How to Create Shortcuts on iPhone to Automate Tasks

Shortcuts app comes preloaded on iPhone to help save time by creating a sequence of automated tasks.

Advertisement
By Jagmeet Singh | Updated: 13 June 2021 09:02 IST
Highlights
  • Shortcuts app is available on iPhone models running on at least iOS 13
  • iPhone users can add multiple actions to custom shortcuts
  • Shortcuts that you want to use regularly can be placed in a widget

Apple has Shortcuts app to make things easier for its users

Photo Credit: Apple

Looking for a way to create shortcuts on your iPhone to automate certain tasks? Apple has provided a dedicated Shortcuts app that comes pre-installed across all iPhone models running on iOS 13 and later. This single app is all you need to create shortcuts to let your iPhone perform certain actions automatically in a sequence. These can be something that you want Siri to do after receiving your voice command or could be a feature that you wanted to enable at a particular point of time.

The Shortcuts app — a standalone and upgraded version of Siri Shortcuts that was introduced with the release of iOS 12 in 2018 — is designed to make things easier for users. It can be used to create automated workflows such as creating a schedule for your morning, generating expense reports after you complete your recent purchase, or look for a nearby coffee shop before reaching home.

Apple has provided a gallery of preset shortcuts from where you can pick the one you need. Alternatively, you can also create shortcuts of your own — depending on your requirement. Here's how it can be done.

Advertisement

How to create shortcuts on iPhone

To create shortcuts, you must make sure that your iPhone is running on at least iOS 13. There is the dedicated Shortcuts app that Apple has provided by default. However, if you have uninstalled the app for some reason, you can download it from the App Store.

  1. Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap the Plus (+) button from the top-right corner of your screen.
  3. Now, hit Add Action to pick an action you want to perform.
  4. Your iPhone will now show you with the list of available apps and actions. It will also suggest some actions based on your iPhone usage.
  5. The app will show you the selected action on the New Shortcut screen. You can edit the action you've picked by tapping on any of the highlighted actions.
  6. Press the Plus (+) button to add another action. It is important to note that by default, your previous action will appear on the screen. You can, however, view all the available actions by tapping the close button.
  7. Once you're done with the actions you want, you can test your workflow by pressing the Play button.
  8. Now, tap Next and enter a name for your custom shortcut.
  9. Press Done to save your shortcut.

The saved shortcut will appear on the My Shortcuts section on the Shortcuts app. You can also duplicate your saved shortcut or delete it with a press-and-hold gesture on that particular shortcut. Moreover, you can reorder shortcuts to arrange them as per your priority.

Advertisement

You can also bring your shortcuts to a widget for easy access directly from your homescreen. Apple also lets you share your favourite shortcuts with anyone to let them use the same automated workflow on their iPhone — without requiring to manually add the steps you followed.


What is the best phone under Rs. 30,000 in India right now? We discussed this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
Affiliate links may be automatically generated - see our ethics statement for details.
 

Get your daily dose of tech news, reviews, and insights, in under 80 characters on Gadgets 360 Turbo. Connect with fellow tech lovers on our Forum. Follow us on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News for instant updates. Catch all the action on our YouTube channel.

Advertisement

Related Stories

Popular Mobile Brands
  1. Google's Pixel Upgrade Program Lets You Get the Latest Model Every Year
  2. Here's When the Realme 16 Pro Series Will Launch in India
  3. OTT Releases This Week: Thamma, Mrs Deshpande, Raat Akeli Hai The Bansal Murders, and More
  4. Here's How Much The Redmi Note 15 5G Could Cost in India
  5. Redmi Pad 2 Pro 5G Will Launch in India Soon: See Expected Features
  6. Oppo Reno 15 Pro, Reno 15 Pro Max Global Variants Surface on Geekbench
  7. Samsung Announces Exynos 2600 as World's First 2nm Chipset
  8. Vivo X200T Tipped to Feature This Dimensity Chipset Ahead of India Launch
  9. Oppo Reno 15 Pro Mini Tipped to Launch as First Compact Reno Smartphone
  10. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 May Offer These Notable Camera Upgrades
  1. Sony Announces Year-End Holiday Sale in India on PS5 Accessories, Games
  2. Xiaomi 17 Ultra Battery, Charging Specifications and Colourways Tipped Ahead of Launch
  3. Redmi Note 15 5G Price in India, Storage Configurations Tipped Ahead of January 6 Launch
  4. Little Hearts Streaming Now on Netflix: Know Everything About Plot, Cast, and More
  5. Crypto Traders Remain Cautious Amidst Tight Liquidity and Mixed Global Cues
  6. Oppo Reno 15 Pro Global Variant Reportedly Surface on Geekbench Alongside Reno 15 Pro Max
  7. Vivo X200T Key Specifications Tipped Ahead of India Launch; Could Feature Three 50-Megapixel Cameras
  8. Meta Reportedly Building Three New Generative AI Models With Focus on Image and Video Generation
  9. Google Pixel Upgrade Program Launched in India With Assured Buyback of Pixel 10 Series Models
  10. Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet Targeting Mid-2027 Launch as Naughty Dog Orders Overtime: Report
Gadgets 360 is available in
Download Our Apps
Available in Hindi
© Copyright Red Pixels Ventures Limited 2025. All rights reserved.