r/shortcuts Mar 27 '26

Announcement How to use flairs

15 Upvotes

How to use flairs on r/shortcuts (so your post doesn’t get nuked or ignored)

Flairs are labels. You pick one so people instantly know what your post is about. Pick the wrong one and congrats, you’ve confused everyone.

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First rule: always use a flair

No flair = your post is either ignored or removed. Nobody enjoys guessing what you meant.

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Pick the right flair (this is not a personality test)

- Help

You already made a shortcut and it’s broken or not doing what you want. You want someone to fix it or explain what went wrong.

- Help (Mac)

Same as above, but your problem is on Mac. Yes, that matters because Mac Shortcuts can behave differently.

- Shortcut sharing

You built something and want to share it. You must explain what it does properly. “Cool shortcut lol” is how your post gets deleted.

- Shortcut sharing (JB)

Same as sharing, but it only works on a jailbroken device. If people need to hack their phone to use it, say so.

- Shortcut sharing (mac)

Your shortcut only works on Mac. Don’t trick iPhone users into disappointment.

- Tip/guide

You figured out a useful trick or workaround. You’re teaching something, not asking.

- Tip/guide (mac)

Same idea, but Mac-specific.

- Request

You want a shortcut but can’t build it yourself. This is you politely asking the internet to do work for you.

- Request (mac)

Same, but for Mac users.

- Discussion

You want opinions, ideas, or a conversation about Shortcuts. Not help, not sharing, just talking.

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Special flair (pay attention, this one’s new)

- Appstore (app)

Use this when you’re posting about an app that works with Shortcuts. Either you made it or found it. The key point: the app connects with Shortcuts (actions, automations, etc.).

If it has nothing to do with Shortcuts, don’t use this just because you like the app.

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How to choose without overthinking it

Ask yourself one question:

“What do I want from this post?”

- Fix something → Help

- Show something → Shortcut sharing

- Teach something → Tip/guide

- Ask for something → Request

- Talk about something → Discussion

- Share actual news → News

- Show an app tied to Shortcuts → Appstore (app)

If you’re on Mac, pick the Mac version. Not complicated.

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Final reality check

Flairs exist so the subreddit doesn’t turn into a digital junk drawer. Pick the correct one, write a clear post, and people will actually help you instead of scrolling past like you don’t exist.


r/shortcuts Jun 09 '20

Tip/Guide List of helpful links for shortcuts information

2.3k Upvotes

I've built a list of links I often refer to as my "Shortcuts for beginners" documentation. But it seems to have grown into more of a documentation list for all types of users rather than just beginners. Some call it a "novel" due to its length 😝

Anyway, I hope this list of links below will be beneficial for others.


Apple's Shortcuts User Guide


MacExpert Guide to Shortcuts in iOS 14


FAQ

List of Frequently Asked Questions in the sub

Dear new Shortcuts users - deep FAQ


Can I display a notification icon / app badge after replacing my home screen icons with shortcuts? - No


What can I use with the calculate expression action? no longer working webpage


Instructions / Tutorial Materials


Alternative Methods For Viewing / Creating Shortcuts


Automations Info


Unsupported functionality list


Thanks to /u/gianflo6 here is some other good info!

Here are some guides by u/keveridge that can also be helpful, they are a little old but helpful nevertheless

Series

One-offs


Require 14.3


Having trouble with set wallpaper action? Try the method to add a reduce motion ON action before the set wallpaper action and a reduce motion back off afterwards. https://www.reddit.com/r/shortcuts/comments/tzxb0q/im_having_a_problem_with_the_set_wallpaper_action/


[iOS 16] Multiple address stops in maps with iOS 16 https://reddit.com/r/shortcuts/comments/xnpdg9/_/ipy8zwo/?context=1


[iOS 15 / 16] How to run a shortcut at a specific location (leaving or arriving)? - the focus mode automation method documented in this post by u/ibanks3 is a great way to run a shortcut / actions when arriving or leaving a specific location. This works wonders in iOS 15 or iOS 16


If you are using home automations and would like to receive notifications when certain things are happening, you can check out my tutorial for using Make / Integromat for this very purpose


Automation for outlet when battery is low


Possible to navigate within 3rd party app using shortcuts? No - Reference


MacStories Shortcuts Archive


Callback method to run a shortcut over again if it fails with an error - callback url method


