15 Essential Apple Shortcuts to Boost Your Productivity
Apple Shortcuts can transform the way you use your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, streamlining tasks and enhancing your overall experience. These automation tools allow you to perform complex actions with a few taps, significantly improving your efficiency and productivity. Here are 15 of the most useful Apple Shortcuts that might benefit you:
Create a PDF
Convert documents or images into a PDF format quickly with this shortcut. This can save you time when sharing files or when you need a professional-looking document. To create a PDF, simply select the files you want to convert in the Files app, and then use the shortcut to save them as PDFs directly to your camera roll or another storage location.
Send ETA
Automatically send your estimated time of arrival (ETA) to a contact when you start navigating to a destination. This shortcut ensures that your contacts are always updated on your whereabouts, which is especially useful for appointments or meetings. You can set up this shortcut in the Shortcuts app to automatically run when you start a navigation route.
Morning Routine
Start your day in a personalized and efficient manner with a Morning Routine shortcut. This shortcut can include actions such as turning off Do Not Disturb, checking the weather, and starting a playlist. Customize this shortcut to fit your specific morning habits and streamline your daily routine. You can add these actions to the shortcut in the Shortcuts app and run it on a daily basis.
Text Last Image
Quickly send the last photo you took to a contact via messaging apps. This shortcut saves you time when you need to share a recent photo with a friend or colleague. To use this shortcut, simply create one that captures the last image you have taken and automatically shares it through your messaging app of choice.
Calculate Tip
Easily calculate tips based on the total amount of your bill with this shortcut. This is particularly useful for dining out or tipping in other scenarios. With just a few tap, you can get an accurate tip amount. To set up this shortcut, you can use pre-existing Apple Shortcuts or create a custom one to input the total bill and view the tip calculation.
Log Water Intake
Keep track of your daily water consumption by logging each drink you have with the Log Water Intake shortcut. This can help you stay hydrated and meet your daily water goals. You can add this shortcut to your Health app or keep a dedicated log to track your water intake. Created in the Shortcuts app, this shortcut can be as simple as tapping "Add Water" to log each intake.
Find My Car
Save your parking location and get directions back to your car later with the Find My Car shortcut. This can be especially useful when you are in a crowded parking lot or struggle to remember where you parked. To use this shortcut, simply record your parking spot and then run the shortcut to get directions back to it later.
Set a Timer
Quickly set a timer for a specific duration using the Set a Timer shortcut. Whether you are cooking or working out, having a timer at your fingertips can be incredibly helpful. Customize the duration of the timer to fit your needs in the Shortcuts app, and enjoy the convenience of having a timer with you at all times.
Translate Text
Quickly translate selected text into a different language with the Translate Text shortcut. This can be incredibly useful when you are traveling or need to communicate with someone in another language. To use this shortcut, select the text you want to translate in any app, and then run the shortcut to automatically translate it into your desired language.
Social Media Sharing
Create a shortcut to share content like photos or links across multiple social media platforms at once. This can save you time and effort when you need to share the same content on multiple platforms. Customize the shortcut to include the specific apps and content you want to share, and then run it whenever you need to share something.
Run a Shortcut with Siri
Assign shortcuts to specific phrases to quickly run them using Siri. This can make your life even more convenient by allowing you to trigger shortcuts with voice commands. Go to the Shortcuts app, choose the shortcut you want to run, and then configure it to be triggered by a specific phrase or command when using Siri.
Home Automation
Control smart home devices like turning on lights or adjusting the thermostat with a single command. This shortcut allows you to integrate your smart home devices with your Apple ecosystem, making it easier to manage them from your devices. You can set up this shortcut in the Shortcuts app to control various smart home devices based on your needs.
Create Reminder from Message
Turn messages into reminders quickly with the Create Reminder from Message shortcut. This shortcut allows you to take notes or reminders directly from messages you receive, making it easier to keep track of important information. To use this shortcut, select the message you want to turn into a reminder and then run the shortcut to create a reminder in your device's reminder app.
Batch Resize Images
Resize multiple images at once for easier sharing or storage with the Batch Resize Images shortcut. This can be particularly useful when you have a large number of photos you need to resize before sharing or storing them. To use this shortcut, select the photos you want to resize and then run the shortcut to resize them all at once.
Quickly Access Notes
Create or access specific notes quickly without navigating through the app with the Quickly Access Notes shortcut. This allows you to have easy access to frequently used notes or reminders without having to search through the entire Notes app. Customize the shortcut to quickly open the specific notes you use most often.
These shortcuts can often be customized to fit your specific needs, making them even more powerful. You can find many of these shortcuts in the Shortcuts app on your Apple device, and you can also explore the Gallery to discover new ones. By utilizing these shortcuts, you can enhance your productivity and enjoy a more organized and efficient workflow.