Welcome to this step-by-step guide on using the Shortcuts app on your iPhone! Shortcuts are like magic buttons that let you do tasks quickly with just one tap or a voice command to Siri. They’re perfect for making your iPhone easier to use, whether you’re calling a loved one, opening a website, or turning on the flashlight. This guide is designed for complete beginners, including elderly users and children, with simple instructions that anyone can follow. Let’s dive in!
What You’ll Need
- iPhone: Any iPhone running iOS 12 or later (most iPhones from 2018 onward).
- Shortcuts App: This app is usually pre-installed on your iPhone. Look for an icon with two overlapping squares—one blue and one green. If you don’t see it, you can download it for free from the App Store. Just search for “Shortcuts” and tap “Get” to install it.
Step 1: Open the Shortcuts App
- Find the Shortcuts app on your iPhone’s Home Screen or in the App Library (swipe left until you see a grid of apps).
- Tap the app to open it.
- You’ll see three tabs at the bottom: Shortcuts, Automation, and Gallery. For now, we’ll focus on Shortcuts and Gallery.
Tip: If you’re having trouble finding the app, swipe down on your Home Screen and type “Shortcuts” in the search bar.
Step 2: Explore the Gallery for Pre-Made Shortcuts
The Gallery tab in the Shortcuts app is a great place to start. It offers a collection of pre-made shortcuts created by Apple or other users. These are ready to use and perfect for beginners because you don’t have to build them yourself.
- Open the Shortcuts app and tap the Gallery tab at the bottom.
- Browse through categories like “Productivity,” “Social,” or “Travel.”
- Tap a shortcut to see what it does. For example, a “Good Morning” shortcut might show you the weather, news, or your calendar.
- If you like it, tap Add Shortcut to add it to your collection.
- The shortcut will now appear in the Shortcuts tab under My Shortcuts.
Example: A shortcut called “Morning Routine” might read the weather aloud and play your favorite music. Once added, you can tap it to run it anytime.
Table: Common Gallery Shortcuts
| Shortcut Name | What It Does | Useful1. Tap Add Shortcut to add it to your collection. | |———————|——————————————-| | Good Morning | Shows weather, news, and calendar events | | Take a Quick Photo | Opens camera to take a photo instantly | | Text Last Image | Sends your latest photo to a contact |
Source: Apple Shortcuts User Guide
Step 3: Run a Shortcut
To use a shortcut you’ve added:
- Go to the Shortcuts tab in the Shortcuts app.
- Find the shortcut you added (e.g., “Good Morning”).
- Tap it to run it. The shortcut will perform its tasks automatically, like showing the weather or playing music.
Tip: If a shortcut needs permission (e.g., to access your contacts or photos), a pop-up will ask you to allow it. Only approve if you trust the shortcut.
Step 4: Create Your Own Shortcut
Creating your own shortcut is fun and lets you customize tasks you do often. Let’s walk through a simple example: making a shortcut to call a specific contact, like your mom.
How to Create a “Call Mom” Shortcut
- Open the Shortcuts app.
- Tap the + button in the top-right corner.
- Tap New Shortcut.
- Tap Rename, type “Call Mom,” then tap Done.
- Tap Add Action.
- Scroll to the Contacts category and tap it.
- Tap the Call Contact action.
- Select “Mom” from your contacts list.
- Tap Done to save your shortcut.
Now, when you tap “Call Mom” in the Shortcuts app, it will instantly call your mom!
Table: Steps to Create a Shortcut
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Tap + in Shortcuts app |
| 2 | Tap New Shortcut, rename to “Call Mom” |
| 3 | Tap Add Action, select Contacts |
| 4 | Choose Call Contact, select contact |
| 5 | Tap Done to save |
Source: Apple Support: Create a Custom Shortcut
Step 5: Add a Shortcut to Your Home Screen
To make your shortcut super easy to use, add it to your iPhone’s Home Screen, just like an app icon.
- Go to the Shortcuts tab in the Shortcuts app.
- Find your shortcut (e.g., “Call Mom”).
- Touch and hold the shortcut until a menu appears.
- Tap Share.
- Scroll down and tap Add to Home Screen.
- (Optional) Change the icon or name.
- Tap Add in the top-right corner.
Now, you’ll see the “Call Mom” icon on your Home Screen. Tap it to call your mom instantly!
