Make your phone work harder so you don’t have to! Here’s how to create custom shortcuts
Our phones are loaded with useful functions, such as remembering passwords, reading real-world text, and storing hundreds, if not thousands, of photos.
But there are a lot of things it can do that you probably don’t know about – and some of them don’t even require taping anything.
Shortcuts can include sending a quick text, double-tapping the back of your phone to take a screenshot, or automatically playing your favorite music after your morning alarm goes off.
Watch the video to see how easy it is to access app shortcuts!
Morning routines
Shortcuts are an easy way to do some things you always do, but faster.
Post to social media, search for hikes, or check your favorite baseball team’s stats by hard-pressing the app icon on Android or iPhone.
This will bring up a list of available shortcuts, but not all apps have them.
If you want to take it a step further, you can create your own on iPhones.
Your device can automatically play your favorite music after your alarm goes off, brew your coffee pot (if you have a smart coffee pot), and tell you what time to leave so you can get to work on time.
How do I create automatic shortcuts?
Creating your own shortcut is similar to coding. You’re designing a custom sequence that tells your phone ‘if/when action x happen, do y And z.’
There are many possibilities for this feature and shortcuts can be created based on your needs, wants or desires.
It can get a little confusing but don’t be afraid to play with it.
These actions can be activated simply by your iPhone or iPad joining a specific WiFi network, arriving or leaving a specific location, or receiving an email from a specific person.
To create an automatic shortcut on your iPhone:
- Open Shortcuts app on iPhone.
- Tap “Automation”.
- Select “Create Custom Automation”.
- Choose the action you like
- Set the parameters you want and tap “Next”.
- Add additional actions and repeat as needed
- Tap “Next”.
- Review your order and tap “Done” when you’re satisfied
You can also create program sequences for any smart products in your home, such as turning on the lights when you approach the house or changing the temperature when you leave for work.
