You most likely spend loads of time in your iPhone, iPad, or Mac operating one job after one other after one other throughout a wide range of apps. Suppose how a lot time you could possibly save in the event you automated these duties or mixed them right into a single motion. You are able to do all that and extra with Apple’s Shortcuts app. Providing a number of predefined actions, the Shortcuts app supplies entry to an enormous variety of current shortcuts, together with the flexibility to create and run your individual.

Shortcuts work with iOS 12, however it’s worthwhile to be operating not less than iOS 13 or iPadOS 13.1 to entry all performance. You’ll additionally want macOS Monterey 12.0 or larger to run shortcuts in your Mac. In the meantime, an Apple Watch with watchOS 7 or larger can run shortcuts proper out of your wrist. This is learn how to run current shortcuts and create your individual.

---

Find out how to Run a Shortcut

One option to set off a shortcut is to open the Shortcuts app in your machine and faucet a shortcut on the principle display. You too can ask Siri to run it for you by saying “Hey Siri, [name of shortcut].” For these simply getting began, Apple has a number of examples below Starter Shortcuts.

(Credit score: PCMag / Apple)

Tapping Take a Break will activate Do Not Disturb and set an alarm for a sure variety of minutes. Select Textual content Final Picture shortcut to textual content somebody the final photograph or screenshot you took in your machine. Decide Shazam shortcut to identify a song you’re at the moment enjoying. You too can get extra details about shortcuts in the event you faucet What’s a shortcut? You’ll be able to then view an inventory of duties {that a} shortcut can carry out.

(Credit score: PCMag / Apple)

Head to the Gallery to see a number of shortcuts you possibly can attempt. Throughout the highest are shortcuts for Accessibility, Enjoyable & Video games with Siri, Starter Shortcuts, Nice with Siri, Fantastic Widget Shortcuts, Shortcuts for Apple Music, and Shortcuts for Sharing.

(Credit score: PCMag / Apple)

Beneath are a number of extra classes, resembling Get Stuff Executed, Fast Shortcuts, Get Organized, Necessities, Collaborate Higher, Pictures, and Writing Toolbox. Choose a shortcut that intrigues you; to run it, simply say “Siri [name of shortcut].” Faucet Add Shortcut so as to add it to your individual library of shortcuts.

(Credit score: PCMag / Apple)

Many shortcuts require some kind of particular motion, enter, or info to run them. For instance, a shortcut that performs a playlist in Apple Music must know which playlist you need. On this case, you’ll be prompted to decide on an possibility while you attempt to add the shortcut.

(Credit score: PCMag / Apple)

As you put in sure apps, shortcuts are mechanically generated for them. Flick thru the App Shortcuts part and also you’ll discover shortcuts for pre-installed apps resembling Books, Digicam, Music, Notes, Photographs, and Voice Memos in addition to third-party apps resembling Amazon, ChatGPT, Copilot, Fb, and Yelp.

(Credit score: PCMag / Apple)

Faucet an app shortcut to run it. Lengthy press on it and you’ll add it to your Home screen to run it with out having to launch the Shortcuts app. After you’ve added a number of shortcuts, go to the All Shortcuts display, the place you possibly can faucet a shortcut to run it. Relying on the shortcut, chances are you’ll be prompted to enter or select particular info to proceed.

(Credit score: PCMag / Apple)

---

Find out how to Create a Shortcut

Along with operating pre-existing shortcuts, you possibly can create your individual. So long as you employ the identical Apple account on all of your units, you possibly can sync the shortcuts you create so that they’re out there on all of your Apple units. You’ll be able to simply create a brand new shortcut based mostly on an current app shortcut. Lengthy press on the shortcut you wish to use and choose New Shortcut > Executed. Transfer to the All Shortcuts display and also you’ll see your new shortcut. You’ll be able to then faucet to run it or inform Siri to launch it.

(Credit score: PCMag / Apple)

To manually create a brand new shortcut, go to the All Shortcuts display and faucet the plus (+) icon. You’ll be able to create shortcuts so as to add an occasion to your calendar, electronic mail a contact, seek for an handle, play music, choose sure images or movies, and far more. Even higher, you possibly can mix a number of of those duties right into a single shortcut. For this instance, let’s create a shortcut to take a photo after which electronic mail it to somebody.

(Credit score: PCMag / Apple)

The app shows completely different classes on the prime, adopted by just a few prompt actions, after which an inventory of apps beneath. Choose the Controls class, swipe down the display, and click on Take Photograph. The motion seems as step one in your shortcut. By default, the motion will use the rear digital camera, however you possibly can change it by tapping Again and selecting the entrance digital camera. You too can inform the motion to ask you which ones digital camera to make use of every time.