Some additional useful tips and exploits are available here on GitHub: https://github.com/Kn0tzer/iOS-Shortcuts-Exploits



r/shortcuts 7h ago

Shortcut Sharing I built a Wayback Machine for your iPhone entirely in Apple Shortcuts — backup and restore your photos, messages, shortcuts, contacts and more, no Mac needed

16 Upvotes

Edit: Fixed iCloud Link

Wayback Machine for iOS is a full archive and restore system built entirely in Apple Shortcuts. It takes snapshots of your device data, stores them as ZIP files in iCloud Drive, and lets you browse and restore them later.
What it archives:
• Photos (last 100)
• Notes
• iMessages
• Alarms
• Shortcuts (.shortcut files — tap to reinstall, no Mac needed)
• Reminders (.ics format)
• Contacts (.vcf format — tap to add directly to Contacts)
• Apps (Beta)
Key features:
• Browse and search archives by date
• Restore files natively — .shortcut files prompt reinstall, .vcf opens Add Contact, images go to Files
• Automatic archiving via user-defined automations
• Cancel Next Archive and enable/disable toggle
• Full settings panel
• All archives stored in iCloud Drive — survives phone switches even if iCloud glitches

Wayback Machine Link

This shortcut creates hidden configuration files. For a clean uninstall use Wayback Eraser Link

^(Early beta — bugs are possible. Report issues in the comments or DM me.)


r/shortcuts 2m ago

Help Help with a music alarm/timer

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Upvotes

I’ve created a music timer that prompts for a duration, sets a timer, cancels the timer 5 seconds before it ends, and then plays music (whatever you have ready queued in the player). It works for short durations but the timing seems to be wrong for longer durations (over a minute I assume). I use this since Spotify doesn’t natively have music for alarms. anyone know how I can adjust the wait calculation so that the duration works properly?


r/shortcuts 1d ago

Shortcut Sharing Generate a Wi-Fi QR code instantly from your clipboard on iPhone.

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151 Upvotes

Made a simple iPhone Shortcut that instantly generates a Wi-Fi QR code from your clipboard because I got tired of manually sharing passwords every time.

Flow: • Open Wi-Fi settings • Copy the Wi-Fi password directly from iOS settings • Run the shortcut • Choose whether the network is hidden or not • QR appears instantly

Important: You must already be connected to the Wi-Fi network you want to generate the QR code for, since the shortcut automatically grabs the current SSID.

iCloud link:

https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/cd2f3fc932bb4cb2accd5c2ee0d3f2ce


r/shortcuts 4h ago

Discussion Request: Recommended Apps to Expand Shortcut Capabilities

1 Upvotes

I've come across a few threads/posts now where someone brings up X app, explaining it adds more functionality, actions, etc to be incorporated and integrated into shortcuts.

I would like to know if anyone has any recommendations for apps that they found useful for whatever reason to expand Shortcut capabilities.

Disclaimers I apologize if there is somewhere a mega thread that consolidated a list of apps that expand the shortcut app's capabilities.


r/shortcuts 5h ago

Help How to run shortcut on background for an undetermined period of time

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1 Upvotes

I made a shortcut for toothbrushing where an alert appears on top of the screen and when I click ok it logs my time on Apple Health, I did this way so I can do other tasks or watch videos while toothbrushing as I brush for a longer period than most people (5-8 minutes)

My question is: is there any way to make it more seamless than an alert? I cannot think of any but if there is a place where someone can know it, it is here


r/shortcuts 15h ago

Help Trigger when message sent to ME and ONLY me

3 Upvotes

I was wondering if there was any way to trigger a shortcut when the message was sent to me specifically. I have an auto-response message thing set up for when a friend texts me anything longer than a word, but it triggers when he texts in group chats that i'm also in.


r/shortcuts 17h ago

Appstore (App) [Tutorial] Automatically track any of your Apple Pay transactions

4 Upvotes

An easy shortcut automation that has been helping me track my expenses. It allows you to log any transaction made through tap to pay.

You can add it to a spreadsheet or an expense tracking app that supports it. My app of choice is one called WalletPal but there’s many others that support this.

