If you own an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, you probably use Siri occasionally. Maybe you ask about the weather, set a timer for your pasta, or ask for the result of a math equation. These are helpful, but they barely scratch the surface of what your device is actually capable of. Hidden in plain sight on your Home Screen is an app that serves as the ultimate key to unlocking productivity: the Shortcuts app.
For many users, the Shortcuts app looks a bit intimidating. It sounds technical, and if you open it up, it might look like a confusing grid of colored squares. But here is the secret: you don’t need to be a computer programmer or a tech wizard to use it. In fact, Shortcuts was designed specifically to help everyday users remove friction from their daily lives.
Imagine turning a five-step process—like opening your camera, taking a photo, opening your messages, selecting your spouse, and hitting send—into a single tap or a single voice command. That is the power of custom Siri Shortcuts. Let’s dive into how you can reclaim your time and make your iPhone work for you.
What Exactly Is a Shortcut?
Think of a Shortcut as a recipe. When you cook a meal, you follow a specific set of instructions in order: chop the onions, heat the pan, add oil, sauté. Your iPhone works the same way. Usually, you have to perform every step manually by tapping on the screen.
A Shortcut allows you to bundle those steps together. You tell your iPhone, "When I say this phrase, or when I tap this button, I want you to do steps A, B, and C automatically." It connects your apps together in the background, allowing them to talk to one another without you needing to open them individually.
Pro Tip: You can run Shortcuts in three ways: by talking to Siri, by tapping a widget on your Home Screen, or by setting up "Automations" that run by themselves based on time or location.
Real-World Examples to Inspire You
Before we build one, it helps to know what is actually possible. Productivity isn't just about spreadsheets; it's about reducing annoyance. Here are a few scenarios where a custom Shortcut can save the day:
- The "Heading Home" Hero: With one tap, your phone calculates your ETA using Apple Maps, drafts a text message to your partner saying, "I'll be home in X minutes," and starts your favorite podcast.
- The Meeting Master: When you walk into your office, your phone automatically turns on "Do Not Disturb," lowers the screen brightness to save battery, and opens your Notes app ready for typing.
- The Quick Expense Tracker: Instead of opening a finance app and navigating menus, you tap an icon, a box pops up asking "How much?", and it automatically logs that number into a specific spreadsheet or note.
- The Laundry Timer: You ask Siri to "Start Laundry," and it sets a timer for exactly 45 minutes and creates a reminder to "Move clothes to the dryer."
How to Build Your First Custom Shortcut
Let’s try building a simple, practical shortcut together. We are going to create a "Speed Dial" shortcut that puts a specific person right on your Home Screen for a one-tap call. While you can do this via Favorites, Shortcuts allows you to customize the icon and name, making your screen look cleaner.
Follow these steps:
- Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone.
- Tap the + (plus) icon in the top right corner.
- Tap Add Action.
- In the search bar at the top, type Call. Select the option that appears under the Phone app icon.
- You will see a gray block that says "Call [Contact]." Tap on the faint blue word Contact.
- Select the person you want to call from your contact list.
- Now, tap the small arrow next to the shortcut name at the very top of the screen and select Rename. Call it something like "Call Mom" or "Hubby."
- Tap that arrow again and select Choose Icon to pick a color and symbol, or select Add to Home Screen to use a custom photo from your gallery.
- Tap Done.
Congratulations! You have just "programmed" your iPhone. Now, whenever you say "Hey Siri, Call Mom" (or whatever you named it), or tap that icon, the action runs immediately.
Leveling Up with Automations
Once you are comfortable with basic buttons, the real magic begins with Automation. This is found in the middle tab at the bottom of the Shortcuts app. Automations are distinct because they don't require you to trigger them; the environment triggers them for you.
Consider your morning routine. You probably wake up, check the weather, and turn off your alarm. You can set up a "Personal Automation" that triggers When my alarm is stopped.
You could tell your iPhone to automatically:
- Speak the weather forecast out loud.
- Read your first calendar event for the day.
- Start playing your "Morning Coffee" playlist on Apple Music.
Another popular automation involves battery life. You can create an automation that triggers When battery level falls below 20%, which instantly turns on Low Power Mode and lowers your screen brightness without you ever having to touch a setting.
Note: Automations are device-specific. If you set up an automation on your iPhone, it runs on your iPhone, not your iPad or Mac, even if they share the same iCloud account.
Don't Want to Build? Visit the Gallery
If the idea of building these steps yourself still feels a little tedious, Apple has you covered. Inside the Shortcuts app, there is a tab called Gallery. This is essentially an App Store for Shortcuts, but everything is free.
Here, you can browse collections curated by Apple. You will find categories like "Get Stuff Done," "Work from Anywhere," and "Essentials." You can download complex shortcuts that other people have already figured out. For example, there are pre-made shortcuts that can turn a Live Photo into a GIF, or a shortcut that instantly unzips a file and saves it to your Files app.
To use these:
- Tap the Gallery tab.
- Browse or search for a task (e.g., "music," "directions," "clipboard").
- Tap the + (plus) icon on the shortcut you like.
- Sometimes, the app will ask you a few setup questions (like which playlist you want to use). Answer them, and you are good to go!
Final Thoughts: Start Small
The key to unlocking productivity with Siri Shortcuts is not to overcomplicate it immediately. Start by identifying one thing you do every day that annoys you or takes too many taps. Is it texting your arrival time? Is it calculating a tip? Is it resizing photos?
Build a shortcut for that one specific task. Once you feel the satisfaction of saving those few seconds every single day, you will naturally start looking for other areas to automate. Your iPhone is a powerful computer; it’s time to let it handle the boring stuff so you can focus on what matters.