search
HomeMobile TutorialiPhoneIf You've Never Used the iPhone Shortcuts App, Here's the Best Way to Get Started

  • What are iPhone Shortcuts?
  • Remind Me At Work
  • Clean Up Screenshots
  • When Do I Need to Leave By?
  • Translate Text
  • Make Top 25 Playlist
  • Email Last Image
  • Pomodoro Timer
  • Build Your Own Shortcuts

Shortcuts is a powerful app that speeds up and automates simple repetitive actions. Learning how to use Shortcuts to compliment your daily iPhone or Mac use and save time and effort. Here’s how to get started.

What are iPhone Shortcuts?

New iPhones come with the Shortcuts app installed and ready to go. If you have deleted it, you can re-download Shortcuts from the App Store like any other app.

A shortcut is a workflow that can vary from a few simple actions to a complex list of automated steps. With the tap of a button, you can use a shortcut to execute a set of steps. Any shortcuts you have added or created will appear under "All Shortcuts" on the "Shortcuts" tab.

You can create folders within the app to organize your shortcuts. There is also a Widget option for the shortcuts app, so you can access your shortcuts right from your home screen.

If You’ve Never Used the iPhone Shortcuts App, Here’s the Best Way to Get Started

If this is your first time using the Shortcuts app, you may not feel comfortable creating your own Shortcuts or searching for third-party ones right away. Luckily, Apple has a Gallery section within the app to help you get started.

To access the Gallery, tap the "Gallery" icon from the bottom bar. You will be brought to a section full of pre-built shortcuts, complete with a search bar. Here are some great shortcuts that are ready to be downloaded from the Gallery.

If You’ve Never Used the iPhone Shortcuts App, Here’s the Best Way to Get Started

Remind Me At Work

Do you need to remember to do something at work, but sticky notes just won't cut it? This shortcut can help. This automation allows you to set a reminder to go off once you arrive at work. To add this shortcut, go to the Gallery section of the Shortcuts app, and look under the "Morning Routine" section.

Alternatively, you can search for this shortcut by name in the search bar. Once you locate the shortcut, tap the "+" icon in the shortcut box to add it to your library.

If You’ve Never Used the iPhone Shortcuts App, Here’s the Best Way to Get Started

Once you add the shortcut, you will be prompted to enter your work address. To activate the shortcut, you can either tap its icon from the Shortcuts app, or say "Siri, Remind me at Work." Once activated, you will be prompted to type or speak your reminder, which will appear as a notification when you arrive at work.

If You’ve Never Used the iPhone Shortcuts App, Here’s the Best Way to Get Started

Clean Up Screenshots

Freeing up space on your phone is always a good idea. One great way to get rid of some unnecessary photos is with the "Clean Up Screenshots" shortcut. This quickly displays all of your screenshots, letting you delete or save them all in one place. You can select specific screenshots to be kept, deleted, or saved to your files. This shortcut can be added from the "Photography" section of the gallery.

If You’ve Never Used the iPhone Shortcuts App, Here’s the Best Way to Get Started

You can activate this shortcut by tapping its icon in the Shortcuts app or by saying "Siri, clean up screenshots". Depending on how many screenshots you have on your phone, it may take some time to load. Once loaded, you can select some of your screenshots, and press "Done". You can then choose whether you want to save or delete your selections.

If You’ve Never Used the iPhone Shortcuts App, Here’s the Best Way to Get Started

When Do I Need to Leave By?

It can be hard to know exactly when you need to leave for work each day, especially with varying traffic. Luckily, there's a pre-made shortcut that can make that decision a little easier. The "When Do I Need to Leave By" shortcut uses traffic and location information to estimate when you need to leave for work or school. You can find and add this shortcut in the "Morning Routine" section of the gallery.