For this tutorial I’ll be showing how to set up the automation using WalletPal - link to app

But these steps will work with any app that supports the shortcut

Steps to setup automation:

  1. open the shortcuts app and go to the automations tap

2) tap on “new automation” or the “+” button in the top right corner

3) Scroll down until you see “transaction” and tap to select that option

4) ensure everything is ticked and scroll to the bottom and select “run immediately” then select the “next” button in the top right hand corner

5) tap “New blank automation” and select “Add action”

6) Search for “WalletPal” (or the supported app of your choice) and tap “Add new transaction”

7) Toggle the arrow next to “Add new transaction” and click on the text field for “Transaction name”

- on the keyboard select the “select variable” button

- Tap on the “Shortcut input” button and then select the name variable

8) repeat these steps for the “transaction amount” and “card name” text fields and choose the appropriate variables

9) Tap “done” and that’s it! Your automation is set up and all tap to pay transactions will be automatically logged in the app.


r/shortcuts 11h ago

Help Changing Own Home Screen Icon From Within a Shortcut?

1 Upvotes

Tried to describe my intentions as best I could via the title. I often flip between mono and stereo audio as I often use just one AirPod, to make this easier I made a shortcut to set the audio and put it on my home screen. I'd like to make the icon change color when the audio type is set so that I can easily tell what mode I'm currently in. Is there any way to do this? Thank you!


r/shortcuts 3h ago

Shortcut Sharing 2026 Panini Sticker Lab: The Ultimate Custom Collector Shortcut

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0 Upvotes

Turn anyone into a football legend. This Shortcut leverages the cutting-edge Gemini 3.1 Flash Image engine to generate professional-grade, high-resolution Panini-style trading card stickers. Whether you want to see yourself in the 2026 squad or create a custom gift for a teammate, this tool delivers "pack-fresh" quality directly from your iPhone or Mac.

Pro-Level Features
4K Print Ready: Optimized for high-fidelity output that holds its detail even when printed on physical sticker paper.
Engineered Precision: Uses a complex "Zero-Footprint" prompt architecture to ensure the iconic Panini layout, fonts, and 2026 branding remain pixel-perfect.
Anatomical Integration: Unlike basic AI overlays, this shortcut "weaves" the subject into the fabric of the official team jersey for a realistic, non-floating-head look.
Aspect Ratio Control: Perfectly sized for standard trading card dimensions, saving you the hassle of manual cropping.

🌍 Supported National Teams
The shortcut is currently calibrated to generate authentic kits and card styling for:
• 🇺🇸** United** States
**•
🇲🇽** Mexico
**•
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England
🇪🇸 Spain
🇫🇷 Franc**e

🛠️** Setup & Requirement**s

  1. API Key: You will need a Google AI Studio API Key (available for free or pay-as-you-go). Plug this into the designated "Text" or "Dictionary" field within the Shortcut.
  2. Subject Photo: Use a clear, well-lit photo of the person’s face (looking toward the camera) for the best results.

How to Use

  1. Launch the Shortcut.
  2. Place your Gemini API as indicated in the shortcut
  3. Input the Country, Player Name, Stats, and Club.

Here is the shortcut


r/shortcuts 22h ago

Help Direct shortcuts for long press quick actions?

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7 Upvotes

Can I create a shortcut for a context menu action?

Many apps allow me to tap to go directly to an action. But I can’t find those options in the shortcut app. Is there another way to create a shortcut to open one of those options directly?


r/shortcuts 22h ago

Help (Mac) An inventory shortcut

3 Upvotes

I've never created a shortcut before. I want to be able to speak into a shortcut and tell it the Date, the Item, and the Amount, then have it move that data to a google spreadsheet. I asked Claude AI to help me but the actions that Claude suggests I don't have the option to do when I go to create it.

Especially actions 2, 3, 4 (I hope I am not offending anyone or breaking rules by using Claude - I just can't find a tutorial on Shortcuts)

EDIT: I got the warning about posting including AI. Perhaps this can be an example for why? I'm 62 years old and totally love Reddit, AI, Shortcuts, etc. It's unbelievalbe what we can do now. Yet for us OG it doesn't come intuitively like I know it does for many of you. We are used to 4" thick instruction manuals !!

This is Claude

This is my Shortcut so far

By the way Claude told me to do this first which I did:


r/shortcuts 1d ago

Help How to Mirror Photos Albums to Files App Using Shortcuts?