Table: Steps to Add Shortcut to Home Screen
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Touch and hold shortcut in Shortcuts |
| 2 | Tap Share |
| 3 | Tap Add to Home Screen |
| 4 | (Optional) Edit icon/name |
| 5 | Tap Add |
Source: wikiHow: Create a Shortcut on iPhone
Step 6: More Simple Shortcut Examples
Here are other easy shortcuts you can create to make your iPhone more convenient:
- Open a Favorite Website:
- Open Shortcuts > + > New Shortcut.
- Rename it (e.g., “Open Google”).
- Tap Add Action > Web > Open URLs.
- Type the website address (e.g., “https://www.google.com”).
- Tap Done.
- Turn On the Flashlight:
- Open Shortcuts > + > New Shortcut.
- Rename it (e.g., “Flashlight On”).
- Tap Add Action > Hardware > Set Flashlight.
- Choose On.
- Tap Done.
- Take a Photo:
- Open Shortcuts > + > New Shortcut.
- Rename it (e.g., “Take Photo”).
- Tap Add Action > Photos > Take Photo.
- Tap Done.
- Send a Message:
- Open Shortcuts > + > New Shortcut.
- Rename it (e.g., “Text Dad”).
- Tap Add Action > Messages > Send Message.
- Choose a contact (e.g., “Dad”) and type a message (e.g., “Hi Dad!”).
- Tap Done.
Table: Example Shortcuts and Actions
| Shortcut Name | Category | Action | Input |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open Google | Web | Open URLs | https://www.google.com |
| Flashlight On | Hardware | Set Flashlight | On |
| Take Photo | Photos | Take Photo | None |
| Text Dad | Messages | Send Message | Contact, message text |
Step 7: Use Siri to Run Shortcuts
Siri makes shortcuts even easier by letting you run them with your voice. This is especially helpful for elderly users or children who prefer voice commands.
- Ensure Siri is enabled:
- Go to Settings > Siri & Search.
- Turn on Listen for “Hey Siri” or Press Side Button for Siri.
- Say, “Hey Siri, [shortcut name].” For example, “Hey Siri, Call Mom” will run your “Call Mom” shortcut.
Tip: Practice saying the shortcut name clearly to help Siri understand.
Step 8: Tips for Using Shortcuts
- Edit or Delete Shortcuts:
- To edit, tap a shortcut in the Shortcuts app to open the editor. Add, remove, or change actions, then tap Done.
- To delete, swipe left on a shortcut in the Shortcuts tab and tap Delete.
- Organize Shortcuts:
- Create folders by dragging one shortcut onto another in the Shortcuts tab.
- Rename shortcuts for clarity (e.g., “Call Mom” instead of “Shortcut 1”).
- Be Cautious with Permissions:
- Some shortcuts need access to your contacts, photos, or location. Only allow permissions for shortcuts you trust, especially those downloaded from the internet.
- Explore More:
- As you get comfortable, try combining multiple actions in one shortcut (e.g., take a photo and send it to a contact).
- Check the Gallery regularly for new ideas.
Table: Shortcut Management Tips
| Task | How to Do It |
|---|---|
| Edit Shortcut | Tap shortcut, edit actions, tap Done |
| Delete Shortcut | Swipe left on shortcut, tap Delete |
| Create Folder | Drag one shortcut onto another |
| Check Permissions | Review pop-ups when running new shortcuts |
Step 9: Bonus Tip – Add Web Shortcuts
You can also create shortcuts to websites without using the Shortcuts app, which is a simple way to access favorite sites from your Home Screen.
- Open Safari and go to the website (e.g., “https://www.google.com”).
- Tap the Share icon (a square with an arrow pointing up).
- Scroll down and tap Add to Home Screen.
- (Optional) Edit the name (e.g., “Google”).
- Tap Add in the top-right corner.
The website will appear as an icon on your Home Screen, acting like a shortcut to open it directly in Safari.
Table: Steps to Add Web Shortcut
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Open website in Safari |
| 2 | Tap Share icon |
| 3 | Tap Add to Home Screen |
| 4 | (Optional) Edit name |
| 5 | Tap Add |
Source: wikiHow: Create a Shortcut on iPhone
Conclusion
The Shortcuts app is a powerful yet beginner-friendly tool to make your iPhone more convenient and personalized. Start with pre-made shortcuts from the Gallery, then try creating simple ones like calling a contact or opening a website. Add them to your Home Screen for quick access, and use Siri for hands-free operation. With practice, you can explore more complex shortcuts to automate daily tasks.
This guide is designed to be clear and accessible for everyone, including elderly users and children. Have fun exploring Shortcuts and making your iPhone work for you!
