20 Useful Scripts and Automation Workflows for iPhone

Automation on the iPhone can significantly enhance productivity, streamline daily tasks, and provide seamless interaction with various apps and services.

Apple’s Shortcuts app is a powerful tool for creating custom automations, enabling users to build personalized workflows with ease.

Here, we explore some useful scripts and automation workflows for iPhone users, along with step-by-step instructions on how to create them.

Creating Shortcut Automation on iPhone

Creating automation all starts with the same process.

First, make sure you have the Shortcuts app installed on your iPhone. If not, download it from the Apple App Store.

Then launch the Shortcuts app, go to the "Automation" tab, tap the “+” button, and select “Create Personal Automation” to start creating your new shortcut.

Here are 20 useful shortcuts you can create:

1. Morning Routine Automation

Purpose: Kickstart your day by automating morning tasks.

1. Set Trigger: Choose “Time of Day” and set the time you want the routine to start (e.g., 7:00 AM).
2. Add Actions:
   • Weather Report: Tap “Add Action,” search for “Weather,” and select “Get Current Weather.” Add another action to “Show Result.”
   • Calendar Events: Add action, search for “Calendar,” and choose “Find Calendar Events.” Set it to find events for the day.
   • News Briefing: Add action, search for “Get Articles from News,” and specify the categories.
   • Music/Podcast: Add action, search for “Play Music” or “Play Podcast,” and select your preferred content.
3. Tap “Next,” review, and tap “Done” to save.

2. Location-Based Reminders

Purpose: Ensure you remember tasks based on your location.

Steps to Create:

1. Set Trigger: Choose “Arrive” or “Leave,” and select the specific location (e.g., grocery store).
2. Add Actions:
   • Reminder: Tap “Add Action,” search for “Reminders,” and select “Add New Reminder.” Enter the reminder details.
   • Message: Add action, search for “Send Message,” and enter the recipient and message.
   • HomeKit Integration: Add action, search for “Control Home,” and select the devices or scenes to control.
3. Tap “Next,” review, and tap “Done” to save.

3. Travel Time Estimation

Purpose: Help you manage time by providing travel estimates.

Steps to Create:

1. Set Trigger: Choose “Time of Day” or “Event” from Calendar.
2. Add Actions:
   • Location Services: Add action, search for “Get Current Location.”
   • Map Integration: Add action, search for “Get Travel Time,” and specify the destination.
   • Notification: Add action, search for “Show Notification,” and customize the message with travel time.
3. Tap “Next,” review, and tap “Done” to save.

4. Automatic Text Replies

Purpose: Automatically respond to messages when you’re busy or driving.

Steps to Create:

1. Set Trigger: Choose “Do Not Disturb” or “CarPlay.”
2. Add Actions:
   • Messages: Add action, search for “Send Message,” and enter the predefined text reply.
3. Tap “Next,” review, and tap “Done” to save.

5. Expense Tracking

Purpose: Simplify the process of tracking daily expenses.

Steps to Create:

1. Set Trigger: Choose “Siri” or “Manual.”
2. Add Actions:
   • Prompt: Add action, search for “Ask for Input,” and specify the expense amount and category.
   • Record: Add action, search for “Add Row to Spreadsheet,” and link it to your finance app or spreadsheet.
   • Summary: Add action, search for “Send Email,” and configure it to send a summary of expenses.
3. Tap “Next,” review, and tap “Done” to save.

6. Custom Photo Editing

Purpose: Automate photo editing for consistency and efficiency.

Steps to Create:

1. Set Trigger: Choose “Photo Album” and specify the album.
2. Add Actions:
   • Filters: Add action, search for “Apply Filter,” and select the desired filter.
   • Resize: Add action, search for “Resize Image,” and specify dimensions.
   • Save/Share: Add action, search for “Save to Photo Album” or “Share,” and choose the destination.
3. Tap “Next,” review, and tap “Done” to save.

7. Health and Fitness Tracker

Purpose: Monitor and manage health and fitness routines.

Steps to Create:

1. Set Trigger: Choose specific times or activities.
2. Add Actions:
   • Health Data: Add action, search for “Log Health Sample,” and select the type of data.
   • Reminders: Add action, search for “Add Reminder,” and specify the details.
   • Progress Updates: Add action, search for “Send Email,” and configure it to send a progress summary.
3. Tap “Next,” review, and tap “Done” to save.

8. Meeting Preparation

Purpose: Ensure you are prepared for meetings with all necessary information.

Steps to Create:

1. Set Trigger: Choose “Event” from Calendar.
2. Add Actions:
   • Document Access: Add action, search for “Open File,” and select the relevant documents.
   • Contact Information: Add action, search for “Find Contacts,” and specify the participants.
   • Reminders: Add action, search for “Add Reminder,” and set reminders for preparation tasks.
3. Tap “Next,” review, and tap “Done” to save.

9. Smart Home Control

Purpose: Manage smart home devices efficiently.

