Introduction
Apple's Shortcuts app is a powerful tool that allows you to automate tasks on your iPhone or iPad. Shortcuts can be used to simplify your daily routine, save time, and even add fun and creative features to your device. With Shortcuts, you can create custom workflows that combine multiple actions into a single tap, making complex tasks a breeze.
In this article, we'll explore 18 of the best Shortcuts for iOS, covering a wide range of functionalities from productivity and entertainment to personal well-being and even home automation. Get ready to unlock the full potential of your iPhone and streamline your life with these handy shortcuts.
Productivity Shortcuts
1. Create a To-Do List with Reminders
Let's begin with a classic: using Shortcuts to manage your tasks. This shortcut will help you quickly add items to your Reminders app. You can customize it to include details like the due date, priority, and even location-based reminders.
Here's how it works:
- Open the Shortcuts app and tap the "+" button to create a new shortcut.
- Search for "Add to Reminders" in the actions list.
- Select the "Add to Reminders" action and customize it to your liking. You can add a title for your reminder, set a due date, choose a list, and even add a note.
- You can also include an optional "Ask for Input" action to let you quickly type in your reminder details.
- Run the shortcut and it will automatically add the item to your Reminders list.
2. Combine Multiple Apps with "Run Workflow"
The "Run Workflow" action lets you combine multiple shortcuts into one, creating a powerful and efficient workflow. Imagine needing to perform several tasks sequentially. With "Run Workflow," you can chain them together, automating the process.
Here's an example:
- Create a shortcut that starts with the "Set Alarm" action.
- Then, add the "Run Workflow" action and select the shortcut you created earlier to add a reminder to your Reminders app. This way, you can set an alarm and automatically add a reminder for your upcoming task.
3. Quickly Share a File with Specific People
Sharing files can be tedious. This shortcut makes it a breeze. You can specify the recipients, file type, and even add a personalized message.
How it works:
- Create a shortcut that begins with the "Get File" action. This lets you select the file you want to share from your device.
- Add the "Share" action and customize it to include the recipients, subject, and message.
- Run the shortcut and it will automatically share the file with your chosen contacts.
4. Create a PDF from Any Image
Do you often need to convert images into PDF files? This shortcut simplifies this process. You can select an image from your photo library and convert it into a PDF document with just a tap.
How to create it:
- Start by selecting the "Get Image" action in the Shortcuts app.
- Then, add the "Create PDF" action.
- Choose the "Save" action and select the desired location for your PDF file.
5. Combine PDF Files into One Document
Need to merge multiple PDF files together? This shortcut can do it for you. You can choose multiple PDF files from your device and combine them into a single document.
Create it with these steps:
- Start with the "Get Files" action to select multiple PDF files.
- Add the "Combine PDFs" action to merge them together.
- Choose the "Save" action and select the location to store your combined PDF document.
Entertainment Shortcuts
6. Play Music from Your Favorite Playlist
This shortcut lets you quickly play music from your favorite playlist in Apple Music. Just select the playlist and the shortcut will start playing the music. You can even add additional actions to control the playback.
Here's how it works:
- Open the Shortcuts app and select "Add Action."
- Search for "Play Music" and select the action.
- Choose the "Select Playlist" action to choose your favorite playlist.
- Optionally add actions like "Play/Pause," "Next Track," or "Previous Track."
7. Shuffle a Deck of Cards
Want to play a quick card game with friends? This shortcut will shuffle a standard deck of cards and then display the cards in a random order.
Here's how to create it:
- Start by creating a new shortcut and adding the "Get Variable" action.
- Set the variable name to "Deck" and the value to a list containing the cards (Ace, 2, 3, ..., King) for each suit (Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs, Spades).
- Then, add the "Shuffle" action and select "Deck" as the input.
- Finally, add the "Show Result" action to display the shuffled deck.
8. Create a GIF from a Video
This shortcut helps you create fun GIFs from your videos. You can select a video clip from your photo library and use the shortcut to convert it into a GIF file.
Here's how to do it:
- Start with the "Get Video" action to select the video.
- Add the "Create GIF" action and choose the desired frame rate, duration, and quality.
- You can also add optional actions like "Save" to store the GIF or "Share" to instantly share it with your friends.
9. Roll a Die
Need a random number generator? This shortcut lets you roll a virtual die with a customizable number of sides. Perfect for making decisions or playing games.
Here's how to create it:
- Start with a new shortcut and add the "Get Variable" action.
- Set the variable name to "Sides" and the value to the number of sides on your die (e.g., 6 for a standard die).
- Add the "Random Number" action and set the range to "1" to "Sides."
- Finally, add the "Show Result" action to display the rolled number.
10. Watch a Random YouTube Video
Tired of scrolling through YouTube endlessly? This shortcut will play a random YouTube video from your favorite channel or a specific playlist.
Here's how to create it:
- Start with a new shortcut and add the "Get Variable" action.
- Set the variable name to "Channel" or "Playlist" and the value to the name of your desired channel or playlist on YouTube.
- Add the "Open URL" action and use a URL format that allows you to access a random video from the specified channel or playlist.
- Run the shortcut and it will open a random YouTube video in your browser.
Personal Well-being Shortcuts
11. Set a Timer and Play Relaxing Music
This shortcut helps you create a relaxing environment for meditation, yoga, or simply to unwind. It combines setting a timer with playing soothing music from Apple Music.
Here's how to create it:
- Start with a new shortcut and add the "Set Timer" action.
- Choose the desired duration for your timer.
- Add the "Play Music" action and select your favorite relaxation playlist in Apple Music.
