What is the point of the Shortcut app?

[Nikiforidis]

I just downloaded the Shortcuts app that everyone is talking about it had a fast look and I really don't get it, what's the point of the app?

Yea I know it's for shortcuts/faster action, although I don't get it, if you want to write a message you can simply click the Messages app and start writing do you need to open a special app that opens the Messages app for ya?

/plz explain

 

[Apple blogger]

I just downloaded the Shortcuts app that everyone is talking about it had a fast look and I really don't get it, what's the point of the app?

Yea I know it's for shortcuts/faster action, although I don't get it, if you want to write a message you can simply click the Messages app and start writing do you need to open a special app that opens the Messages app for ya?

/plz explain

Just use some of the promotors shortcuts, like play playlist or share eta

 

[charlituna]

I just downloaded the Shortcuts app that everyone is talking about it had a fast look and I really don't get it, what's the point of the app?

Yea I know it's for shortcuts/faster action, although I don't get it, if you want to write a message you can simply click the Messages app and start writing do you need to open a special app that opens the Messages app for ya?

/plz explain

it's not just for that sort of simple action. it's for collections of actions. so I could create a short cut that if I say "Hey Siri, I'm leaving work" it could look up the traffic and tell me how long it will take for me to get home, connect to my homekit connected AC and turn the temp down to a cooler and more comfortable setting and turn on my homekit connected smart cooker so dinner is ready when I get home, etc.

 

[Painter2002]

So what it's for is for when you want to do multiple actions at once for regular routines that you may have.

If every morning on your way to work you have a set of habits you want to automate you can do that. For example, you can create a Shortcuts command "Get my morning started". You tell Siri to execute this command, and based on your settings it could:

1) Turn you AC up and your lights off in Homekit,
2) Open Maps and give you the quickest route to work.
3) Start your favorite morning commute music playlist in Apple Music.
4) Order your usual coffee at Starbucks,
5) Set your phone to do not disturb so you don't get interrupted at work til you get off.

Obviously this is just a playful example, but its meant to streamline steps you take each day and make those actions easier/faster each day.

Basically this is like creating a custom macro if you are familiar with programming. It's a simple command that can execute multiple actions if you desire.

 

[gwhizkids]

it's not just for that sort of simple action. it's for collections of actions. so I could create a short cut that if I say "Hey Siri, I'm leaving work" it could look up the traffic and tell me how long it will take for me to get home, connect to my homekit connected AC and turn the temp down to a cooler and more comfortable setting and turn on my homekit connected smart cooker so dinner is ready when I get home, etc.

So what it's for is for when you want to do multiple actions at once for regular routines that you may have.

If every morning on your way to work you have a set of habits you want to automate you can do that. For example, you can create a Shortcuts command "Get my morning started". You tell Siri to execute this command, and based on your settings it could:

1) Turn you AC up and your lights off in Homekit,
2) Open Maps and give you the quickest route to work.
3) Start your favorite morning commute music playlist in Apple Music.
4) Order your usual coffee at Starbucks,
5) Set your phone to do not disturb so you don't get interrupted at work til you get off.

Obviously this is just a playful example, but its meant to streamline steps you take each day and make those actions easier/faster each day.

Basically this is like creating a custom macro if you are familiar with programming. It's a simple command that can execute multiple actions if you desire.

These are both very good explanations. It will do a lot of other things too (automating the use of certain apps or certain actions within apps).

I do wish/hope that Apple does a better job than it has so far of explaining how to use the app and how to discover the functionality. I've had it for 2 months now and find I have to turn to Reddit and other non-Apple sources to figure out how to use certain functions. Not ideal for people just dipping their toes into the Workflow/Shortcuts world for the first time.

 

[dsr2]

I’ve created several very simple shortcuts.

Every week I text my kids just too see how things are going. I set up the texts to each child with their phone number and my message: “Hi. What’s up? Hope all is well”. When I press an icon or say “text my kids”, it will send all the texts simultaneously.

I have set up a list of reminders for certain dishes that I make that require multiple steps: when to cut the ingredients, preheat oven, cook certain parts, etc which I call Pasta Run. When I tell Siri Pasta Run, it puts in all the reminders simultaneously.

I also have a shortcut that will show my local weather from whatever I am on my phone.

Not very sophisticated, but they get the job done.