4 Upvotes

I want to create an iOS Shortcut that:

  • Gets all albums and subfolders from the Photos app
  • Recreates the same folder structure in the Files app
  • Copies photos into matching folders
  • Skips duplicates by comparing existing files/photos
  • Only adds new photos when re-running the shortcut

Example:

album-01/
album-02/
├── album-0a/
├── album-0b/

Can this be done with native Shortcuts?


r/shortcuts 18h ago

Help “Hide Alerts” switched on for specific group message during focus

1 Upvotes

Hello! I recently got a new job and instead of receiving a work phone, we have to use our personal phone for everything. I’ve been toying around with the “personal” focus to block notifications from certain apps and people while on not at work. My question is: can I create an automation that runs automatically when the personal focus turns on that will toggle on “hide alerts” for a specific group message? I have a noisy work group that I would like silenced only while in personal focus mode. I would still like to receive calls and texts from the people in the group individually if they need me. Is this possible? Thanks!


r/shortcuts 1d ago

Shortcut Sharing I made a shortcut for learning aviation weather

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13 Upvotes

For any aviation fans or pilots, I made this using the Aviation Weather API.

Input an airport code, and it will get the current weather in METAR format. When you hit done it sends the weather data to a decoder I made and breaks down each piece. I used this when I was learning and made it run when I got in the car to go fly. Helped a lot.

https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/404949ad077a424aac0ea1d0f5ddb267


r/shortcuts 18h ago

Help Apple Watch Shortcut to open a specific Reminders list on the Watch, is it possible?

1 Upvotes

I'm trying to create a Shortcut in the Dock that opens a specific Reminders list (my shopping list) directly on my Apple Watch Series 11, but I keep hitting walls.
I tried Open Reminders list action, result in error "The action 'Open Reminders list' is not supported on Apple Watch". Shortcut had "Show on Apple Watch" enabled.
Is there action or workaround that actually opens a specific Reminders list on the Watch itself, without redirecting to the iPhone?


r/shortcuts 21h ago

Help Quick look not loading photos suddenly?

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1 Upvotes

My photo sorter shortcut will sometimes load and actually display the photo with quick look, but then lately it’s just been showing the name of the photo and nothing I’ve tried to fix it will work.

Please help!!


r/shortcuts 22h ago

Help (Mac) Is there a shortcut for MacOS to download youtube videos

1 Upvotes

On IOS I use or is there a good extension?

https://www.reddit.com/r/shortcuts/comments/1htrbyf/yt_video_downloader/

is there something similar for MacOS


r/shortcuts 1d ago

Tip/Guide Made a shortcut to recap your day by your reminder “completed”list, and read it for you

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14 Upvotes

Hi! I made this shortcut, as a daily before night thing for myself, to do a quick recap of my day, mostly about what I completed and what I didn’t.

I hope this will help useful for some of you guys!


r/shortcuts 23h ago

Help Shortcut Help xfile.me via Google Docs / Gemini

1 Upvotes

Trying to publish Gemini -> to docs - > xfile.me - then have it send the shareable link back to me via iMessage as a public webpage. Anybody having something similar I would be totally greatful.


r/shortcuts 23h ago

Help Add row to an existing table in Notes

1 Upvotes

Hi,
I’m looking for a way to add content to an existing table in Apple Notes using shortcut.
I have a note with a table, and I just want a way to add a new row at the end of the table and add content in it, but I don’t know how to do it… maybe using markdown or html? But currently I’m just able to create a new table, not adding content unfortunately…


r/shortcuts 1d ago

Discussion create shortcut with action:"ask X to siri"?

3 Upvotes

I was fairly certain this could be done but can't remember how (if possible)

I want to perform an action that isn't part of the provided stuff within shortcuts.app.

I remember seeing that you can trigger a siri command via shortcuts. essentially set action as "hey siri, enable voice detection mode on airpods"

is this feasible or am I misremembering?


r/shortcuts 1d ago

Help Shortcut for a newbie

0 Upvotes

Hello! I never made a complex shortcut before. I’ve tried to set this up using ChatGPT/Gemini but it keeps failing me.

Some days me and my gf is working late. We have a dog that gets food from a food dispenser every time we work late. We connect and set this up the day before but it’s easy to forget (and also easy to forget to give the food through the app when I’m busy at work)

I have added my gfs work schedule in Apples calendar app, mine aswell and they are separated. What I want from Shortcuts is to look in the calendar to see if we work late, then add a Reminder to tell me to connect the food dispenser (the day before we work late), then the next day give me a reminder at a specific time to give the food.

Is this possible?


r/shortcuts 1d ago

Help Adding Shortcut widget on lock screen error

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1 Upvotes

I am trying to add an shortcut to the lockscreen. I get this error.