Even though you might forget the pre-installed Shortcut app on your Apple phone, it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with this brilliant addition. From complicated tasks to widgets, shortcuts allow you to take your iOS workflow to the next level. However, it might be overwhelming to get started. To help you get the most out of your Apple phone, we’ve compiled a list of 10 of the best Apple phone shortcuts.
The Customizable Shortcuts Widget
Shortcuts is a free application for iOS devices, which runs complex tasks. Each function the application supports is an action that performs a specific activity and combines multiple steps into one activity.
Widgets display the current information from your applications at a glance. For example, you can run shortcuts from the Siri suggestions widget or the customizable shortcuts widget on the Home screen of your Apple phone or Apple watch.
To add the customizable shortcuts widget on your Home screen:
- Touch and hold the background of your Home screen until your apps jiggle.
- Tap + at the top of your screen to open your widget gallery.
- Then, scroll down and tap Shortcuts.
- Next, swipe to select a widget size.
- Tap Add Widget, then click Done.
Now, the customizable widget will appear on your Home screen.
10 Apple Phone Shortcuts You Should Use in 2022
People can lose sight of the value in front of them if they’re looking for the next best trick on the horizon. That’s because there are a ton of shortcuts for Apple phones out there. However, many of them are pretty basic, and they may not add value to your Apple phone usage. Then again, there are a ton of Apple phone shortcuts that are quite innovative and quite useful too.
Let’s now dive into 10 of the most helpful Apple phone shortcuts you should be using.
1. Fast Charge and Intelligent Power
It’s not surprising that Low Power Mode on Apple phones doesn’t do much at all. It dims the screen a little and reduces a few animations, and that’s all. Fortunately, the Fast Charge and Intelligent Power shortcut can take Low Power Mode to the next level. This shortcut takes your current battery percentage and changes specific settings depending on how much battery power you have. It automatically disables mobile data and Bluetooth, lowers screen brightness to 0%, and enables airplane mode, low power mode, and fast charging.
You can configure this shortcut to automatically run once your battery is below a certain percentage to carry out the above actions and reverse them once your Apple phone has sufficiently charged. So, this shortcut can help you substantially increase your Apple phone’s battery life when you need to use it the most.
2. Schedule Messages to Send Later
If you often need to send messages later without forgetting, then this shortcut is quite helpful. Although it requires some time to set up, you’ll be all good with scheduling messages to send later.
Note that this shortcut doesn’t automatically send your messages at the specified time. Instead, you’ll receive a notification for the message. Once you tap the notification, then the shortcut will send the message itself.
3. Speak Text When Battery is Fully Charged
Using iOS 14, you receive notifications once your Apple Watch is fully charged. But it would be great if you could receive notifications when your Apple phone is fully charged, right? You can do that using this great automation.
- Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone and then click on “Automation.” Then click the “Plus” icon on the top right corner of your screen.
- Choose ‘Create Personal Automation’ and then select “Battery Level.”
- Next, drag the slider to the end, and choose “Equals 100%.” Then tap “Next.”
- Select “Add Action.” Then search for “Speak” and choose “Speak Text.”
- Next, click on “Text” and then type the phrase of your choice.
- Then, click “Next,” and disable “Ask Before Running” and click “Done.”
Now, your Apple phone will speak your chosen phrase once it charges to 100%. That means you can disconnect your Apple phone from the charger once it’s fully charged without letting your battery overcharge for no reason.
4. Receipt/Document Scanner & Storage
There are many ways to scan receipts and documents using your Apple phone. But nothing beats the Receipt/Document Scanner & Storage shortcut, which is simple but powerful. This shortcut also automatically sorts documents and receipts and auto-uploads them to iCloud or Dropbox.
Once you activate this shortcut, you’ll be able to pick a category, add more information about the documents, receipts and prices. The shortcut takes your organization skills to the next level, making the tiresome task of organizing documents and receipts enjoyable.
5. Do Not Disturb Timers
It’s common to turn on “Do Not Disturb” on your Apple phone and then forget to turn it off. Yes, your iPhone can allow you to schedule Do Not Disturb, but that’s not effective for one-off instances where you need your phone to be quiet for 30 minutes or an hour.
Fortunately, using the Do Not Disturb with Timers shortcut, you can turn on the “Do Not Disturb” mode with no need to worry about remembering to turn it off.
6. Share Wi-Fi
Do you want to share your Wi-Fi with a colleague or customer, but you don’t want to share your password with them? This is where the Share Wi-Fi shortcut comes into play.
With this shortcut, you just need to create a QR code, which the other person can scan using their Apple phone to connect to your Wi-Fi without knowing your password. This shortcut can also come in handy if you have a difficult-to-type password.
7. Directions to Next Event
Advanced users aren’t afraid to use any iOS app. However, your Calendar app may be hectic with multiple events. The Directions to Next Event shortcut integrates with your Calendar, enabling you to receive directions to a specific event in just a few seconds.
After you activate this shortcut, you’ll see a pop-up menu with your upcoming events—with pre-set locations. Clicking on any event will open your favorite map app, allowing you to be ready to go in an instant. This Apple phone shortcut is a real lifesaver.
8. Make a Photo Collage
The Photo Grid shortcut is a perfect example of how advanced the Shortcut app on the iPhone can be while making user inputs as simple as a few taps. Once you open it, select the photos you want to include in the collage. Everything else happens automatically, displaying a collage of your images. You can choose to save the collage or share it with your customers or friends.
If you want this shortcut to do more than just display your images, remove the Quick Look option at the end and choose a different action. For instance, select Save to Photo Album to save the photo collage without asking what to do with it. Or you can select ‘Send Message’ to open a new text message window with the photo collage inserted into the body.
9. Open Your Favorite Music Playlist with Just One Tap
With the Play Playlist shortcut, you can play your favorite playlist anytime you want, with just one tap. You don’t need to pause your workout to open the Apple Music app or navigate through your Apple phone to open your playlist.
When you open this shortcut, it asks you which playlist to play. Also, you can enable shuffle and repeat. Unlike other shortcuts, the Play Playlist shortcut doesn’t display prompts or alerts asking for anything unless you want it to. All you need to do is personalize the shortcut, and your music will play instantly once you open this shortcut.
10. Speed Dial
Yes, your Apple phone already has a speed dial function, but as you know, there’s always a better solution out there.
Using the Speed Dial shortcut, you can add several contacts, which then will show up in a pop-up menu every time you activate this shortcut. This shortcut comes in handy, especially if you have a few contacts you call frequently.
If you opt not to set a number, the shortcut will ask you which number you want to dial every time you trigger this action. Thus, you’ll get to select any contact from your Contacts app.
Take Workflows to the Next Level
Those were the ten most innovative and valuable Apple phone shortcuts and automation for the iPhone that you can take advantage of right away. As you can see, there’s a ton you can do with Apple phone shortcuts, especially with the improved ability to integrate Shortcuts with more applications. So which Apple phone shortcuts are you using on your iPhone? If you have any other exciting iPhone shortcuts you want to share, leave your comment below.
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