- Run the shortcut and enjoy your relaxing time.
12. Track Your Water Intake
Staying hydrated is crucial. This shortcut helps you keep track of your water intake throughout the day. You can log each glass of water you drink and the shortcut will display your total intake for the day.
Here's how it works:
- Start with a new shortcut and add the "Ask for Input" action to ask you for the amount of water you've just consumed.
- Add the "Get Variable" action to store the amount of water.
- Then, add the "Add to Variable" action to add the current amount to a total variable.
- Finally, add the "Show Result" action to display your total water intake for the day.
13. Start a Deep Breathing Exercise
Taking deep breaths can help reduce stress and improve your focus. This shortcut guides you through a simple deep breathing exercise.
Here's how to create it:
- Start with a new shortcut and add the "Get Variable" action.
- Set the variable name to "Breaths" and the value to the number of breaths you want to take.
- Add the "Repeat" action and set the number of times to "Breaths."
- Inside the "Repeat" loop, add the "Speak Text" action to guide you through each breath.
- You can use actions like "Wait" to control the duration of each inhale and exhale.
Home Automation Shortcuts
14. Control Your Smart Lights with HomeKit
If you have HomeKit-compatible smart lights, you can use this shortcut to control them with a tap. You can turn the lights on or off, adjust the brightness, and even change the color.
How to create it:
- Start with a new shortcut and add the "Set HomeKit Accessory State" action.
- Select the desired smart light accessory and choose the action you want to perform (on/off, brightness, color).
- Optionally, you can add the "Ask for Input" action to let you control the light's properties directly from the shortcut.
15. Adjust Your Thermostat
This shortcut allows you to control your HomeKit-enabled thermostat from your iPhone. You can adjust the temperature, set the thermostat to "Heat," "Cool," or "Auto," and even change the fan mode.
Here's how to create it:
- Start with a new shortcut and add the "Set HomeKit Accessory State" action.
- Select the desired thermostat accessory and choose the action you want to perform (temperature, mode, fan).
- You can also add the "Ask for Input" action to let you adjust the thermostat's settings directly from the shortcut.
16. Play Music on Your HomePod
This shortcut lets you quickly play music on your HomePod from your iPhone. You can select a song, album, playlist, or even a radio station to start playing on your smart speaker.
Here's how to create it:
- Start with a new shortcut and add the "Play Music" action.
- Select the "Select Music" action and choose the song, album, playlist, or radio station you want to play.
- Then, add the "Set HomeKit Accessory State" action and choose your HomePod as the accessory.
- Run the shortcut and your music will start playing on your HomePod.
Other Useful Shortcuts
17. Convert Units of Measurement
This shortcut comes in handy when you need to quickly convert units of measurement. You can convert between different units like length, weight, temperature, and more.
Here's how it works:
- Start with a new shortcut and add the "Ask for Input" action to ask you for the value you want to convert.
- Add the "Convert Units" action and choose the desired units for the conversion (e.g., feet to meters, pounds to kilograms, Celsius to Fahrenheit).
- Finally, add the "Show Result" action to display the converted value.
18. Set a Reminder for a Future Date
This shortcut lets you set a reminder for a specific date in the future. You can specify the date, time, and even the details of your reminder.
Here's how to create it:
- Start with a new shortcut and add the "Ask for Input" action to ask for the date you want to set the reminder for.
- Then, add the "Ask for Input" action to ask for the time you want to set the reminder for.
- Add the "Add to Reminders" action and customize it with the date, time, and details of your reminder.
FAQs
1. How do I create a Shortcut on iOS?
- Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap the "+" button in the top right corner to create a new shortcut.
- You can search for actions in the "Add Action" bar or browse through different categories.
- Drag and drop actions into your shortcut to build a workflow.
- Connect actions using arrows to indicate the order they should run in.
- You can customize actions using the settings menu.
- Save your shortcut by tapping the "Done" button in the top right corner.
2. How do I run a Shortcut?
- You can run a shortcut by tapping the shortcut icon on your home screen.
- You can also search for a shortcut using the Spotlight search.
- Some shortcuts can be activated using Siri. You can say, "Hey Siri, run the [Shortcut Name] shortcut."
3. What are some popular Shortcut examples?
- Creating a to-do list with Reminders.
- Sharing files with specific people.
- Creating a PDF from an image.
- Playing music from your favorite playlist.
- Setting a timer and playing relaxing music.
- Tracking your water intake.
4. Can I use Shortcuts with third-party apps?
- Yes, you can use Shortcuts with many third-party apps. These apps provide actions that you can add to your shortcuts. For example, you can use Shortcuts to create a shortcut that opens a specific web page in your browser, sends a message on WhatsApp, or adds an item to your shopping list in Amazon.
5. Where can I find more Shortcut ideas?
- The Shortcuts app comes with a gallery of pre-built shortcuts that you can explore.
- You can also search for shortcuts online using websites like Reddit, iMore, and MacRumors.
- There are many YouTube channels dedicated to Shortcuts, where you can find tutorials and inspiration.
Conclusion
Apple's Shortcuts app offers endless possibilities for automating tasks on your iPhone and iPad. From simplifying your daily routine to adding fun and creative features, Shortcuts can dramatically enhance your mobile experience. We've covered a range of shortcuts that cover various aspects of life, from productivity and entertainment to personal well-being and home automation. With these shortcuts, you're well on your way to unlocking the full potential of your device and streamlining your workflow. Don't hesitate to explore the world of Shortcuts and discover countless ways to make your iPhone more efficient and enjoyable. The possibilities are truly limitless.