Controlling Your Phone Underwater in Outex: Touchscreen, Side Buttons, and Settings Guide
May 18, 2026
Yes — you maintain functional control of your phone inside the Outex waterproof phone case. The flexible cover gives you full access to all physical side buttons and, at the surface, the touchscreen. This guide explains how control works underwater, how to optimise your setup, and how to configure your phone for the best experience.
Touchscreen Underwater: What to Expect
Water pressure pushes the Outex cover flush against the phone screen when submerged, which confuses the touchscreen — the same effect as pressing the screen with more than two fingers simultaneously. As a result, touchscreen responsiveness is limited or unavailable while fully submerged. This is normal and affects all flexible underwater phone housings.
The solution is simple: use your phone's physical side buttons for all camera and video functions underwater, and reserve the touchscreen for adjustments at the surface. Most phones are already pre-configured for this.
The Air Gap Tip: Improving Touchscreen Response
You can improve touchscreen responsiveness — especially at the surface or in shallow water — by intentionally trapping a small amount of extra air inside the housing before sealing it. This creates a small air gap between the cover and the screen, preventing the material from pressing directly against it.
- Less air inside: The cover stays closer to the screen. Swiping and scrolling feel smoother and more natural at the surface.
- More air inside: Screen presses become more pronounced, helping the phone detect taps more clearly — especially useful in shallow water where some pressure is present.
There is no single correct amount — experiment before your shoot to find what works best for your phone and shooting style.
Using Side Buttons Underwater
All physical side buttons on your phone remain fully accessible through the Outex cover underwater. For camera and video use, the key buttons are:
iPhone (iOS): The volume down button triggers the shutter in the Camera app by default. The volume up button also works. On iPhone 15 Pro and later, the Action Button can be configured to launch the camera or trigger specific functions. On iPhone 16 and later, the dedicated Camera Control button is also accessible through the Outex cover.
iPhone 16 Camera Control button — fully accessible through the Outex cover for underwater shooting.
iPhone 16 Pro Camera Control in landscape orientation — designed for ergonomic one-handed camera triggering.
Android: Most Android phones (Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, and others) allow the volume buttons to trigger the camera shutter in the Camera app. Many also support a dedicated camera button or customisable side button. Check your phone manufacturer's settings for the specific configuration available on your model. Android's open platform means implementations vary by manufacturer.
Recommended Setup: Launch from the Lock Screen
For the best underwater experience, we recommend launching your camera app directly from the lock screen rather than unlocking the phone first. Here's why:
- It takes you directly to the camera with a single button press — no navigation required.
- It keeps all other apps locked out, preventing accidental inputs from water pressure or inadvertent button presses while shooting.
- It's faster, especially when you're in the water and need to start shooting immediately.
On iPhone, swipe left on the lock screen or press the Camera Control button (iPhone 16+) to launch the Camera app directly. On most Android phones, tap the camera icon on the lock screen or press the dedicated camera button if your model has one.
Launch the camera directly from the lock screen — faster access and fewer accidental inputs underwater.
Customising Your Phone's Buttons
Both iOS and Android allow you to customise physical button behaviour to better suit underwater shooting.
iPhone (iOS): Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch to adjust touchscreen sensitivity. On iPhone 15 Pro and later, go to Settings > Action Button to assign a custom function to the Action Button. On iPhone 16 and later, go to Settings > Camera > Camera Control to configure the Camera Control button behaviour. For a full guide to iPhone camera settings and customisation for Outex use, see the iPhone Camera Settings Guide.
Android: Go to Settings > Display > Touch Sensitivity (or equivalent on your device) to increase touchscreen sensitivity when using the phone inside the Outex case. Many Android phones also allow you to remap the volume buttons or add a dedicated camera shortcut. Check your phone manufacturer's settings for the specific options available on your model.
Physical side buttons remain fully accessible through the Outex cover — configure them in settings for your preferred shooting workflow.
Quick Reference: Underwater Phone Control
- Touchscreen: Limited underwater due to water pressure. Use at the surface to adjust settings.
- Side buttons: Fully accessible underwater. Use volume buttons (or equivalent) to trigger the camera and video.
- Air gap: Trap a small amount of extra air before sealing to improve touchscreen response at the surface.
- Lock screen launch: Launch the camera from the lock screen to prevent accidental inputs underwater.
- Settings: Customise button behaviour in iOS Settings or Android Settings before your shoot.
More Phone Photography Resources
For a comprehensive guide to phone photography tips, settings, and techniques with Outex, see the Outex Phone Photography Guide.
