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Dying-MacBookPro
User level: Level 1 (12 points)

Turn Silent Mode On via Automation

Turn Silent Mode On via Automation. causes an Error (Error message appears)


I am trying to create a lost phone automation that reports location and takes front/back photos and send them to a trusted contact. For obvious reasons, I'd like to be able to silence notifications and the Camera Shutter sound.


  1. “I’m using iOS 27.2 on my iPhone.”
  2. “I made a Shortcuts automation that runs when a text arrives.”
  3. “I added the action Turn Silent Mode On. It fails with this error: This action cannot be run in the current environment.”
  4. “Is this a bug? Is there another way to silence the camera shutter sound inside an automation?”


Posted on Nov 1, 2026 8:02 PM

2 replies

SravanKrA
User level: Level 10 (454,138 points)

Nov 2, 2026 12:04 AM in response to Dying-MacBookPro

The Shortcuts action “Set Silent Mode” is designed for iPhone models with an Action button instead of the traditional Ring/Silent switch. While I can set silent mode for a paired Apple Watch, this feature is unavailable on the iPhone itself unless you have an iPhone 15 Pro or newer.


As a workaround for older iPhones, you can set the volume to zero. The steps below are self-explanatory.

razmee209
User level: Level 10 (205,348 points)

Nov 1, 2026 8:19 PM in response to Dying-MacBookPro

Dying-MacBookPro wrote:
1. Turn Silent Mode On via Automation. causes an Error (Error message appears)
I am trying to create a lost phone automation that reports location and takes front/back photos and send them to a trusted contact. For obvious reasons, I'd like to be able to silence notifications and the Camera Shutter sound.
“I’m using iOS 27.2 on my iPhone.”
2. “I made a Shortcuts automation that runs when a text arrives.”
“I added the action Turn Silent Mode On. It fails with this error: This action cannot be run in the current environment.1. ”
2. “Is this a bug? Is there another way to silence the camera shutter sound inside an automation?”

Not a bug, depending on where you bought your phone camera shutter can't be silenced.

Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256387277