 

[Nikiforidis]

Hmmm, I see so 3-5(routine) steps can be done by 1 step if I use the app. Alrighty thanks for the replies and the examples guys I think I get it.

@gwhizkids agree with you the app itself and its functions are not very clear and simple to use.

 

[The Game 161]

It’s just useful

For example latest football scores don’t need to
Open app

Sky Q will launch from sky app

Saying junk opens my junk email instead of switching back and forth

This is something I will use for sure

 

[RossMacca]

I’ve created several very simple shortcuts.

Every week I text my kids just too see how things are going. I set up the texts to each child with their phone number and my message: “Hi. What’s up? Hope all is well”. When I press an icon or say “text my kids”, it will send all the texts simultaneously.

I have set up a list of reminders for certain dishes that I make that require multiple steps: when to cut the ingredients, preheat oven, cook certain parts, etc which I call Pasta Run. When I tell Siri Pasta Run, it puts in all the reminders simultaneously.

I also have a shortcut that will show my local weather from whatever I am on my phone.

Not very sophisticated, but they get the job done.

Gee, I hope my parents aren’t just pressing a single button to communicate with me these days!

 

[steve62388]

Every week I text my kids just too see how things are going. I set up the texts to each child with their phone number and my message: “Hi. What’s up? Hope all is well”. When I press an icon or say “text my kids”, it will send all the texts simultaneously.

Nothing says ‘caring parent’ like texting an identical message to all your kids week after week.

 

[cwanja]

One I have created is for my lawn guy. I can say "hey Siri, run lawnmower shortcut" and it will text my lawn mover for availability and then create a reminder for the following day to unlock the gates. If tomorrow is unavailable, I can just edit that reminder it created. Wish it could monitor texts for a reply and then act based upon that. Maybe in the future.

 

[gwhizkids]

Nothing says ‘caring parent’ like texting an identical message to all your kids week after week.

Don’t be a jerk, ok?

 

[steve62388]

.

 

[ElCidRo]

Don’t be a jerk, ok?

He may be a jerk, but he is right. I mean... automating a TEXT MESSAGE which is the same every week... and also identical for all kids. How lazy and uncaring can you be as a parent! I guess he still presses a button. He could automate it completely on a Mac to be fair - and then he wouldn't even need to press the button once a week.
If I was one of the kids I wouldn't reply to be honest.

 

[Shanghaichica]

They are useful but I would like them to work on more than one device. I’ve created 4 so far and they only work on my iPhone. None will work on my HomePod or even my Apple Watch.

 

[macintoshmac]

Nothing says ‘caring parent’ like texting an identical message to all your kids week after week.

Now, you do not know if he alters the messages each week. Also, sending the kids identical messages keeps them from thinking dad you love the other one more than me. Who knows, maybe he even told them he set up a Siri shortcut to send them messages. We know nothing more about this relationship and interaction than what he has told. No clue how many times they actually speak on phone and the text is just a reminder for each other. Who knows anything about them than them!

Finally, let's stay on topic and not judge. The guy (@dsr2) was just being frank and willing to help out, let's appreciate that, okay?

 

[Nikiforidis]

Now, you do not know if he alters the messages each week. Also, sending the kids identical messages keeps them from thinking dad you love the other one more than me. Who knows, maybe he even told them he set up a Siri shortcut to send them messages. We know nothing more about this relationship and interaction than what he has told. No clue how many times they actually speak on phone and the text is just a reminder for each other. Who knows anything about them than them!

Finally, let's stay on topic and not judge. The guy (@dsr2) was just being frank and willing to help out, let's appreciate that, okay?

Agree.

 

[eoren1]

You can also use it to open a specific app which Siri could not do before. I have one for Audible that simply opens Audible when I tell Siri to do that. Apps are starting to offer their own shortcuts such as Pandora to then automate actions within the app.

 

[boltjames]

When I go to bed at night I reduce backlight to 0%, reduce volume to 0%, enable DND, turn off wi-fi, and enable my alarm.

It’s about 10 swipes and clicks each night, every night, 365 days a year.

With Shortcuts I can do this with 1 click.

And in the morning, I can get them all reversed and enabled again with 1 click.

 

[macintoshmac]

When I go to bed at night I reduce backlight to 0%, reduce volume to 0%, enable DND, turn off wi-fi, and enable my alarm.

