Siri Shortcuts might be the most powerful thing you’re *not* putting to work on your iPhone.

And that’s a shame, because Shortcuts can supercharge your iPhone or iPad workflow, saving you time and taps.

What are Siri Shortcuts?

Siri Shortcuts are small programs that automate tasks.

Sounds simple, but Shortcuts can be really make your iOS device easier and faster to use.

Shortcuts can:

shorten generic and simpler tasks, like starting a text message to someone you text often, or
automate something very specific to your individual workflow, like adding information to a document or spreadsheet you use frequently.

And the best part is: you can use Shortcuts without knowing anything about programming at all. (Although you can also build your own in the Shortcuts app.)

Shortcuts are easy to add to your iOS device and easy to share. We will get to that.

OK, what are some examples?

Shortcuts work with Apple-created apps, like Music, Podcasts, and Maps, and many third-party apps like Twitter or Nike+.

Some of current favorites include:

Launching a playlist inside the Music app
Starting a run tracker inside the Nike+ app
Directly opening my strength training tracking spreadsheet inside the Numbers app
Pulling up a menu of my Twitter lists to go directly to a list inside the Twitter app

Finding and adding Shortcuts

To start with Shortcuts, download the Shortcuts app from the App Store.

Open the app, and tap the “Gallery” option in the lower right.

A mother lode of premade Shortcuts are available here, including many custom options based on the things you most often do on your iPhone or iPad.

For example, the app created Shortcuts I can use to open my workout tracking spreadsheet, get to a Dark Sky forecast, or start the run track in the Nike+ app.

In the Gallery:

All I have to do is hit the “+” to add a Shortcut to my library.
Tapping “See All” takes you to many more options.
And the list is dynamic: as you do new things with your iPhone, Shortcuts conjures up more options to shorten those tasks for you in the future.

You’re not limited to the suggestions and pre-baked options inside the Shortcuts app.

Third-party Shortcuts

Shortcuts can be created and shared by anybody, and there are some great directories of Shortcuts made by others you can browse and easily add to your library:

Matthew Cassinelli - Cassinelli worked for a company called Workflow, which Apple purchased and turned into Shortcuts. He also worked at Apple for a time after the transition and has a list of 150 of his own shortcuts.

MacStories.net - a site about being more productive with Apple--especially on the iPad. Founder Federico Viticci and his team have developed and shared 217 Shortcuts (as of this writing) you can browse and download to your library.

Between these two sources and the options within the Shortcut app itself, you can add a ton of efficiency and productivity to your iOS device without ever programming a thing.

Launching Shortcuts

Now we’ve added some Shortcuts. How do we access and use them?

Shortcuts can be set to launch when you launch an app, or connect to CarPlay, or reach a certain geographic location. And there are many other methods.

But today, let’s focus on the simpler methods to launch a shortcut:

Inside the Shortcuts app, in the “My Library” section.
By adding the shortcuts to the widget section of your iOS device.
By adding a home screen icon to access the Shortcut.
By adding a Shortcut to your share screen.
By verbally telling Siri to launch a Shortcut.

Launch a Shortcut from inside the Shortcuts app

Tap “My Shortcuts” inside the Shortcuts app to view and search all the Shortcuts in your library”

Add a Shortcut to your iOS widgets

“Widgets” is a menu in iOS that shows you information from, and lets you quickly access key functions of, your favorite apps.

On iPad, your widgets appear on the left-hand side of your screen. On the iPhone, you access widgets by swiping right on your home screen.

(Sidenote: here’s more on how to configure widgets)

To add a Shortcut to your widgets:

Add the Shortcuts app to your widgets by tapping “Edit” on the widgets menu and then tapping the green plus symbol next to “Shortcuts”

Then tap “Customize in the Shortcuts section of your widgets, and a menu will appear of your Shortcuts library. Just tap a Shortcut to add it to widgets.

Add a Shortcut icon to your home screen

To create a Shortcut icon:

Tap “My Shortcuts” inside the Shortcuts app
Tap the circle with three dots in the upper-right of the Shortcut badge you want to add
Tap another circle with three dots after the menu launches
Tap “Add to Home Screen.” You will see a screen like this:

Here you can configure the icon and its name. Apple has a variety of colors and “glyphs” (symbols) you can choose from, or you can use a photo from your camera roll.

Adding a Shortcut to your Share Sheet

The “Share Sheet” in iOS is menu that comes up when you tap the square with the arrow pointing up in a variety of apps. It’s the service that lets you save and share links, photos, files, etc.

Here’s how you can add a Shortcut to your Share Sheet:

Tap “My Shortcuts” inside the Shortcuts app
Tap the circle with three dots in the upper-right of the Shortcut badge you want to add
Tap another circle with three dots after the menu launches
Activate the “Show in Share Sheet” option on the menu

Tell Siri to launch a Shortcut

For hands-free Shortcut activation:

Say “Hey Siri”
Say, “Launch ‘Shortcut name’”

You now know enough to be dangerous. Get started.

Siri Shortcuts can do so much--they really can transform the way you use your iPhone and iPad. We’ve just scratched the surface here, but hopefully you’re feeling confident enough to get started today.

Siri Shortcuts: A beginner’s guide