Think your phone’s volume buttons are just for adjusting sound? Think again.

These seemingly simple buttons pack a punch when it comes to hidden features. Here are 6 powerful tricks you can do with your volume buttons:

• Quick Launch Camera
  On most phones, pressing the volume button (or double-pressing the power + volume combo) can launch the camera instantly—even from a locked screen.

• Take Photos or Videos
  Use the volume buttons as a shutter for taking pictures or starting/stopping video recording. Perfect for steadier shots and selfies.

• Silence Incoming Calls
  Press either volume button during an incoming call to mute the ringer without rejecting the call.

• Trigger Emergency SOS
  Holding down the volume and power buttons together can activate emergency services—check your phone’s settings to enable this feature.

• Skip Songs
  With music apps, some phones let you skip tracks by holding down the volume up or down while the screen is off. This requires a settings tweak or a third-party app.

• Accessibility Shortcuts
  Customize accessibility settings to enable features like magnification, screen readers, or color inversion using volume button shortcuts.