How to Use the Shortcuts App on iPhone

Tap through each step in order to see how the Shortcuts app works.

  1. Open the Shortcuts app

    Launch the pre-installed 'Shortcuts' app.

  2. Build a new shortcut from scratch

    Tap the '+' button and chain together the actions you want (send a notification, open an app, and more) to build your own custom shortcut.

  3. Add it to your Home Screen

    Add a shortcut you use often to your Home Screen as an icon so it launches like a regular app.

  4. Set up an automation

    In the 'Automation' tab, set a time, location, or other condition as a trigger so the shortcut runs on its own, without you tapping anything.

Automate the tasks you repeat every day

If there's a sequence of steps you do the same way every time, building it once as a shortcut means a single tap β€” or a trigger condition β€” can run through the whole thing automatically, saving real time over weeks and months.

No coding experience required

Building a shortcut works more like snapping together building blocks than writing code β€” you're just arranging existing pre-built actions in the order you want, so it's approachable even for people who have never programmed anything.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to know how to code to build a shortcut?

No. You're arranging ready-made action blocks in sequence rather than writing any code, so no programming background is needed.

I get a confirmation alert every time my automation runs β€” can I turn that off?

Yes. Turn off 'Ask Before Running' in that automation's settings and it will run silently in the background without a prompt.