It’s about 10 swipes and clicks each night, every night, 365 days a year.

With Shortcuts I can do this with 1 click.

And in the morning, I can get them all reversed and enabled again with 1 click.

I'd say 4 of those 5 tasks are being done without the need to do them everyday.

reduce backlight to zero? Auto backlight will do it.

reduce volume to zero? why would you need to do that (if dnd is enabled)

enable DND? DND can be set to a schedule.

alarms can be taken care of to repeat.

Only thing left is turning off WiFi.

Unless there is something else you are doing.

 

[boltjames]

I'd say 4 of those 5 tasks are being done without the need to do them everyday.

reduce backlight to zero? Auto backlight will do it.

reduce volume to zero? why would you need to do that (if dnd is enabled)

enable DND? DND can be set to a schedule.

alarms can be taken care of to repeat.

Only thing left is turning off WiFi.

Unless there is something else you are doing.

My wife goes to bed earlier than I do and in order to fall asleep I need to browse on my iPhone in bed.

Auto Backlight is enabled, it never goes down to 0%. More like 15% which is still too bright and will wake her up.

Volume must be at 0% in case I accidentally tap a link that creates sound like an autoplay video in Safari or a GIF in Twitter.

DND has to be set manually because I go to bed at variable times, sometimes 11, sometimes 1, and I need alerts while awake and I need them silenced before entering the bedroom.

Alarm does not need to be set on certain days of the week due to my kids schedules. I created two versions of the Shortcut one with and one without enabling the alarm.

Wi-Fi to off is needed because I use it at home only and want it disabled during the work day to save battery and it’s buried in the Settings menu and Shortcuts save time.

We good now?

 

[gwhizkids]

I'd say 4 of those 5 tasks are being done without the need to do them everyday.

reduce backlight to zero? Auto backlight will do it.

reduce volume to zero? why would you need to do that (if dnd is enabled)

enable DND? DND can be set to a schedule.

alarms can be taken care of to repeat.

Only thing left is turning off WiFi.

Unless there is something else you are doing.

My wife goes to bed earlier than I do and in order to fall asleep I need to browse on my iPhone in bed.

Auto Backlight is enabled, it never goes down to 0%. More like 15% which is still too bright and will wake her up.

Volume must be at 0% in case I accidentally tap a link that creates sound like an autoplay video in Safari or a GIF in Twitter.

DND has to be set manually because I go to bed at variable times, sometimes 11, sometimes 1, and I need alerts while awake and I need them silenced before entering the bedroom.

Alarm does not need to be set on certain days of the week due to my kids schedules. I created two versions of the Shortcut one with and one without enabling the alarm.

Wi-Fi to off is needed because I use it at home only and want it disabled during the work day to save battery and it’s buried in the Settings menu and Shortcuts save time.

We good now?

Regardless of why people have particular routines, the fact of the matter is that they do. Being able to execute all of them with one click (or a one word spoken command) is why this is so powerful.

 

[macintoshmac]

My wife goes to bed earlier than I do and in order to fall asleep I need to browse on my iPhone in bed.

Auto Backlight is enabled, it never goes down to 0%. More like 15% which is still too bright and will wake her up.

Volume must be at 0% in case I accidentally tap a link that creates sound like an autoplay video in Safari or a GIF in Twitter.

DND has to be set manually because I go to bed at variable times, sometimes 11, sometimes 1, and I need alerts while awake and I need them silenced before entering the bedroom.

Alarm does not need to be set on certain days of the week due to my kids schedules. I created two versions of the Shortcut one with and one without enabling the alarm.

Wi-Fi to off is needed because I use it at home only and want it disabled during the work day to save battery and it’s buried in the Settings menu and Shortcuts save time.

We good now?

We were never not good.

Like I said, unless you are doing something different, which you elaborated. Of course you would greatly benefit from the shortcuts feature.

 

[matttye]

Shortcuts/workflow is probably one of the most useful things to come to iOS since... ever.

In fact, it’s THE most useful thing to come to iOS. Now I just need to think of use cases...

 

[cwanja]

You can also use it to open a specific app which Siri could not do before. I have one for Audible that simply opens Audible when I tell Siri to do that. Apps are starting to offer their own shortcuts such as Pandora to then automate actions within the app.

I thought you could tell Siri to open applications previously?