The Underrated iPhone App That Can Double Your Productivity Without Adding Stress

What Are Shortcuts on iPhone?

Shortcuts, previously called Workflow before being acquired by Apple in 2017, is an automation platform that controls processes within iOS and apps.

It allows iOS and iPadOS users to quickly complete complicated tasks with their apps using just a tap or by asking Siri.

You can create your own Shortcuts or use pre-made ones available in the Gallery that best suit your needs.

Each simple task the app performs is called an “action,” such as setting up a timer or updating the calendar.

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The real power of Shortcuts lies in configuring multiple actions to run in sequence, allowing for advanced and complicated tasks.

However, average users may not initially appreciate the value of app-based automation since many tasks can already be done on their phone with just one or a few taps.

Some people may find creating a custom shortcut cumbersome and complicated at first, which might deter them from using it. However, it becomes much simpler and easier to use once you get the hang of it.

The Purpose Of Shortcuts

Imagine having 5 tasks in a sequence where it makes no sense to start the next one until the first one is fully done. Think of how long that process would take.

Now, imagine a system or mechanism that allows all five tasks to be performed sequentially in an automated manner.

This system could complete the tasks in less than a quarter of the time it would take you to do them manually.

If that sounds appealing, then Apple’s Shortcuts is going to be functionality you will love!

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How to Create a Shortcut on Your iPhone

The Shortcuts app is preinstalled on every iPhone, though if you don’t have it for one reason or another, it is readily available at the App Store. To set it up:

1. Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone. Then, select “Gallery” to see a variety of pre-built shortcuts that can speed up your tasks.

2. To add any shortcut to your collection, select it and then tap “Add Shortcut” or tap the (+) sign in the upper right.

3. To create a new shortcut, go to the Shortcuts tab, select “All Shortcuts,” and tap the (+) in the upper right corner.

4. In the shortcut template, start building your shortcut by tapping “Add Action.” Select actions in the order you want the shortcut to perform them, creating efficient and valuable workflows.

5. You can search for specific actions using the search bar in the “Add Actions” function or by browsing actions by categories such as Web, Media, App, Scripting, and more.

6. Once you find an action, tap on it to add it to your shortcut.

Shortcut Customization

The actions inside a shortcut will execute in the order in which you select them. Suppose you are not satisfied with the order of the actions.

If that’s the case, there’s no surefire way to rearrange them. You can delete the ones you’re not happy with and everything after them.

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Then, quickly rebuild them in the same order by selecting the actions and tapping the (+) in the right corner.

You can also parameterize the actions to make them more specific. For instance, if your action is “Send Message” you can specify the recipient of that message to denote the specifics of that action command. This will help to make the shortcuts more effective tools.

How to Use Shortcuts on Your iPhone

Once set up, the simplest way to access your shortcuts is to add them to the home screen.

You can do this by launching the Shortcuts app and tapping the three-dot icon next to the shortcut you want to add. This will open the shortcut on your screen.

Select the three lines in the upper right-hand corner. Then, choose the “Add To Home Screen” setting in the Details tab that appears below. Click “Add” again on the next screen to add it to the home screen.

To use the shortcut, you have three options:

1. Tap the shortcut on your home screen.
2. Access the shortcut from the Shortcuts app and tap on it.
3. Ask Siri to execute the shortcut by saying, “Hey, Siri,” followed by the shortcut name.

Additional Shortcut Functions

There are a few other shortcut functions that are worth learning about:

• Automate shortcuts to run based on location, time of day, or event
• Personalize automatic shortcut runs, such as at your normal wake-up time or when you arrive at work
• You can customize actions within each shortcut by tapping “Add Variable,” which allows you to store information from one action and reuse it in another action later on in the shortcut.
• You can save variable values by using the “Set Variable” action
• You can use the variable by using the “Get Variable” to retrieve the value again
• Shortcuts can also be organized by simply holding them down until they “wiggle” and dragging them to other spaces and arrangements
• Shortcuts can be renamed by tapping the three-dot icon and choosing Edit
• Shortcuts can be shared by clicking the three-dot icon, selecting the share icon, and choosing how to share them (SMS, email, AirDrop, etc.)

Save Time With Shortcuts

Shortcuts add loads of versatility to the lives of iPhone users and enhance their productivity by simplifying and speeding up the execution of daily tasks.

Many commonly applied shortcuts already exist in the Shortcuts Gallery, but you are always free to customize new ones to tailor your own needs. No longer should timely, complicated workflows slow you down.