If you are holding an iPhone right now, you are likely holding a productivity powerhouse that you haven’t fully unlocked yet. We all know the feeling: you wake up, check the weather app, switch to your calendar to see your first meeting, open your email to check for fires, and then open your music app to find a playlist. That is four different apps just to start your day. What if you could do all of that with a single tap—or better yet, just by saying a phrase to Siri?
Welcome to the world of iOS Shortcuts. For many Apple users, the Shortcuts app is that colorful icon with the pink and blue squares that sits in a folder labeled "Extras," never to be opened. It looks intimidating, sounding like something only computer programmers or tech wizards would use. But here is the secret: Shortcuts was designed for you. It is Apple’s way of letting you connect your apps together to automate the boring, repetitive parts of your life.
By setting up a few simple automations, you can save minutes every day, reduce screen time, and focus on what actually matters. Let’s dive into some of the best, most practical Shortcuts that will change how you use your iPhone.
1. The "Morning Briefing" Assistant
The morning scramble is real. Between brushing your teeth and brewing coffee, you are trying to ingest a massive amount of information to prepare for the day. Instead of doom-scrolling through news sites or hopping between five different apps, you can create a "Morning Briefing" shortcut.
Imagine tapping one button on your home screen while you pour your coffee, and your phone automatically does the following:
- Turns off "Do Not Disturb" mode.
- Reads the day's weather forecast out loud.
- Tells you how long your commute to work will take based on current traffic.
- Reads your first calendar appointment.
- Starts playing your favorite "Morning Motivation" playlist or news podcast.
This isn't science fiction; it is a basic automation. By batching these tasks, you stop getting distracted by notification badges in other apps. You get exactly the info you need, and nothing you don’t.
Pro Tip: You can set this shortcut to run automatically when your alarm goes off! In the "Automation" tab of the Shortcuts app, choose "When my alarm is stopped" as the trigger. Now, you don't even have to press a button—your phone just starts helping you wake up.
2. The "Deep Work" Focus Mode
Distraction is the enemy of productivity. We have all sat down to work, only to be derailed by a group chat notification or the temptation to check Instagram. While iOS has a built-in "Focus" feature, Shortcuts can take it to the next level by controlling your environment, not just your notifications.
You can build a "Deep Work" shortcut that sets the stage for 60 minutes of pure productivity. With one tap, this shortcut can:
- Activate your "Work" Focus mode (silencing texts and social media).
- Set a timer for 45 or 60 minutes.
- Set your phone volume to 50%.
- Open your "Lo-Fi Beats" or "White Noise" playlist.
- Open your To-Do list app (like Reminders or Things).
This creates a ritual. When you tap that button, your brain knows it is time to work. There is no fiddling with volume, no searching for music, and no getting lost in menus. You are instantly in the zone.
3. The "Running Late" Communicator
We have all been there. You are driving to a dinner reservation or a meeting, and traffic is worse than expected. You need to tell someone you are running late, but texting while driving is dangerous and illegal. This is where the "Running Late" shortcut becomes a lifesaver—literally.
This is one of the most practical shortcuts for everyday users. When triggered (perhaps by saying "Hey Siri, running late"), the phone can:
- Grab your current location.
- Calculate the driving time to your next calendar event.
- Draft a text message to the person invited to that event.
- Populate the message with: "I'm running a bit behind! Current traffic puts me there in [Travel Time]. See you soon!"
- Send it automatically.
You keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel, but your contact stays informed. It turns a stressful situation into a managed one.
4. The "Super" Low Power Mode
The iPhone’s built-in Low Power Mode is great, but sometimes you are at 12% battery, you are out late, and you won't be near a charger for hours. You need your phone to survive. You can create an emergency battery shortcut that does much more than the default toggle.
Create a shortcut called "Battery Emergency" that aggressively shuts down power drains. It can:
- Turn on the system Low Power Mode.
- Turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth completely.
- Set screen brightness to 0%.
- Turn off cellular data (optional, if you really need to save juice).
- Set "Auto-Lock" to 30 seconds.
This effectively turns your smartphone into a "dumb phone" that sips battery, ensuring you have enough power to make that emergency call or call a ride home at the end of the night.
Quick Note: When you build this, you might want to create a companion shortcut called "Back to Normal" that reverses all these settings so you don't have to manually turn your brightness and Bluetooth back on!
5. How to Get Started (It’s Easier Than You Think)
If you are reading this and thinking, "These sound great, but I don't know how to build them," don't worry. Apple has done most of the heavy lifting for you. You don't actually have to build these from scratch using logic blocks if you don't want to.
Here is the easiest way to start using Shortcuts today:
- Open the Shortcuts App: Find it on your home screen or search for it.
- Visit the "Gallery": Look at the bottom right corner of the screen. Tap "Gallery." This is Apple’s store of pre-made shortcuts.
- Search and Add: You can search for terms like "Morning," "Music," or "Battery." When you see one you like, tap the "Plus" (+) icon or "Add Shortcut."
- Add to Home Screen: Once a shortcut is in your library, tap the three dots (...) on the shortcut icon, tap the share button, and select "Add to Home Screen." Now it looks and acts just like an app!
Shortcuts are about making technology work for you, not the other way around. Start with one simple automation—maybe the "Running Late" text or a simple icon to call your spouse—and see how much friction it removes from your day. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without them.