Steps to Create:

1. Set Trigger: Choose actions like “Arrive Home,” “Leave Home,” “Bedtime,” or “Waking Up.”
2. Add Actions:
   • Device Control: Add action, search for “Control Home,” and select the devices or scenes.
   • Scene Activation: Add action, search for “Set Scene,” and specify the scene.
3. Tap “Next,” review, and tap “Done” to save.

10. Social Media Management

Purpose: Automate posting and interaction on social media platforms.

Steps to Create:

1. Set Trigger: Choose specific times or manual initiation.
2. Add Actions:
   • Post Scheduling: Add action, search for “Post to [Social Media],” and specify the content.
   • Engagement: Add action, search for “Like Recent Post,” “Comment on Post,” or “Follow User,” and set criteria.
3. Tap “Next,” review, and tap “Done” to save.

11. Automatic Email Organization

Purpose: Keep your email inbox organized by sorting emails automatically.

Steps to Create:

1. Set Trigger: Choose “Email” and specify the conditions (e.g., from specific contacts or containing certain keywords).
2. Add Actions:
   • Move Email: Add action, search for “Move Email,” and select the destination folder.
   • Label Email: Add action, search for “Add Label to Email,” and specify the label.
3. Tap “Next,” review, and tap “Done” to save.

12. Battery Saver Mode

Purpose: Automatically enable battery-saving settings when your battery is low.

Steps to Create:

1. Set Trigger: Choose “Battery Level” and set it to trigger at a specific percentage (e.g., 20%).
2. Add Actions:
   • Enable Low Power Mode: Add action, search for “Set Low Power Mode,” and toggle it on.
   • Reduce Brightness: Add action, search for “Set Brightness,” and lower the brightness level.
3. Tap “Next,” review, and tap “Done” to save.

13. Auto-Responder for Vacation

Purpose: Automatically send a response to messages while you are on vacation.

Steps to Create:

1. Set Trigger: Choose “Time of Day” and set the start and end dates for your vacation.
2. Add Actions:
   • Messages: Add action, search for “Send Message,” and enter the predefined text reply for incoming messages.
3. Tap “Next,” review, and tap “Done” to save.

14. Automatic App Launcher

Purpose: Launch multiple apps with a single tap.

Steps to Create:

1. Set Trigger: Choose “Manual” or “Time of Day.”
2. Add Actions:
   • Open App: Add action, search for “Open App,” and select the apps you want to launch.
3. Tap “Next,” review, and tap “Done” to save.

15. Emergency Contact Notification

Purpose: Automatically notify emergency contacts in case of an emergency.

Steps to Create:

1. Set Trigger: Choose “Siri” or “Emergency SOS.”
2. Add Actions:
   • Send Location: Add action, search for “Send Location,” and select your emergency contacts.
   • Message: Add action, search for “Send Message,” and write a predefined text message.
3. Tap “Next,” review, and tap “Done” to save.

16. Automatic Backup of Photos

Purpose: Automatically back up your photos to a cloud service.

Steps to Create:

1. Set Trigger: Choose “Time of Day” or “When Charging.”
2. Add Actions:
   • Select Photos: Add action, search for “Select Photos,” and choose recent photos.
   • Upload to Cloud: Add action, search for “Upload to [Cloud Service],” and configure the details.
3. Tap “Next,” review, and tap “Done” to save.

17. Sleep Mode Activation

Purpose: Prepare your iPhone for bedtime by enabling sleep-friendly settings.

Steps to Create:

1. Set Trigger: Choose “Time of Day” (e.g., 10:00 PM).
2. Add Actions:
   • Do Not Disturb: Add action, search for “Set Do Not Disturb,” and enable it.
   • Brightness: Add action, search for “Set Brightness,” and lower the brightness.
   • Night Shift: Add action, search for “Set Night Shift,” and enable it.
3. Tap “Next,” review, and tap “Done” to save.

18. Automatic Focus Mode

Purpose: Enable a focus mode during work or study sessions.

Steps to Create:

1. Set Trigger: Choose “Time of Day” or “Location” (e.g., office).
2. Add Actions:
   • Focus Mode: Add action, search for “Set Focus Mode,” and select the desired focus mode.
   • Silence Notifications: Add action, search for “Set Notifications,” and choose to silence notifications.
3. Tap “Next,” review, and tap “Done” to save.

19. Home Security Check

Purpose: Ensure your home is secure by checking the status of smart devices.

Steps to Create:

1. Set Trigger: Choose “Arrive Home” or “Leave Home.”
2. Add Actions:
   • Check Devices: Add action, search for “Get Home Status,” and review the status of security devices.
   • Notification: Add action, search for “Show Notification,” and summarize the security check.
3. Tap “Next,” review, and tap “Done” to save.

20. Personal Productivity Tracker

Purpose: Track and log your productivity throughout the day.

Steps to Create:

1. Set Trigger: Choose “Time of Day” or “Manual.”
2. Add Actions:
   • Log Activity: Add action, search for “Log Health Sample,” and choose the type of productivity data.
   • Generate Report: Add action, search for “Create Report,” and specify the data to include.
3. Tap “Next,” review, and tap “Done” to save.