10 Truly Beneficial iPhone Shortcuts That Will Significantly Improve Your Daily Routine

zinghayLast Updated: August 1, 2024

4 minutes read

10 Game-Changing iPhone Shortcuts to Revolutionize Your Daily Life

In the ever-evolving world of technology, Apple’s iPhone continues to be at the forefront of innovation. One of its most powerful yet underutilized features is the Shortcuts app. This ingenious tool allows users to automate complex tasks, saving time and streamlining their digital lives. Today, we’re diving deep into ten incredibly useful iPhone shortcuts that will transform the way you interact with your device and boost your productivity.

1. Never Be Late Again: The ETA Notifier

Imagine being able to keep your friends, family, or colleagues updated on your arrival time without taking your hands off the wheel. With this shortcut, you can do just that:

1. Create a new shortcut in the Shortcuts app
2. Add the “Get Travel Time” action and specify your destination
3. Follow it with the “Send Message” action, selecting your desired contact
4. Use the magic variable to include your travel time in the message
5. Save the shortcut as “Share ETA”

Now, with just a tap, you can send your estimated arrival time to anyone waiting for you, enhancing communication and reducing stress.

2. Your Personal Assistant: The Morning Routine Automator

Start your day right with a custom-tailored morning briefing. This shortcut combines multiple actions to give you a comprehensive overview of your day ahead:

1. In the Shortcuts app, create a new shortcut
2. Add actions like “Get Latest News”, “Get Weather”, and “Get Calendar Events”
3. Customize each action to your preferences (e.g., favorite news sources, home location)
4. Save the shortcut as “Morning Briefing”
5. Set it to run automatically at your preferred wake-up time using the Automation tab

Wake up to a personalized report of the day’s weather, top news stories, and your schedule, all neatly packaged and ready for you to digest with your morning coffee.

3. Document Digitization Made Easy: Photo to PDF Converter

In our increasingly paperless world, the ability to quickly convert photos to PDFs is invaluable. Here’s how to set up this time-saving shortcut:

1. Start a new shortcut in the Shortcuts app
2. Add the “Select Photos” action and enable “Select Multiple”
3. Follow with the “Make PDF” action
4. Add the “Save File” action and choose your preferred save location
5. Name the shortcut “Convert Photos to PDF” and save

With this shortcut, you can transform multiple photos into a single, professional-looking PDF document with just a few taps, perfect for receipts, contracts, or any document you need to digitize quickly.

4. Never Miss a Thought: Instant Meeting Notes

Capture your brilliant ideas and important meeting points effortlessly with this quick note-taking shortcut:

1. Create a new shortcut
2. Add an “Ask for Input” action for the meeting title
3. Add another “Ask for Input” action for the notes
4. Follow with a “Create Note” action
5. Save as “Quick Meeting Notes”

This shortcut allows you to rapidly capture and organize your thoughts, ensuring no important detail slips through the cracks during fast-paced meetings or brainstorming sessions.

5. One-Tap Connection: Speed Dial Your VIPs

Stay connected with your most important contacts at the touch of a button:

1. Open the Shortcuts app and create a new shortcut
2. Add the “Call” action
3. Select your chosen contact
4. Save the shortcut with a name like “Call [Contact Name]”
5. Add the shortcut to your home screen for instant access

This simple yet effective shortcut eliminates the need to navigate through your contacts list, saving precious seconds when you need to reach someone urgently.

6. Safety First: Instant Location Sharing

Enhance your personal safety and keep loved ones informed with this quick location-sharing shortcut:

1. Create a new shortcut
2. Add the “Get Current Location” action
3. Follow with the “Send Message” action
4. Choose your recipient(s) and include the location variable in the message
5. Save as “Share My Location”

With this shortcut, you can instantly share your whereabouts with trusted contacts, providing peace of mind in various situations.

7. Break Language Barriers: Instant Text Translation

Navigate multilingual communications with ease using this powerful translation shortcut:

1. Start a new shortcut
2. Add the “Dictate Text” action
3. Follow with the “Translate Text” action, selecting your desired languages
4. Add the “Speak Text” action for audio output
5. Save as “Instant Translator”

This shortcut transforms your iPhone into a personal interpreter, perfect for international travel or communicating with multilingual contacts.

8. Capture Your Thoughts: Daily Journal Entry

Maintain a consistent journaling habit with this streamlined shortcut:

1. Create a new shortcut
2. Add an “Ask for Input” action, customized for text entry
3. Follow with an “Append to File” action, selecting your journal file location
4. Save as “Daily Journal Entry”

This shortcut simplifies the journaling process, encouraging regular reflection and personal growth with minimal friction.

9. Time Management Made Simple: Quick Timer Setup

Boost your productivity with this easy-to-use timer shortcut:

1. Create a new shortcut
2. Add the “Set Timer” action
3. Customize the duration as needed
4. Save as “Quick Timer”

Whether you’re following the Pomodoro Technique or just need a quick reminder, this shortcut puts time management at your fingertips.

10. Stay Hydrated: Water Intake Tracker

Maintain optimal hydration with this health-focused shortcut:

1. Create a new shortcut
2. Add the “Log Health Sample” action
3. Select “Water” as the sample type and set your daily target
4. Save as “Track Water Intake”

With this shortcut, you can easily log your water consumption and stay on track with your hydration goals, supporting your overall health and wellness.

Unleash the Power of Your iPhone

These ten shortcuts are just the beginning of what’s possible with the iPhone’s automation capabilities. By incorporating these time-saving tools into your daily routine, you can significantly enhance your productivity, streamline your tasks, and make the most of your device’s advanced features.

Remember, the key to maximizing the benefits of these shortcuts is to customize them to your specific needs and integrate them seamlessly into your lifestyle. As you become more comfortable with creating and using shortcuts, you’ll discover countless ways to optimize your digital life and unlock the full potential of your iPhone.

Have you tried any of these shortcuts? Or do you have your own favorite custom shortcuts? Share your experiences and tips in the comments below – let’s build a community of efficient, tech-savvy iPhone users together!