Abstract: An operational mode control apparatus and method for a VCR utilizing a shuttle ring comprises a shuttle section having a shuttle ring and providing a digital signal corresponding to a rotational angle of the shuttle ring, and a microcomputer for determining a divided region of the rotational angle of the shuttle ring according to the digital signal provided from the shuttle section and performing an operational mode corresponding to the determined region of the rotational angle. The structure of the shuttle ring can be improved and the rotational angle of the shuttle ring is subdivided into regions in order to control all operational modes, including reproduction-related modes, a tuning mode and an OSD mode of a VCR. Therefore, a separate key matrix for mode selection is not required and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.