If you use iPhone and want to save time with repetitive tasksShortcuts are your best friend: small automations that chain actions together so everything happens with a tap or with your voice using Siri. From sending a message, activating system modes or opening your favorite playlist, to more advanced things like generating a QR code of your WiFi or dictating a note and sharing it instantly, everything fits in a shortcut.
The Shortcuts app (formerly known as Workflow) comes pre-installed on iOS and iPadOS. and allows you to create sequences of actions tailored to your needs. The best thing is that In iOS 17 and later it has gained speed, capabilities and compatibility āit even works on macOSāso it's a perfect time to learn how to create your own flows and master them like a pro.
What is an iOS shortcut and how does it work?
A shortcut is a simple program that automates one or more tasks. on your iPhone or iPad. It is made up of chained actions (blocks that do something specific) and runs from the app itself, from the share menu, with widgets, from the home screen, or with Siri. The idea is to convert multi-step processes into a gesture or voice command..
Actions are the basic pieces: Each one does something specific (for example, āSend messageā, āSet Do Not Disturbā, āPlay podcastā or āOpen URLsā). By combining them in order, you build flows that solve real tasks. such as letting people know you're leaving work, playing music, and activating a focus mode.
Shortcuts is also available on iPadOS and with integration into macOS., and in recent versions of iOS It is more stable and faster. You can activate shortcuts already prepared by third-party apps or create your own from scratch. with a very straightforward editing interface.
The app organizes your creations into sections like āAll Shortcutsā and āMy Shortcutsā to keep everything in one place. From there, you can run, edit, duplicate, share, and customize the appearance of each shortcut.
A useful noteMany apps now show āApp Shortcutsā in Settings > Siri & Search, with shortcut suggestions already provided. Activate them to integrate functions of your favorite apps without programming anything.
Create your first shortcut step by step
Let's build a shortcut from scratch using the built-in editorThis exercise will serve as a foundation for future automations.
- Open Shortcuts on your iPhone or iPad and tap the ā+ā button in the top right corner. Youāll see a blank, untitled shortcut ready to edit.
- Press on āNew Shortcutā > Rename, type a descriptive name and tap āOKā or āDoneā to save it.
- Toca "Add action"The list of will appear categories (for example, Content, Web, Scripts, Appsā¦).
- Choose one category such as āContentā or āWebā and then select one list action to incorporate it into your flow. If you prefer, hold the action and drag it to the desired position in the editor.
- To add more steps, swipe up on the search field at the bottom and add another action. Repeat until you complete your sequence.
- When you're done, press "Clever". The shortcut will be added to your collection, visible in āAll shortcutsā and āMy shortcutsā.
- To To try it, open the shortcut in the editor and tap the play button. If you need to stop it during execution, tap the stop button.
Personalization Tip: you can change the mosaic color and icon of each shortcut to instantly recognize it. You can also adjust whether it's displayed when sharing and other parameters from its settings.
Real-life example: a shortcut home
To demonstrate the power of Shortcuts, let's set up a typical flow: When you leave work, send a message, activate Do Not Disturb and start your favorite podcast.
- Open Shortcuts and press ā+ā. Tap "Add action".
- Search for āMessageā and select the action "Send Message"You will see editable fields in blue (placeholders).
- Tap on "Message" and write, for example: āHi, Iām out and on my way :)ā. Press āOKā.
- En āRecipientsā, enter the contact's name and select it from the list. Press "OK."
- Balance "Show more" in that action and deactivate āShow on runā so that the shipment is automatic.
- Tap the big ā+ā button and search "Do not disturb" (or the corresponding mode in your version of iOS). Choose āSet Do Not Disturbā and change the selector to "Activate".
- Press ā+ā again, search "Podcast" and select āPlay podcastā. In "Podcast", select the program you want.
- Balance "Following", name it āGo Homeā and tap "OK".
To run it, go to Shortcuts > My Shortcuts and tap āGo Home.ā You can also summon it with āHey Siri, go homeā to send the message, activate Do Not Disturb and start the podcast without you having to touch anything else.
