iPhone Shortcuts Recipe Picker

Tell us about your day and we'll give you 10 personalized iPhone Shortcuts to automate the boring parts — saving 5-15 minutes daily.

Tell us about your daily routine

Your Personalized Shortcuts

How to Install a Shortcut

  1. Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone (built-in, can't be deleted).
  2. Tap the + in the top right.
  3. Build the actions step by step using the recipe below.
  4. Name your shortcut, give it a color/glyph, save.
  5. Add to Home Screen (Share → Add to Home Screen) for one-tap access, OR add to widget stack.
  6. For automations: Shortcuts → Automation tab → Create Personal Automation → pick trigger.

Many of these can also be downloaded from the Shortcuts Gallery (Shortcuts app → Gallery tab) — search the recipe name.

Personal Automation Triggers (iOS 17+)

TriggerBest for
Time of dayBedtime, wake-up, lunchtime reminders
Arrive / Leave locationCommute, work arrival, gym arrival
CarPlay connectedDriving routines
NFC tag scanBedside table, car dashboard, work desk
App Open / CloseAuto-Focus when work app opens
Workout StartedMusic + DND when workout begins
Charger Connected / DisconnectedStandBy, sleep mode, low-power mode
Focus Mode ChangesSync settings when entering Sleep, Work, etc.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Shortcuts safe?Built-in Shortcuts are sandboxed by iOS. User-shared shortcuts may request actions — review them before running. Shortcuts can't access your data without explicit permission.
Why do my Shortcuts ask for permission every time?Settings → Shortcuts → Advanced → "Allow Running Scripts." For automations, set them to run without confirmation.
Do Shortcuts run when iPhone is locked?Most do, except those that require Face ID or app interactions that need unlock. Background actions like sending iMessage and Apple Pay work locked.
Can Shortcuts work without internet?Local actions (toggle WiFi, run timer, set Focus) yes. Cloud-dependent actions (weather lookup, send iMessage) need connection.
Why won't my automation fire?iOS 17+ removed "Ask Before Running" by default for time/location triggers. Verify it's set to "Run Immediately" in the automation settings.
How do I share a shortcut with friends?Open shortcut → Settings (gear icon) → Share → Copy iCloud Link. Recipient opens link, taps Add Shortcut.
What's the difference between Personal Automation and Home Automation?Personal = your iPhone. Home = HomeKit devices. Different triggers and actions available.
How many Shortcuts can I have?No hard limit. Most users have 20-50. Power users have 200+.

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