What iPhone Shortcuts Are and Why You'd Use Them
An iPhone shortcut is a custom command that performs one action or a chain of actions with a single tap. Instead of opening an app, navigating three menus, and typing the same text every time, you can create a shortcut that does all of that in one touch. Shortcuts live in the Shortcuts app (which comes built-in on iPhone) and can run on your home screen, in Control Center, or through Siri voice commands.
Common shortcuts include sending a preset text message to a contact, opening multiple apps at once, converting units, playing a specific playlist, or turning on Do Not Disturb and dimming your screen together. You don't need to know how to code — the Shortcuts app uses a visual, block-based system where you drag pre-built actions into a sequence.
Key Takeaways
- Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone, tap the plus icon, and drag actions from the library into your workflow to build a shortcut.
- Each action represents one step — sending a message, opening an app, waiting for input — and you stack them in the order you want them to run.
- After you build your shortcut, you can add it to your home screen as an icon, place it in Control Center, or trigger it by voice through Siri.
- Test your shortcut before relying on it by tapping the play button, and edit it anytime by opening the shortcut and tapping the three-dot menu.
Opening the Shortcuts App and Starting a New Shortcut
Find the Shortcuts app on your home screen — it has a purple icon with a white play button. If you don't see it, swipe left through your home screens or search for "Shortcuts" using Spotlight (swipe down from the top of your screen and type). Tap the app to open it.
Once inside, look at the bottom of the screen. You'll see four tabs: Shortcuts, Automation, Gallery, and Account. Stay on the Shortcuts tab. At the top right, tap the plus icon (it looks like a circle with a plus sign). This opens a blank workflow where you'll build your shortcut.
Adding Actions to Build Your Shortcut
When you tap the plus icon, you see a blank canvas and a search bar at the bottom that says "Search actions". This is where you add the steps your shortcut will perform. Each step is called an action. To add your first action, tap the search bar and type what you want to do — for example, "send message", "open app", or "turn on wifi".
As you type, the app shows matching actions. Tap the one you want. It appears as a colored block in your workflow. If you need to send a message, for instance, you'll see an action called "Send Message". Tap it, and it gets added to your shortcut. You can then tap inside that block to fill in details — which contact to send to, what the message should say.
Add more actions by tapping the plus icon that appears below each action block. Keep stacking actions in the order you want them to run. If you send a message first, then open an app, those happen in that sequence. You can rearrange actions by pressing and holding a block, then dragging it up or down.
Testing Your Shortcut Before You Save It
Before you save, test your shortcut to make sure it works the way you expect. At the top right of the screen, tap the play button (a triangle inside a circle). Your shortcut runs through all its actions. Watch what happens — does it send the message to the right person? Does it open the correct app? If something goes wrong, you'll see an error message telling you what failed.
Common mistakes include forgetting to specify which contact to message, leaving a text field blank, or adding actions in the wrong order. If your shortcut fails, tap the back arrow to return to editing, find the problem block, and fix it. Then tap play again to test.
Naming and Saving Your Shortcut
Once your shortcut works the way you want, save it. At the top left, you'll see "New Shortcut" — tap it to give your shortcut a name. Type something clear and short, like "Text Mom" or "Morning Routine". This name appears on your home screen icon and in Siri voice commands, so choose something you'll remember.
After you name it, tap the back arrow or swipe left to return to your Shortcuts library. Your new shortcut now appears as a tile in the Shortcuts tab. You can run it anytime by tapping that tile.
Adding Your Shortcut to Your Home Screen
To run your shortcut with a single tap from your home screen, you need to add it as an icon. Open your Shortcuts library and find the shortcut you just created. Press and hold the tile until a menu appears. Tap "Add to Home Screen". A dialog opens asking you to choose an icon and color for your shortcut.
By default, the Shortcuts app icon appears. To change it, tap the icon preview at the top of the dialog. You can choose from preset icons, take a photo, or pick an emoji. Select what you want, then tap "Add" in the top right. The shortcut now appears as an icon on your home screen and works just like any other app — one tap runs the entire sequence.
Using Siri or Control Center to Run Your Shortcut
You can also trigger your shortcut by voice. Say "Hey Siri" followed by your shortcut's name — for example, "Hey Siri, Text Mom". Siri recognizes the command and runs your shortcut. This works for any shortcut you've created, whether or not it's on your home screen.
Another option is to add your shortcut to Control Center so you can run it by swiping down from the top right of your screen. Open the Shortcuts app, find your shortcut, press and hold it, and tap "Add to Control Center". The shortcut now appears as a button when you open Control Center, letting you run it without opening the Shortcuts app.
Editing and Deleting Shortcuts
To change a shortcut after you've created it, open the Shortcuts app and tap the shortcut you want to edit. The workflow appears on screen. You can add new actions, delete existing ones, or rearrange the order. Tap the three-dot menu at the top right to see more options like renaming, duplicating, or sharing your shortcut with someone else.
To delete a shortcut, press and hold its tile in the Shortcuts library and tap "Delete". If you added it to your home screen, the home screen icon disappears too. You can always recreate the shortcut later if you change your mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I create a shortcut that asks me for information when I run it?
Yes. Add an action called "Ask for [Text/Number/List]" to your shortcut. When you run it, a dialog appears asking you to type or choose something. You can then use that answer in later actions — for example, ask for a contact name, then send that person a message.
What if my shortcut doesn't work the first time I run it?
Tap the shortcut to open it in edit mode and check each action. Make sure you've filled in required fields like contact names or app selections. Tap the play button to test again. If an action still fails, try deleting it and adding it fresh from the search bar.
Can I share a shortcut I created with a friend?
Yes. Open the shortcut, tap the three-dot menu, and tap "Share". You can send it via Messages, Mail, or AirDrop. Your friend can open the link and tap "Add Shortcut" to install it on their iPhone.
Do shortcuts work offline?
Most shortcuts work offline, but some require internet — for example, shortcuts that fetch weather data or send emails. Shortcuts that only open apps or send local messages work without a connection.
Can I make a shortcut run automatically at a certain time?
Yes, using automations. In the Shortcuts app, tap the Automation tab at the bottom, then tap the plus icon. Choose "Create Personal Automation" and select a trigger like time of day, location, or when you open an app. Then select your shortcut to run when that trigger happens.