Turn Silent Mode On via Automation

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.

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.