iPhone Shortcuts: 20 Automations That'll Save You Hours Every Week

You perform the same actions on your iPhone dozens of times every day. You text the same people with similar messages. You open the same apps at the same times. You adjust the same settings in predictable patterns. Each action takes seconds, but those seconds accumulate into hours over weeks and months.

The Shortcuts app exists to reclaim that time. It's Apple's automation tool that lets you chain multiple actions together and trigger them with a single tap, voice command, or automatically based on conditions you set. Despite being pre-installed on every modern iPhone, most people never open it. Those who do often get intimidated by the interface and give up before experiencing what it can actually do.

Here's the thing: you don't need programming knowledge or technical expertise. You need clarity about which tasks you repeat and a willingness to spend fifteen minutes setting up automations that will serve you for years. The Shortcuts app is designed for regular users, not developers. The learning curve is gentler than it appears.

This guide walks through twenty practical automations that solve real problems. These aren't party tricks or novelties. They're functional shortcuts that address common frustrations and save genuine time. By the end, you'll understand how to build your own automations tailored to your specific routines.

Getting Started with Shortcuts

Before we build specific automations, you need to understand the basics. Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone. You'll see three tabs at the bottom: All Shortcuts, Automation, and Gallery.

All Shortcuts displays shortcuts you've created or downloaded. Automation contains shortcuts that run automatically based on triggers. Gallery offers pre-made shortcuts from Apple that you can add with one tap.

Each shortcut consists of actions, which are individual steps that perform specific tasks. Actions can interact with apps, change settings, manipulate data, and more. You chain actions together to create workflows. The app executes them in order from top to bottom.

To create a new shortcut, tap the "+" icon in the top right of the All Shortcuts tab. You'll see a blank canvas where you'll add actions. Tap "Add Action" to browse available options or use the search bar to find specific ones.

Now let's build something useful.

1. Morning Routine Shortcut

This shortcut handles multiple morning tasks at once: disables Do Not Disturb, sets screen brightness to comfortable levels, opens your calendar, and reads today's first event aloud.

How to build it:

1. Create a new shortcut and name it "Good Morning"
2. Search for "Set Focus" and add it. Configure it to turn Do Not Disturb off
3. Search for "Set Brightness" and add it. Set the brightness to 50% or your preference
4. Search for "Open App" and add it. Select Calendar
5. Search for "Find Calendar Events" and add it. Set it to find events where "Start Date is Today"
6. Search for "Get Item from List" and add it. Configure it to get "First Item" from the previous action
7. Search for "Get Details of Calendar Event" and add it. Choose details you want: Title, Start Date, Location
8. Search for "Speak Text" and add it. Connect it to the details from the previous action

Tap the settings icon (the toggle switches) at the bottom and enable "Show in Share Sheet" if you want quick access. Add it to your home screen or assign it to a widget for one-tap access each morning.

2. "I'm Driving" Auto-Reply

When you start driving, this automation sends a preset message to anyone who texts you, letting them know you'll respond when you're off the road.

How to build it:

1. Go to the Automation tab and tap "+" to create a new automation
2. Select "Driving" as the trigger under Personal Automations
3. Choose "When Connected to CarPlay" or "When Driving is Detected"
4. Tap Next, then "Add Action"
5. Search for "Set Focus" and configure it to turn on Driving focus
6. Search for "Send Message" and add it
7. Leave the recipients field empty (this makes it reply to whoever messages you)
8. In the message field, type: "I'm driving right now. I'll get back to you when I'm parked safely."
9. Toggle off "Ask Before Running" so it happens automatically

This only works when someone messages you during the automation trigger. For ongoing auto-replies during driving, adjust your Driving Focus settings instead.

3. Commute Time Calculator

This shortcut tells you how long it'll take to get home from your current location, accounting for real-time traffic.

