10 Best Automation Ideas on iPhone and How to Create Them
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What Is Automation on iPhone?
How to Set Up Automation on Your iPhone
Here’s how to set up an automation on your iPhone.
Step 1:Open theShortcutsapp > go to theAutomationtab > selectNew Automation.
Step 2:Select theCondition.
Step 3:Choose if you want to run the automation as soon as the condition is satisfied, or if you want to manually confirm the same one. SelectRun ImmediatelyorRun After Confirmation, respectively.
Step 4:You can also select the frequency with which you want to run the automation – whether it isDaily, Weekly, or Monthly.
Step 5:Then, tap onNext.
Step 6:You can now see the condition described on top. Now, you must pick an action your iPhone needs to perform when it satisfies the condition.
You can automate your iPhone to perform actions by executing a Shortcut:
There you go – once you create the Automation, your iPhone will act as soon as the condition is satisfied.
If you’re like us and want to learn through examples, you’ll love the next section.
10 Best Automation Ideas for iPhone
Here are some of the automation shortcuts I’ve set up on my iPhone.
1. Enable Low Power Mode When Battery Goes Below a Certain Level
I created an automation that sets the Low Power Mode on the iPhone as soon as the battery goes below a certain level.
Step 1:Open theAutomationtab > selectBattery Levelin the list.
Step 2:Use thesliderto adjust the battery level condition.
Step 3:Then, run the automation if the batteryrises/equal to/fallsbelow the set level. Tap onNext> selectSet Low Power Modeunder the suggestions.
2. Get Directions to a Location as Soon as You Leave One
Here’s how my iPhone automatically pulls up directions to work when I leave my home between 9:00AM and 10:00AM.
Step 1:Open theAutomationtab > selectLeavein the list.
Step 2: Now, add your home location in theLocationsection.
Step 2:Search and selectOpen Driving Directions, select theFrom and Tolocations > select thedefault app. Tap onDone, and the automation will run as soon as you leave your home – and navigation will open in the selected app.
3. Enable Always On Display When You Reach Work
To prevent any distractions, I want to avoid using my iPhone at work. Therefore, the Always On Display helps keep up with notifications with a glance at the screen. However, I only want to use it when I am at work and not otherwise. So, I created an automation that enables it as soon as I reach my work location.
Step 1:Open theAutomationtab > selectArrivein the list.
Step 2:Now, tap onAdd Actionor search for an action using the search bar.
Instead of manually disabling it after work, you can also create another automation to turn it off when you leave your work.
4. Auto Schedule a Message
I used to add a reminder at the end of every month, to text my colleague to send an invoice. Instead, I created an automation that automatically sends the text. Here’s how.
Step 1:Open theAutomationtab > selectTime of Day.
Step 2:Tap onNew Blank Automation>Add Action.
5. Toggle Airplane Mode Automatically
When my work day ends, I don’t prefer receiving any communication from the office. Therefore, I created an automation on my work iPhone that automatically enables Airplane mode at the end of the day.
I created two automations: one to enable Airplane mode at 8PM every day and another to disable it when my day begins.
Step 1:Open theAutomationtab > selectTime of Dayand select the time to enable/disable Airplane Mode.
Step 2:Next, selectNew Blank Automation> searchAirplane Mode> selectOnorOffdepending on the automation you are creating.
6. Enable Do Not Disturb When You Open an App
When I’m watching Netflix, I don’t wish to be interrupted by notifications. So, I created an automation that enables Do Not Disturb when I open the app and disables it when it is closed. You can map any focus mode of your choice to the automation.
Note:You can set the same for any streaming service or other apps.
Step 1:Open theAutomationtab, scroll down, and selectAppfrom the list.
Now, selectNetflixin the app section > check the boxes forIs OpenedandIs Closed. This means that the automation will run whenever you open/close the app.
Step 2:Tap onNew Blank Automation> selectAdd Action> search forFocus.
Note:This shortcut toggles Do Not Disturb when you open or close Netflix – meaning it changes the state of DND when you open/close the app. Therefore, ensure Do Not Disturb is off before you open Netflix.
7. Enable Auto Rotate When You Open an App
Similarly, I enable auto-rotate every time I open Netflix, so I created an automation that ensures the orientation lock is off whenever I open Netflix.
Step 1:Open theAutomationtab, scroll down, and selectAppfrom the list.
Now, selectNetflixin the app section and check the box forIs Opened. This means that the automation will run when you open the app.
Step 2:Tap onNew Blank Automation, selectAdd Action,and search forOrientation Lock.Ensure it saysTurn orientation lock Off. If not, tap on each button to change it.
Fun Fact:While the above example demonstrates adding one app to the automation, you can add multiple apps to an automation on your iPhone.
8. Play a Specific Playlist as Soon as You Begin a Workout on Apple Watch
My running workout is incomplete without my high-energy, upbeat Rock Playlist. So, I created an automation to play a playlist when I start a Running Workout. Yes, it works when you start aworkout on the Apple Watchas well.
Step 1:Open theAutomationtab and selectApple Watch Workoutfrom the list.
Step 2:Tap onDone, and the automation will play the selected playlist when you start the workout.
9. Enable Live Captions When You Open an App
Live Captions on the iPhone is useful for real-time transcription of audio from apps. I’ve created an automation that enables live captions as soon as I open the Google Meet app.
Step 1:Open theAutomationtab > scroll down > selectAppfrom the list.
Now, selectGoogle Meetin the app section and check the box forIs Opened. This means that the automation will run when you open the app.
Step 2:Tap onNew Blank Automation, selectAdd Action,and search forLive Captions.
Ensure it saysTurn Live Captions On. If not, tap on each button to change it.
10. A Combo of Automation During Bedtime
The app also lets you add multiple actions for a single automation. For example, here’s my bedtime automation.
Also Read:Here’s how I joined the 5 AM club with the help of my iPhone.
Other Useful Automation Ideas for iPhone
1. Create Home Automation
You can alsoautomate all the devices connected with the Home appon your iPhone. You can turn on/off a device when you leave or arrive at your home, control devices when a specific time of the day occurs – and any other conditions and actions supported by the Home app and the accessory.
2. Create Automation With NFC Tags
Whenever your iPhone detects an NFC tag, you can automate a certain action or a trigger. For example, when your iPhone detects an NFC tag on gym equipment, you can automatically start recording a workout.
Open theNFC actionin the Automation tab,Scana tag, and explore everything you can automate.
3. Create Automation With CarPlay
The moment you get inside your car, and your iPhone connects to CarPlay, you can automate various actions and features. For example, you can automatically play your favorite driving playlist when your iPhone connects to CarPlay. Further, you can also automatically pull up driving directions to a location when your iPhone connects to CarPlay.
You can check out our guide on thebest Apple CarPlay Shortcuts and Automationyou can use.
4. Create Apple Wallet Automation
You can also create automation when performing a transaction with Apple Pay on your iPhone. For example, as soon as you perform a transaction, you can automatically take a screenshot and add it to a specific album to log your transaction.
Open theTransactionssection >select the cardsthat will trigger the automation when tapped. Then, browse the list of actions you can automate.
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Last updated on 02 August, 2024
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