Let’s face it: we are all glued to our iPhones. Whether it’s checking the weather, texting a partner that we’re running late, or toggling settings before a meeting, we perform hundreds of repetitive taps every single day. Individually, these tasks take seconds. Collectively? They eat up hours of your life every week.
Enter the Shortcuts app. It is likely sitting on your home screen right now, perhaps buried in a folder you never open. Many Apple users find it intimidating, assuming it’s a tool reserved for tech wizards and coders. But the truth is, Shortcuts is Apple’s most underrated feature for the everyday user. It is essentially a personal assistant that you can train to handle the boring stuff for you.
By setting up a few simple "recipes," you can turn five steps into one, or better yet, have your phone do things automatically without you touching it at all. Here is how you can reclaim your time and automate your life using iPhone Shortcuts.
The "Good Morning" Routine
How much time do you spend groggily fumbling with your phone when you first wake up? You probably check the weather, look at your calendar, maybe turn on a playlist, and check the traffic. Instead of opening four different apps while your eyes are still adjusting to the light, you can create a single Shortcut called "Good Morning."
With one tap (or by saying "Hey Siri, Good Morning"), your iPhone can execute a sequence of actions instantly. This sets the tone for a productive day without the doom-scrolling.
Here is a recipe for a perfect morning starter:
- Get Current Weather: Have your phone fetch the forecast for your current location.
- Read Calendar Events: Ask the phone to find all events for today.
- Speak Text: This is the magic part. You can add a text block that says, "Good morning! The high today is [Weather Variable]. You have [Number] meetings today." Siri will read this out loud to you while you brush your teeth.
- Play Music: Have it automatically shuffle your "Morning Coffee" playlist.
Pro Tip: You don't have to build this from scratch! Open the Shortcuts app, tap "Gallery" at the bottom right, and search for "Morning." Apple provides pre-made templates that you can customize in seconds.
The "I'm Running Late" Text
We have all been there. You are driving, stuck in traffic, and you need to let your spouse or boss know you will be late. Texting while driving is dangerous and illegal, and fumbling with voice dictation can be frustrating if Siri mishears you.
One of the most practical shortcuts you can build is an automated ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival) notifier. This shortcut calculates exactly when you will arrive based on current traffic conditions and texts it to a specific contact with a single tap.
How to set it up:
- Open Shortcuts and tap the + icon to create a new one.
- Search for the action "Get Travel Time." Set the destination to "Home" or "Work."
- Add the action "Send Message."
- In the message body, type: "I'm running a bit late! Current traffic puts me there at..." and then select the "Arrival Time" variable from the travel action.
- Choose your recipient (e.g., your partner).
Now, you can add this icon to your Home Screen. The next time you are sitting at a red light wondering when you’ll get home, just tap the icon once. Your phone does the math and sends the text instantly.
Instant "Deep Focus" Mode
Distractions are the enemy of productivity. Whether you are about to step into a meeting, sit down for a study session, or start a deep work block, configuring your phone to "Do Not Disturb" is essential. However, usually, you need more than just silencing calls. You might want to dim the screen to save battery, set a timer, or open a specific note-taking app.
You can create a "Focus Mode" shortcut that prepares your digital environment for work instantly.
What this shortcut can do for you:
- Turn on Do Not Disturb: Silence all notifications immediately.
- Set Brightness: Lower the brightness to 10% to discourage you from looking at the screen.
- Start Timer: Automatically set a timer for 45 minutes (or however long your work sessions are).
- Open App: Automatically launch your Notes app or a To-Do list so you are ready to work.
When the timer goes off, you can have a second shortcut called "Break Time" that reverses all these settings, turns the brightness back up, and maybe even opens Instagram for your well-deserved break.
Automations: The Hands-Free Magic
So far, we have discussed "Shortcuts," which usually require a tap or a voice command to start. But the real power lies in the "Automation" tab. These are actions that happen automatically in the background based on triggers like time of day, location, or battery level.
One of the most helpful automations for extending the life of your device is the Low Power Mode trigger. While the iPhone asks if you want to turn on Low Power Mode at 20%, you might want it to kick in sooner if you know you have a long night ahead.
Try this Battery Saver Automation:
- Go to the Automation tab in the app and tap "Create Personal Automation."
- Select "Battery Level" and set the slider to "Falls Below 40%."
- Add the action "Set Low Power Mode" and ensure it is set to "On."
- Turn off "Ask Before Running" so it happens seamlessly in the background.
Now, whenever your battery hits 39%, your phone automatically enters power-saving mode without nagging you. You can also set automations to turn off WiFi when you leave your house (saving battery from searching for networks) or turn on your favorite podcast the moment your phone connects to your car’s Bluetooth.
Simplifying Your Shopping
Paper grocery lists are a thing of the past, but even digital lists can be clumsy if you have to unlock your phone and type every time you remember you need milk. Using Shortcuts combined with the Reminders app makes this effortless.
You can create a Shortcut that dictates items directly to your grocery list. While you can use Siri for this ("Hey Siri, add milk to my grocery list"), a Shortcut allows for bulk entry or specific formatting.
Fun Idea: Create a "Grocery Run" automation based on location. Set it so that when you arrive at the GPS location of your local supermarket, your iPhone automatically opens your Grocery List Reminders. No more standing in the entrance of the store searching for your list!
How to Start Today
The beauty of iPhone Shortcuts is that they are low risk. You cannot "break" your phone by experimenting. The best way to learn is to open the app and play around.
Start with the Gallery. Browse through the "Starter Shortcuts" or "Shortcuts for Accessibility" categories. Download a few that look interesting and tap the three little dots on the icon to see how they are built. It is like looking under the hood of a car; once you see how the pieces connect, you will feel confident enough to build your own.
By automating these small, repetitive tasks, you aren't just saving a few seconds here and there. You are reducing decision fatigue and cognitive load. You are making your technology work for you, rather than the other way around. So, take ten minutes today to set up a few shortcuts—your future self will thank you.