(Credit score: PCMag / Apple)

So as to add the subsequent motion, faucet the Search Actions button on the backside. From the record of classes, choose Sharing > Ship Electronic mail. To electronic mail a brand new photograph to a selected individual every time, choose the Recipients variable and sort the individual’s identify or electronic mail handle. To create a selected topic, choose the Topic variable and sort your textual content. When completed, faucet Executed.

(Credit score: PCMag / Apple)

To alter the identify of a shortcut, lengthy press on it and select Rename. Choose the Title subject to alter it. From right here, you can even edit any of the actions or different parts of a shortcut. When completed, choose Executed. Similar to a pre-existing shortcut you may discover within the Gallery, you possibly can run your customized job by deciding on it from the library or saying “Hey, Siri, [name of your shortcut].”

(Credit score: PCMag / Apple)

---

Find out how to Create an Automated Shortcut

You too can use the app’s Automation function to create shortcuts that run mechanically. Open the Shortcuts app and choose Automation > New Automation. Make a choice, then select the kind of occasion that may generate a selected motion, resembling time of day, alarm, journey time, or a sure setting, like Airplane Mode being enabled or your AirPods connecting to your phone. Some occasions require that you just carry out a job, resembling turning on Focus mode or launching an app.

(Credit score: PCMag / Apple)

For this instance, we’ll work with Do Not Disturb mode. Possibly you activate Do Not Disturb at a sure time and switch it off afterward. If you’d like music to play mechanically while you flip off Do Not Disturb, choose Do Not Disturb. Examine When Turning Off and uncheck When Turning On. Examine Run After Affirmation in the event you want to be prompted every time the shortcut runs. In any other case, test Run Instantly in the event you favor that the shortcut be run with out prompting you.

(Credit score: PCMag / Apple)

For this shortcut, select Run Instantly. Depart the swap for Notify When Run turned off, then faucet Subsequent. Swipe down the subsequent display and faucet Music > Play and select the track you want to play. Except you want to add any additional actions, the shortcut is now prepared.

(Credit score: PCMag / Apple)

Take a look at the shortcut by returning to your machine’s house display. Ensure that Do Not Disturb mode is on after which flip it off once more. A notification ought to let you know that the shortcut is operating, and your chosen track ought to begin enjoying in your machine.

(Credit score: PCMag / Apple)

---

Subsequent, you possibly can add widgets in your shortcuts. Lengthy press on any empty space of the House display, choose Edit on the prime, after which faucet Add Widget. Swipe down and choose the Shortcuts entry. Cycle by way of the completely different layouts for the Shortcuts widget and faucet Add Widget so as to add the format you favor.

(Credit score: PCMag / Apple)

---

Handle Your Shortcuts

You’ll be able to lengthy press on any shortcut to handle a wide range of instructions. From the pop-up menu, you’re capable of edit, rename, view particulars of, share, duplicate, transfer, or delete the shortcut.

(Credit score: PCMag / Apple)

---

Run a Shortcut on Your Apple Watch

You’ll be able to run shortcuts out of your Apple Watch, although just some assist actions that may run instantly on the watch itself. Open the Shortcuts app in your watch and choose the shortcut you want to run.

(Credit score: PCMag / Apple)

You’ll be able to add particular person shortcuts to your watch from an iPhone or iPad by lengthy urgent it within the app, deciding on particulars, and turning on the swap subsequent to Present on Apple Watch. The app will let you know whether or not or not the shortcut makes use of an motion that may run on the watch.

(Credit score: PCMag / Apple)

---

Discover Shortcuts On-line

You too can add shortcuts that different individuals have created. You will discover useful routines on such websites as Reddit and RoutineHub. Listed here are just a few that you would be able to obtain onto your machine:

• The Good Morning shortcut greets you, exhibits the information and climate, after which finishes with the app of your selection. 

• With Good Night, Siri needs you good evening and activates Do Not Disturb.

• The Meditation shortcut permits you to set a selected period of time to meditate. Your machine will activate Do Not Disturb, vibrate to start out, and play chimes when your time is up. 

• Use the Download YouTube shortcut to obtain the present YouTube clip you’re watching. Go to Share > Extra > Shortcuts > Obtain YouTube and put it aside to your photograph album.

• Calculate Tip provides you a fast and simple method to determine a tip. Run the shortcut, then enter the worth of the invoice and the proportion you wish to depart as a tip. 

• Weight Logger calculates your BMI and information your weight within the iOS Health app.

About Lance Whitney

Contributor

I have been working for PCMag since early 2016 writing tutorials, how-to items, and different articles on client know-how. Past PCMag, I’ve written information tales and tutorials for a wide range of different web sites and publications, together with CNET, ZDNet, TechRepublic, Macworld, PC World, Time, US Information & World Report, and AARP Journal. I spent seven years writing breaking information for CNET as one of many web site’s East Coast reporters. I’ve additionally written two books for Wiley & Sons—Home windows 8: 5 Minutes at a Time and Educate Your self Visually LinkedIn.

Read Lance’s full bio

Learn the most recent from Lance Whitney