Siri Shortcuts (iOS) Basic Guide
Siri Shortcuts are built into iOS and can be accessed through the Shortcuts app, which comes pre-installed on most iOS devices. If you don’t have it installed, you can download it from the App Store.
Accessing the Shortcuts App:
Go to the Shortcuts app on your iPhone or iPad.
Open the app to start creating or using shortcuts.
You can create Siri Shortcuts to automate tasks like sending messages, opening apps, or adjusting settings.
Creating a Shortcut:
Open the Shortcuts app.
Tap the + icon in the top-right corner to create a new shortcut.
Tap Add Action and choose an action you want Siri to perform (e.g., "Send Message," "Play Music," or "Open App").
Once you've selected the action, customize it (e.g., type the recipient for a message or choose a specific app to open).
After customizing, tap Next and give your shortcut a name (this is what you'll say to Siri to run the shortcut).
Tap Done to save the shortcut.
Now, you can activate your shortcut by saying the shortcut’s name to Siri.
The Shortcuts app offers a gallery of pre-made shortcuts that you can customize or use as is.
Using a Pre-Made Shortcut:
Open the Shortcuts app.
Tap on the Gallery tab at the bottom of the screen.
Browse through the pre-made shortcuts or search for specific ones (e.g., "ETA to Home," "Log Water Intake").
Tap on a shortcut and select Add Shortcut to add it to your library.
Customize the shortcut if needed, and now it’s ready to use with Siri.
Once you have created or added a shortcut, you can run it using Siri.
To Run a Shortcut:
Activate Siri by saying “Hey Siri” or by holding the Home/Side button.
Say the name of your shortcut. For example, if you created a shortcut called "Send Message to Mom," you would say, “Hey Siri, Send Message to Mom.”
Siri will perform the action automatically.
You can create shortcuts with multiple steps to automate more complex tasks. For example, you could create a shortcut that sends a text, adjusts the volume, and plays a specific song, all with one command.
Creating a Multi-Step Shortcut:
Open the Shortcuts app and tap + to create a new shortcut.
Tap Add Action and choose the first action (e.g., "Send Message").
Tap Add Action again to add the next step (e.g., "Set Volume").
Continue adding actions until you’ve built the full sequence of tasks.
Tap Next, name the shortcut, and tap Done to save it.
Now, when you say the shortcut’s name to Siri, all the steps will run in sequence.
iOS also offers Siri Suggestions, which suggest automations based on your regular activity. You can customize and turn these suggestions into shortcuts.
Using Siri Suggestions:
Go to Settings > Siri & Search.
Scroll down to see suggested shortcuts based on your daily routines.
Tap on a suggestion and select Add to Siri.
Customize the voice command and save it as a shortcut.
Many apps support Siri Shortcuts, allowing you to automate app-specific tasks like sending tweets, adding reminders, or starting workouts.
Finding App Integrations:
Open the Shortcuts app and tap Add Action.
Scroll through the list of available apps or use the search bar to find specific app actions.
Select an app to see the available actions and choose the one you want to automate.
Each shortcut can be customized in various ways:
Rename: Go to the shortcut settings and change its name.
Edit Actions: Modify the steps in the shortcut by adding, removing, or reordering actions.
Add to Home Screen: Create a shortcut button on your home screen for quick access.
To Edit a Shortcut:
Open the Shortcuts app and tap on the shortcut you want to edit.
Tap Edit and make any necessary changes to the actions.
Tap Done to save your changes.
Automation: You can set shortcuts to run automatically at certain times or under specific conditions (e.g., when you leave home, when you plug in headphones).
To do this, go to the Automation tab in the Shortcuts app and follow the prompts to create an automation.
Conditional Logic: Advanced users can add "If/Then" statements to create more complex shortcuts that change based on specific conditions.
If you need help creating shortcuts or using Siri Shortcuts, there are several resources available:
Apple Support: Siri Shortcuts Help
Siri Shortcuts Gallery: Browse more pre-made shortcuts in the Shortcuts app’s Gallery tab.
Here is a helpful video tutorial for getting started with Siri Shortcuts:
This video explains how to create and customize shortcuts on your iPhone or iPad.