Trick: if you want to change the order, drag the actions in the editor until the sequence suits your routine.
Run, test, and organize your shortcuts
There are several ways to launch a shortcut: from āMy Shortcutsā, via widgets, from the share sheet if enabled, with charms on the home screen, or using Siri. The editor's play button lets you try it out. before regular use.
To stop the execution, if necessary, you can touch the stop button during stream playback.
To organize your library, go to āMy Shortcutsā and use drag gestures or menu options to prioritize the most used ones or group them by topic. This way, you'll have everything even more accessible..
Customizing the appearance helps you recognize them quickly: Change the color and icon of each shortcut from its settings. Also, decide whether to display in the share menu by activating āShow when sharingā when convenient for you.
All new shortcuts appear in āAll Shortcutsā and āMy Shortcutsā, so you'll always find them easily.
The most useful shortcuts you can use now
In addition to creating your own, there are shortcuts already available that cover common needs.Here are some of the most practical and popular ones in iOS 17 and higher.
- Super power saving mode: Adjust system parameters to extend battery life. It can be activated manually or automate by a percentage, such as when it drops to 30%.
- Nearby gas stations: find gas stations around you with a single tap, ideal for frequent drivers.
- Take me home: starts navigation to your home, shows estimated time and play your favorite music when starting out. It's recommended to have a good data connection.
- Water Exject: generates ultrasonic tones to expel water of the speakers in case of humidity.
- Emergency Recording: starts a 5-minute audio recording, save it to a cloud service and send a message to a contact.
- Anti-theft mode: Activate guided access for lock iPhone on calculator, making it difficult for someone to turn it off or disable it. You can add a contact message.
- Quick ChatGPT (S-GPT) Query: integrates a question to ChatGPT for immediate responses from your flows.
- Open playlist on Spotify: Set it up in Settings > Siri & Search > App Shortcuts > Spotify > Open Playlist and access it with your voice.
- Dictation and sending: Dictate a note and let the system transform it into text for saving or sending.
- Wallcreator: Create custom, random backgrounds without additional apps.
- Delete duplicate photos: Detects and deletes duplicate images to free up space.
- Share WiFi with QR: Generate a QR code of your network so guests can easily connect.
- Say Potato: Capture a snapshot without opening the Camera app, select front or rear, and choose the destination.
- Portrait mode in any image: Apply a blurred background effect, adjusting the intensity.
- WiFi and Bluetooth control: Turn both radios on or off permanently, beyond the Control Center.
- Safari Auto Scroll: Automatically scrolls web pages for easier reading.
You can combine all of these options with your own flows, creating even more complete and useful automations.
WhatsApp Shortcuts and Common Problems
A common use is to send WhatsApp messages to contacts that you do not have in your address book.This is achieved with a simple shortcut that opens a special WhatsApp URL.
- Open Shortcuts and create a new one called, for example, āWhatsApp without address bookā.
- Balance "Add action" and search āOpen URLsā.
- In the āOpenā field, type wa.me/ tab and activate āAsk every timeā to define the number at the time. It includes the International prefix, like +34 for Spain.
- Try touching the play button: After entering the number, the chat with that person will open directly.
There are also preconfigured shortcuts"Send message with WhatsApp" for preset messages, or "Open in WhatsAppā to open a chat without adding the contact.
If the shortcut doesn't appear in the share sheet or it doesn't work from other apps, enter the shortcut, press the three pointsgo to adjustments and activate āShow when sharingā.
Permits and security: In Settings > Shortcuts > Advanced, check the required permissions (access to apps, external services). Lack of permits may prevent its operation.
When a shortcut fails after updates or changes, delete it and download it againIf it persists, check the sequence and parameters in the editor to make sure everything is correct.
Mastering Shortcuts takes just a few minutes: Using the editor, you can create useful flows like āGo Home,ā activate existing shortcuts (power saving mode, QR, Water Eject, dictation, scrolling in Safariā¦), run them via Siri, and keep them organized. Check permissions and visibility to ensure they work perfectly.With these settings, your automations will make your daily life much easier.
