing in in your web browser, then return to the app. If your access comes from a SuperGrok subscription, choose Link Grok Account when asked, finish in the browser, then choose Finished Linking? Refresh My Status.[5]
  4. An eligible paid plan and an internet connection.[5]
What it costs. The app is free to download, and the App Store lists in-app purchases.[6] Using Grok Bot needs an eligible paid plan.[5] Prices change, so check the official pricing page before you pay.[11] Grok Bot usage resets weekly,[10] but no actual usage amount is published for any plan, so nobody can tell you exactly how much talking your plan includes.

How to Update the App

Apps from the App Store update automatically by default. To update by hand:[7]

  1. Open the App Store app.
  2. Tap your picture (or the My Account button) at the top of the screen.
  3. Tap App Updates, then tap Update next to Grok Bot.

The official App Store listing showed version 1.16.0 when we checked on October 20, 2026.[6]

Set It Up, Step by Step

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.[3]
  2. Tap Action Button. You'll see a picture of the side of your iPhone, with icons for the things the button can do.[3]
  3. Swipe left or right through the icons until the name under the dots says Shortcut.[2][3]
  4. Tap the button that appears just below Shortcut to see the list of choices. Apple says that for Shortcut you must pick a specific option here, or the Action Button does nothing.[3]
  5. Find Grok Bot in the list and tap it, then choose Start Voice Chat.[2]
  6. Go back to your Home Screen. You're all set.
Can't find Grok Bot in the list? Make sure the Grok Bot app is installed and updated to version 1.16 or newer.[2] Neither Apple nor Grok Bot names the exact label on the button under Shortcut, so just look for the button right below the word Shortcut.

Try It

  1. Press and hold the Action Button. Apple says the Action Button does its job when you press and hold it.[3]
  2. Your voice chat with your Bot starts.[1][2] Start with something simple and safe, like: "Hi! In one or two sentences, what can you help me with today?" (our wording)
  3. To hang up: in the official demo video, the call bar at the top of the screen has a red button with an X.[1] Button names and screens can change, so if yours looks a little different, look for a red or "end" button.
Good to know: your Bot keeps working after you hang up. If you hang up while your Bot is still working on your request, it finishes and posts the result in your chat.[9] A voice call from your phone also wakes your Bot's computer, so it can work on what you said after the call.[9]

How to Undo It

  1. Open Settings and tap Action Button.[3]
  2. Swipe to a different action. Silent Mode is the one iPhones start with.[3][4]
  3. Or choose No Action if you'd like the button to do nothing at all.[3]

Changing the button only changes what it does. It doesn't delete the Grok Bot app or your chats.

Safety Notes

  • Never say a password or code out loud to your Bot. The official safety guide says not to send a password or one-time code in ordinary chat. For those, choose Take over, type it yourself, then choose I'm done.[8] We treat voice chat the same way (our advice).
  • Read approvals on your screen. When your Bot wants to do something that needs your OK, it shows you what it plans to do, and you choose Allow once, Always allow, or Deny. The controls are the same on iPhone.[8] Don't approve anything you can't identify. Ask your Bot to explain it in plain language first.[8]
  • Mind who's listening. A voice chat is spoken out loud, so think about who's nearby before you mention private things like health or money (our advice).
  • Set limits in plain words. You can add this to any request (our wording): "Do not send, post, buy, pay, or delete anything. Make a draft and ask me first."
  • Use the real app. Install Grok Bot only from the official App Store listing, and check that the seller is X Corp.[6] We're a fan site, and we will never ask for your login.

Printable Quick Card

  • ☐ iPhone 15 Pro or later, with an Action Button
  • ☐ Grok Bot app version 1.16 or newer, and signed in
  • ☐ Settings → Action Button → swipe to Shortcut
  • ☐ Tap the button under Shortcut → Grok Bot → Start Voice Chat
  • ☐ Press and hold the Action Button to talk
  • ☐ Never say passwords or codes out loud
  • ☐ To undo: Settings → Action Button → Silent Mode

What to Read Next

Sources

Every fact above comes from these official pages (tips marked "our advice" or "our wording" are our own), checked on October 20, 2026. Grok Bot changes often, so if something looks different on your screen, the official page wins.

  1. Official Grok Bot announcement on X (@bot, October 19, 2026, with demo video): https://x.com/bot/status/2112252507762368684
  2. Official Grok Bot setup steps on X (@bot, October 19, 2026): https://x.com/bot/status/2112282506284445787
  3. Use and customize the Action button on iPhone, Apple Support: https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/use-and-customize-the-action-button-iphe89d61d66/ios
  4. Use the Action button, side button, and other controls on your iPhone, Apple Support: https://support.apple.com/en-us/105103
  5. Grok Bot for Mobile, official Grok Bot docs: https://docs.x.ai/grok-bot/mobile
  6. Grok Bot on the Apple App Store, official listing (Seller: X Corp.): https://apps.apple.com/app/id6794501026
  7. Update apps from the App Store on iPhone, Apple Support: https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/update-apps-iph98709f167/ios
  8. Approvals, Security, and Privacy, official Grok Bot docs (last updated October 12, 2026): https://docs.x.ai/grok-bot/approvals-security-and-privacy
  9. Grok Bot changelog, official: https://x.ai/changelog/bot
  10. Grok Bot overview, official docs: https://docs.x.ai/grok-bot
  11. Official pricing page: https://x.ai/pricing