How to build it:

1. Create a new shortcut called "Time to Home"
2. Search for "Get Current Location" and add it
3. Search for "Get Travel Time" and add it
4. Set the destination to your home address
5. Choose your transportation method (driving, walking, transit)
6. Search for "Show Result" and add it
7. Connect it to the travel time from the previous action

Run this shortcut before leaving work or any location to know exactly when you'll arrive. You can create variations for other frequent destinations like "Time to Work" or "Time to Gym."

4. Coffee Shop Playlist Launcher

This shortcut automatically plays a specific playlist when you arrive at your favorite coffee shop and connects to their WiFi.

How to build it:

1. Go to Automation tab and create a new automation
2. Select "WiFi" as the trigger
3. Choose the coffee shop's WiFi network
4. Tap Next, then "Add Action"
5. Search for "Set Playback Destination" and add it. Select your AirPods or headphones
6. Search for "Play Music" and add it
7. Select the specific playlist you want
8. Toggle off "Ask Before Running" for seamless operation

Now every time you connect to that network, your music starts automatically. This works for any location with recognizable WiFi.

5. Bedtime Wind Down

This shortcut prepares your phone for sleep: enables Do Not Disturb, sets an alarm, lowers brightness, and opens a meditation or reading app.

How to build it:

1. Create a new shortcut called "Bedtime"
2. Add "Set Focus" and configure it to turn on Sleep focus
3. Add "Set Brightness" and reduce it to 20% or lower
4. Add "Create Alarm" and set it for your desired wake-up time. Configure it to repeat on weekdays or specific days
5. Add "Open App" and select your meditation, reading, or sleep sounds app

You can trigger this manually or create a time-based automation to run it automatically at your usual bedtime.

6. Expense Tracker

This shortcut logs expenses to a note with date, amount, category, and optional photo of the receipt.

How to build it:

1. Create a new shortcut called "Log Expense"
2. Add "Ask for Input" with the question "How much did you spend?"
3. Set the input type to "Number"
4. Add another "Ask for Input" with the question "What category?"
5. Provide default answers like "Food," "Transport," "Entertainment," "Shopping"
6. Add "Take Photo" if you want to capture receipts
7. Add "Get Current Date" and format it as you prefer
8. Add "Append to Note"
9. In the text field, type: "Date: [Date], Amount: $[Amount], Category: [Category]"
10. Select or create a note called "Expenses 2026"

Each time you make a purchase, run this shortcut to maintain a running log. At month's end, you'll have a complete record without manual note-taking.

7. Meeting Preparation

This shortcut finds your next calendar event and opens all relevant apps and documents you need for that meeting.

How to build it:

1. Create a new shortcut called "Prep Next Meeting"
2. Add "Find Calendar Events" and set it to find events "Starting Now or Later"
3. Add "Get Item from List" and choose "First Item"
4. Add "Get Details of Calendar Event" and select Title, Start Date, Notes, and URL if you include meeting links
5. Add conditional logic with "If" statement: "If Notes Contains 'Zoom'"
6. Inside the if block, add "Open URLs" and connect it to the URL from calendar details
7. Add "Otherwise" and include "Open App" for your default meeting app
8. After the conditional, add "Show Result" displaying the meeting title and start time

Run this shortcut five minutes before meetings to ensure everything's ready.

8. Weekly Reflection Prompt

This automation runs every Sunday evening and prompts you to journal about the past week with specific questions.

How to build it:

1. Go to Automation and create a time-based automation
2. Set it for Sunday at 7:00 PM (or your preferred time)
3. Set it to repeat weekly
4. Add "Create Note"
5. In the note body, include reflection questions:
   • "What went well this week?"
   • "What challenges did I face?"
   • "What did I learn?"
   • "What am I grateful for?"
   • "Goals for next week:"
6. Title the note with the current date using "Current Date" variable
7. Add "Open App" and select Notes to immediately open your fresh reflection prompt

This creates a consistent reflection practice without requiring you to remember or manually set it up each week.

9. Share Location ETA

This shortcut sends your current location and estimated arrival time to a specific contact with one tap.

