5 Best iPhone Shortcuts That Changed How I Use My Phone

I used to think I was getting the most out of my iPhone until I discovered the Shortcuts app. This app is a fully customizable command center that helps me personalize task automation. Since learning all that it could do for me, I now have a smartphone that acts as my personal assistant, and it has made life so much easier than I could have ever imagined.

What Are iPhone Shortcuts and Why Techies Love Them

The Shortcuts app is a way for Apple users to automate actions across their iPhones, apps and smart home appliances. Think of it as a virtual scripting tool where you can stack commands and trigger them all with a single tap or voice command. 

For instance, say you have difficulty waking up in the morning. When your alarm goes off, you can have it flash and play a specific tune at a certain volume level. Once it repeats a certain number of times, it can wait a few minutes before it goes off again.

Another convenience to add would be something as simple as viewing and editing your clipboard history. Shortcuts can let you view the latest items you’ve copied to the clipboard, which is useful for people who use their iPhones for work.

This is the kind of personalization your phone can offer with the Shortcuts app. However, there are so many options that it feels limitless in terms of what it can do. That’s why people love it. It’s so flexible and useful, taking the cognitive weight off your shoulders. This level of automation saves time and effort and is a great way to reduce stress for busy individuals. 

Surveys show that 66% of American workers experience some burnout, and 24% report it is due to having more work to do than the time to complete it. Shortcuts can ease some of that burden and make your professional and personal life more balanced.

Best iPhone Shortcuts to Tinker With

Once you get comfortable with Shortcuts, you’ll soon build your own routines that make using your device faster, smoother and much more fun. This will make your iPhone feel much smarter, and you’ll wonder how you lived without it before.

1. Morning Routine

This setup will kick off your day before you’ve even had coffee. With a single tap, your iPhone can update you on the weather, show your calendar events and turn off Do Not Disturb. You can even have it adjust the screen brightness to match the time of day, so it reduces eye strain.

This shortcut is game-changing because it replaces groggy early-morning swipes with a single button. Plus, it sets the tone for a productive day once you’re awake.

How to set it up:

• Open the Shortcuts app and tap the “+” icon. 
• Add actions like “Get Weather Forecast Details” or “Set Focus (Off).
• Customize the order, then tap “Done.”
• This is optional, but you can add it to your Home Screen or set it to run automatically when your alarm stops using Automation > Create Personal Automation > Alarm > Stop Playing. 

2. Speed Dial Widget

You can tell Siri to call someone, but sometimes you just need a tactile button. This shortcut creates a widget for your Home Screen that instantly dials your go-to contacts — no scrolling or voice commands — only one tap.

It’s perfect for keeping in touch with a partner or anyone you call frequently. However, this setting is useful overall for when you want to avoid messing around with menus.

How to set it up:

• When creating a new shortcut, add the action “Call” and select a contact.
• Name the shortcut something clear, like “Call Mom.”
• Tap the Share icon > Add to Home Screen to place it on your iPhone.
• You can also add it to your control center.

3. Battery Saver

This shortcut is convenient for controlling battery power. Tap it once, and it enables Low Power Mode, turns off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, reduces screen brightness and even closes background apps. This feature is excellent for travel days and long meetings whenever you’re short on time and want to keep your battery as full as possible.

Set it up by adding these actions after creating a new shortcut:

• Set Low Power Mode > On.
• Set Wi-Fi > Off.
• Set Bluetooth > Off.
• Set Brightness > (choose your preferred level, like 30%).
• Tap Done and give it a name like “Battery Saver.”
• Add it to your Home Screen or the Shortcuts widget for quick access.
• For automation, go to Automation > Create Personal Automation >
• Battery Level, then set it to trigger at your preferred battery percentage level.

4. “On My Way” Shortcut

Whether heading out for work or wrapping up errands, this shortcut lets you quickly send your current location and an ETA via text. It’s a safe and fast way to keep someone in the loop without pulling over or fumbling with your phone in public. Or, if you’re running late and want to be considerate with a heads-up, this shortcut makes it easy to provide an update.

Create a new shortcut and:

• Add the action “Get Travel Time” and select your home address.
• Set Mode of Travel (Driving, Walking, Biking).
• Add “Get Current Location.”
• Then add “Send Message” and compose something like, “I’m on my way home. I’ll be there in about [Travel Time]. Here’s my location: [Current Location].
• Tap the arrow on each variable to insert it into the message.
• Choose your recipient, or leave it open to select manually each time.
• Tap Done and name it “On My Way”

5. Rewards App Reminder by Location

Have you ever pulled into a gas station or fast food spot and forgotten to scan your rewards app? This shortcut solves that by sending a notification when you arrive at specific locations. 

Whether it’s McDonald’s, Starbucks or your go-to gas station, you’ll remember to use those points with this reminder. 

At least 49% of U.S. shoppers are willing to use a brand’s app to receive promotions and deals, but it’s easy to forget to open it up on the spot. Ensure you’re getting the most discounts with automatic notifications.

This set up uses Automation instead of a typical shortcut:

• Open the Shortcuts app and go to the Automation tab.
• Tap “Create Personal Automation.”
• Select “Arrive” and set the location.
• Tap Next, then “Add Action” > “Show Notification.”
• Customize the notification text to say something like, “Remember to scan your rewards app!”
• Tap Next, turn off “Ask Before Running” for a hands-free experience, and tap Done.

Tapping Into the Best iPhone Shortcuts

The beauty of iPhone Shortcuts is that they take something you use every day and improve it. Whether you aim to cut out repetitive tasks or live on autopilot, these automations can make your day smoother. The best part is that you can do so much more with these. The more you explore and experiment, the more you’ll discover ways to personalize your phone in ways that fit your life.