If You’ve Never Used the iPhone Shortcuts App, Here’s the Best Way to Get Started

You will be prompted to enter your home and work addresses. Once you do, you can activate the shortcut by tapping its icon in the Shortcuts app or by saying "Siri, when do I need to leave by?". When activated, an alert will appear informing you of your estimated travel time as well as when you should leave to make it on time.

If You’ve Never Used the iPhone Shortcuts App, Here’s the Best Way to Get Started

Translate Text

If you ever need to read or speak a language you're not familiar with, there's a shortcut that can make that process easier. The "Translate Text" shortcut is as simple as it sounds, letting you instantly translate text from one language to another. This shortcut can be found in the "Writer's Toolbox" section of the Gallery.

If You’ve Never Used the iPhone Shortcuts App, Here’s the Best Way to Get Started

To run the shortcut, tap its icon in the Shortcuts app or say "Siri, translate text". Once activated, you can type or paste in whatever text you want, and the shortcut will automatically detect its language. You can then choose which language to translate into from a language list.

If You’ve Never Used the iPhone Shortcuts App, Here’s the Best Way to Get Started

Make Top 25 Playlist

Ever been curious about what your favorite songs are, statistically? If you use Apple Music, a shortcut can help you find out. The "Make Top 25 Playlist" creates a playlist of the top 25 songs in your library with the most listens. You can find and add this shortcut under the "Explore Apple Music" category in the Gallery.

If You’ve Never Used the iPhone Shortcuts App, Here’s the Best Way to Get Started

This shortcut can be run directly from the Shortcuts app, or by saying "Siri, make top 25 playlist". Once run, the playlist will automatically find your 25 most played songs and generate a playlist containing them.

Email Last Image

Whether you need to send someone your most recent photo, or just want to quickly send it to another device, Shortcuts has you covered. The "Email Last Image" shortcut automatically selects your most recent photo and allows you to email it in one step. This shortcut can be found under the "Get Stuff Done" heading in the Gallery.

If You’ve Never Used the iPhone Shortcuts App, Here’s the Best Way to Get Started

You can run this shortcut from the Shortcuts app or by saying "Siri, email last image." The first time you use it, you will be prompted to grant the shortcut permission to access your photos. Once granted, an email containing your most recent photo will be generated. All you need to do is enter a message and a recipient.

If You’ve Never Used the iPhone Shortcuts App, Here’s the Best Way to Get Started

Pomodoro Timer

The Pomodoro technique is a productivity method that splits your working time into bursts with breaks in between. The idea is that your brain is best able to focus and perform in 25-minute intervals, with 5-minute breaks between. If you are interested in trying out the Pomodoro method for your next work or school projects, there's a shortcut that can help you.

This shortcut sets a Pomodoro timer with any time interval you want and enables one of your Focus Modes to stay active until the timer ends. You can find this shortcut under the "Get Stuff Done" heading in the Gallery. When you add the shortcut for the first time, you will be prompted to select which Focus Mode you'd like it to turn on each time you use it.

If You’ve Never Used the iPhone Shortcuts App, Here’s the Best Way to Get Started

You can start your Pomodoro timer by tapping on its icon in the Shortcuts app or by saying "Siri, start Pomodoro". Once you tap Start Pomodoro, you will be prompted to enter your desired timer length, and your selected Focus Mode will be active until the timer ends.

If You’ve Never Used the iPhone Shortcuts App, Here’s the Best Way to Get Started

Build Your Own Shortcuts

Once you have had some time to play around with different shortcuts, you might want to branch out beyond the Apple Gallery. There are many places you can find third-party shortcuts, built by other users for different tasks.

You can also try your hand at creating your own, though building complex shortcuts can be tricky. Here, I will walk you through the process of building a shortcut that will turn low power mode on if your iPhone's battery is at less than 50%.

To start, tap on the "+" icon at the top right of the screen in the Shortcuts app. This will start the building process.

If You’ve Never Used the iPhone Shortcuts App, Here’s the Best Way to Get Started

Next, press the "Add Action" button. For this example, type "Battery" into the search bar and select "Get Battery Status". This tells the shortcut to look for your current battery percentage. Once tapped, you have successfully added your shortcut's first step!