How to build it:

1. Create a new shortcut called "Send My ETA"
2. Add "Get Current Location"
3. Add "Ask for Input" with the question "Where are you going?"
4. Add "Get Travel Time" from current location to the address you typed
5. Add "Calculate" and add the travel time to the current time to get your arrival time
6. Add "Send Message" to your chosen contact
7. In the message, write: "I'm on my way! I'll arrive around [Arrival Time]. Current location: [Current Location]"

This is particularly useful when meeting people or letting family know you're coming home.

10. Workout Starter

This shortcut puts your phone in workout mode: starts a workout, plays your workout playlist, and sets Do Not Disturb.

How to build it:

1. Create a new shortcut called "Start Workout"
2. Add "Set Focus" and turn on your Workout focus (or Do Not Disturb)
3. Add "Start Workout" and select your preferred workout type (running, strength training, cycling, etc.)
4. Add "Set Playback Destination" and choose your headphones
5. Add "Play Music" and select your workout playlist
6. Optionally add "Set Brightness" to a higher level for outdoor visibility

One tap prepares your entire phone for exercise without fumbling through multiple apps.

11. Save Articles for Later

This shortcut saves articles from Safari or any app to a dedicated reading list note, including the title, URL, and date saved.

How to build it:

1. Create a new shortcut called "Save Article"
2. Add "Get URLs from Input" - this captures the URL from wherever you share from
3. Add "Get Details of URLs" and select Title and URL
4. Add "Get Current Date"
5. Add "Append to Note"
6. In the text field format it as: "Title: [Article Title], URL: [URL], Saved: [Date]"
7. Select or create a note called "Reading List"
8. In shortcut settings, enable "Show in Share Sheet" and select Safari and other reading apps

Now when you're browsing and find something interesting but don't have time to read it, share it to this shortcut instead of cluttering your bookmarks.

12. Low Battery Alert Message

This automation sends a message to someone when your battery drops below a certain percentage, useful if you might become unreachable.

How to build it:

1. Go to Automation and create a new automation
2. Select "Battery Level" as the trigger
3. Set it to run when battery "Falls Below" 20% (or your preferred threshold)
4. Add "Send Message"
5. Select your contact (partner, parent, roommate)
6. Type the message: "My battery is low. If I don't respond, I might have lost power."
7. Toggle off "Ask Before Running"

This provides peace of mind for people who worry when you suddenly go silent.

13. Screenshot Organizer

This shortcut moves screenshots from your camera roll into a dedicated album, keeping your photos organized.

How to build it:

1. Create a new shortcut called "Organize Screenshots"
2. Add "Find Photos" and set it to find photos where "Media Type is Screenshot" and "Taken in the Last 1 Day"
3. Add "Add to Album" and create or select an album called "Screenshots"
4. Add "Show Result" with text "Moved [Count] screenshots to album"

Run this shortcut weekly or daily to maintain organization without manually sorting through photos.

14. Restaurant Finder

This shortcut finds restaurants near you based on the type of cuisine you want and opens directions to your choice.

How to build it:

1. Create a new shortcut called "Find Restaurant"
2. Add "Ask for Input" with question "What type of food?"
3. Add "Get Current Location"
4. Add "Search Local Businesses" for the cuisine type within 2 miles of current location
5. Add "Choose from List" so you can pick which restaurant
6. Add "Get Directions" to the selected restaurant in Maps

This streamlines the "where should we eat" decision process, especially when traveling or in unfamiliar areas.

15. Water Intake Reminder

This automation reminds you to drink water at regular intervals throughout the day.

How to build it:

1. Go to Automation and create a time-based automation
2. Set it to run at 9:00 AM daily
3. Add "Repeat" action and set it to repeat 8 times (for 8 reminders throughout the day)
4. Inside the repeat block, add "Show Notification" with the message "Time to drink water!"
5. Add "Wait" for 1 hour and 15 minutes
6. Close the repeat block

This creates consistent reminders without cluttering your calendar or needing a separate app.

16. Smart Home Good Night

This shortcut turns off all lights, locks doors, and adjusts your thermostat with one command.

How to build it:

1. Create a new shortcut called "Good Night House"
2. Add "Set Scene" if you have HomeKit scenes configured, or
3. Add individual smart home actions:
   • "Control Home" and turn off all lights
   • "Control Home" and lock all doors
   • "Control Home" and set thermostat to sleep temperature
4. Add "Set Focus" to enable Sleep mode
5. Optionally add "Set Alarm" for the next morning

If you use Siri, saying "Good Night House" will execute everything automatically.

17. Text Expansion

This shortcut expands abbreviations into full text, useful for email signatures, addresses, or commonly typed phrases.

How to build it:

1. Create a new shortcut called "Text Expander"
2. Add "Ask for Input" with question "Type your abbreviation"
3. Add multiple "If" statements for different abbreviations:
   • If input is "eml" → Copy your full email address to clipboard
   • If input is "addr" → Copy your full mailing address
   • If input is "sig" → Copy your email signature
   • If input is "meet" → Copy your meeting scheduling link
4. Add "Show Result" confirming what was copied

You can trigger this via widget or Siri and paste the expanded text wherever needed.

18. Podcast Speed Controller

This shortcut adjusts podcast playback speed based on your preference, cycling through different speeds with each tap.

How to build it:

1. Create a new shortcut called "Adjust Podcast Speed"
2. Add "Get Current Playback State"
3. Add "If" statement checking current speed
4. If speed is 1.0x, change to 1.25x
5. Add "Otherwise If" for 1.25x, change to 1.5x
6. Add "Otherwise If" for 1.5x, change to 2.0x
7. Add final "Otherwise" to reset to 1.0x
8. Add "Show Notification" displaying current speed

This gives you quick control without opening the podcast app and navigating through settings.

19. Convert Currency

This shortcut converts amounts between currencies using current exchange rates.

How to build it:

1. Create a new shortcut called "Convert Currency"
2. Add "Ask for Input" with question "Amount to convert?" (set input type to Number)
3. Add another "Ask for Input" asking "From which currency?" with options like USD, EUR, GBP, etc.
4. Add another "Ask for Input" asking "To which currency?" with the same options
5. Add "Get Exchange Rate" from first currency to second currency
6. Add "Calculate" multiplying the amount by the exchange rate
7. Add "Show Result" displaying the converted amount with currency symbol

Useful when shopping internationally, traveling, or managing finances across countries.

20. Daily Motivation

This automation sends you a motivational quote every morning to start your day positively.

How to build it:

1. Go to Automation and create time-based automation for your wake-up time
2. Add "Get Contents of URL" pointing to a quotes API (like api.quotable.io/random)
3. Add "Get Dictionary from Input" to parse the JSON response
4. Add "Get Dictionary Value" for the "content" key (the quote text)
5. Add "Get Dictionary Value" for the "author" key
6. Add "Show Notification" with title "Daily Motivation" and text combining the quote and author

Each morning you'll receive fresh motivation without subscribing to yet another app or service.

Building Your Own Shortcuts

These twenty automations demonstrate the range of what's possible, but your most valuable shortcuts will be the ones you create for your specific routines. Start by observing patterns in your phone usage. Which apps do you open together? Which settings do you change repeatedly? Which information do you look up regularly?

Once you identify a pattern, break it down into individual actions. Those actions are likely available in the Shortcuts app. String them together, test the flow, and refine it until it works smoothly.

Don't aim for perfection on your first attempt. Build a basic version that accomplishes the core task, then enhance it over time. The Shortcuts app is forgiving. You can always edit, delete actions, and rearrange steps.

Share shortcuts with family or friends who might benefit from them. The app makes this easy through iCloud links. Someone's clever automation might solve a problem you didn't know could be solved.

The time investment is front-loaded. Fifteen minutes building a shortcut saves countless repetitions of manual tasks. Over months and years, this compounds into significant time savings and reduced friction in your daily phone usage.

Your iPhone is already capable of this automation. The Shortcuts app is pre-installed and waiting. The only missing ingredient is your willingness to invest a small amount of time upfront to create systems that serve you indefinitely. These twenty examples are your starting point, not your destination.