*GET BATTERY PERCENTAGE SCREENSHOT*

If You’ve Never Used the iPhone Shortcuts App, Here’s the Best Way to Get Started

Once you have added the "Get Battery Level" step, some "Next Action Suggestions" will pop up, displaying common next steps. Here, click "If". This will allow you to set a condition.

If You’ve Never Used the iPhone Shortcuts App, Here’s the Best Way to Get Started

Tap the Condition text, and select "less than". Once the condition has been chosen, you can input a value. Tap the "Number" text, and enter "50" to represent half charge. You should also press the "X" icon next to the "Otherwise" box, as we will not be needing it for this shortcut. Be sure to leave the "End If" box, as it will be important later.

If You’ve Never Used the iPhone Shortcuts App, Here’s the Best Way to Get Started

Now add the final step of the shortcut. At the bottom of the screen, you will see a search bar. Tap and search for "Battery", and select "Set Low Power Mode" from the results. Once the "Turn Low Power Mode On" block appears in your shortcut, tap and drag it to be between your If statement and the "End If" block. You can rename or choose an icon for your new Shortcut by clicking the arrow at the top of the screen.

If You’ve Never Used the iPhone Shortcuts App, Here’s the Best Way to Get Started

You've just created your own Shortcut! It will appear alongside any other shortcuts you've added previously.


The Shortcuts app is a versatile tool with a huge variety of capabilities that can make your iPhone use a bit easier. There are thousands of shortcuts to explore, and you can even make your own to fit your needs. Good luck!

Your changes have been saved

Email Is sent

Please verify your email address.

Send confirmation email

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

Manage Your List Follow Followed Follow with Notifications Follow Unfollow

The above is the detailed content of If You've Never Used the iPhone Shortcuts App, Here's the Best Way to Get Started. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

Statement
The content of this article is voluntarily contributed by netizens, and the copyright belongs to the original author. This site does not assume corresponding legal responsibility. If you find any content suspected of plagiarism or infringement, please contact admin@php.cn
M3 iPad Air vs. M2 iPad Air: Spot the Difference (If You Can)M3 iPad Air vs. M2 iPad Air: Spot the Difference (If You Can)Mar 11, 2025 am 03:08 AM

In-depth comparison between the 2025 iPad Air (M3) and the 2024 iPad Air (M2): Is the upgrade worth it? Apple has released a new iPad Air equipped with an M3 chip. The new tablet balances ease of use and economy and brings performance improvements to veteran users. But how is it different from the previous generation M2 iPad Air? Let's find out. Appearance design: Completely consistent The appearance of the new iPad Air is almost exactly the same as the M2 iPad Air released in 2024, and it is also exactly the same as the M1 iPad Air in 2022. 11-inch and 13-inch screen sizes (symmetrical bezels), size, weight and even color

iOS 18.4 Finally Brings RCS Messaging to Google Fi and Other T-Mobile CarriersiOS 18.4 Finally Brings RCS Messaging to Google Fi and Other T-Mobile CarriersMar 07, 2025 am 06:01 AM

summary iOS 18 eventually added support for RCS messaging, benefiting many users, but initially excluded T-Mobile-based carriers. The second iOS 18.4 beta now brings RCS messaging capabilities to Google Fi on iPhone and other T-Mobile-based carriers. The update also includes new features such as priority application notifications, visual smart shortcuts, new emojis, and Apple app shortcuts. Apple released iOS 18 in September 2024, and with it comes the long-awaited RCS messaging feature – at least for some

Apple Intelligence Keeps Turning on After iPhone UpdatesApple Intelligence Keeps Turning on After iPhone UpdatesMar 14, 2025 am 03:01 AM

New iPhone iOS updates are automatically reactivating Apple Intelligence, even for users who previously disabled it. This unexpected behavior, whether a bug or intentional, is causing frustration among users. The recent iOS 18.3.2 update, primarily a

Apple's Base iPad Now Has Double the StorageApple's Base iPad Now Has Double the StorageMar 06, 2025 am 03:03 AM

Apple's new iPad (11th generation) review: performance upgrade, but lacks AI capabilities Apple finally updated its entry-level iPad after more than two years. While the entire iPad product line is still a bit confusing, the latest 11th-generation iPad doubles storage space while maintaining its original price, but it also lacks an important feature set. Apple today released the new iPad Air equipped with a powerful M3 chip and a new Magic Control keyboard, and focused on its AI capabilities. However, the company also quietly updated its entry-level iPad. If you're looking for an affordable iPad, the 11th-generation model that will be available next week may be exactly what you're looking for. Interestingly, the new entry-level iPad has made a good upgrade

8 iPhone Apps I'm Using to Try and Live Forever8 iPhone Apps I'm Using to Try and Live ForeverMar 16, 2025 am 12:19 AM

Maximize Your Lifespan: iPhone Apps for a Healthier, Longer Life Groucho Marx famously aspired to live forever, or die trying. While immortality remains elusive, we can significantly extend both our lifespan and healthspan (the length of time we enj

The Best 11-inch iPad Air Cases of 2025The Best 11-inch iPad Air Cases of 2025Mar 19, 2025 am 06:03 AM

Top iPad Air 11-inch Cases: A Comprehensive Guide (Updated 03/14/2025) This updated guide showcases the best iPad Air 11-inch cases available, catering to various needs and budgets. Whether you own the new M3 or the M2 model, protecting your investm

The Simple Reason I Don't Use Apple Family Sharing (However Good It Is)The Simple Reason I Don't Use Apple Family Sharing (However Good It Is)Mar 22, 2025 am 03:04 AM

Apple's Family Sharing: A Broken Promise? Ask to Buy's Failure to Protect Against Redownloads Apple's Family Sharing, while convenient for sharing apps, subscriptions, and more, has a significant flaw: its "Ask to Buy" feature fails to pre

InfinaCore T3 Pro Review: Fast, Low-Cost Charging with Limited CompatibilityInfinaCore T3 Pro Review: Fast, Low-Cost Charging with Limited CompatibilityMar 08, 2025 am 09:01 AM

The InfinaCore T3 Pro: A Budget-Friendly 3-in-1 Wireless Charger The InfinaCore T3 Pro offers a convenient 3-in-1 wireless charging solution for a surprisingly affordable $39.99. While charging speeds are slower than wired alternatives, its attracti

See all articles

Hot AI Tools

Undresser.AI Undress

Undresser.AI Undress

AI-powered app for creating realistic nude photos

AI Clothes Remover

AI Clothes Remover

Online AI tool for removing clothes from photos.

Undress AI Tool

Undress AI Tool

Undress images for free

Clothoff.io

Clothoff.io

AI clothes remover

AI Hentai Generator

AI Hentai Generator

Generate AI Hentai for free.

Hot Tools

mPDF

mPDF

mPDF is a PHP library that can generate PDF files from UTF-8 encoded HTML. The original author, Ian Back, wrote mPDF to output PDF files "on the fly" from his website and handle different languages. It is slower than original scripts like HTML2FPDF and produces larger files when using Unicode fonts, but supports CSS styles etc. and has a lot of enhancements. Supports almost all languages, including RTL (Arabic and Hebrew) and CJK (Chinese, Japanese and Korean). Supports nested block-level elements (such as P, DIV),

Dreamweaver CS6

Dreamweaver CS6

Visual web development tools

SublimeText3 Mac version

SublimeText3 Mac version

God-level code editing software (SublimeText3)

SublimeText3 Linux new version

SublimeText3 Linux new version

SublimeText3 Linux latest version

SublimeText3 English version

SublimeText3 English version

Recommended: Win version, supports code prompts!