Hey everyone.
I'm Max Dalton, and in this video I'm going to show you how to create a Siri shortcut
using the Shortcuts app on your iPhone or iPad.
With the introduction of iOS 12, Apple is rebranding the Workflow app to Shortcuts.
Perhaps the biggest change in the Shortcuts app is the ability to configure your workflow
shortcuts to launch with a Siri command.
The Shortcuts app makes it possible for you to create all kinds of workflow shortcuts
that can be easily accessed on your Apple iPhone or iPad.
For example, you can create a list of frequently visited locations where all of the locations
link to directions; you can inform specific contacts you're on the way; more easily turn
your Wifi and Bluetooth on and off; and more.
In this video, I'll walk through setting up a shortcut, that when run, will send a text
message to my wife letting her know that I'm heading home from work, and will also open
up my directions home in Waze.
And now let's talk through the steps to create a Siri shortcut using the Shortcuts app on
your iPhone or iPad.
Step 1.
Launch the App Store app on your iPhone or iPad, and then search for and install the
Shortcuts app by Apple.
Step 2.
Launch the "Shortcuts" app you just installed on your device.
You'll land on the Library screen.
Step 3.
Tap "Create Shortcut."
The Untitled Shortcut screen appears.
In this example, I'll create a shortcut that sends a text message to my wife that I'm leaving
work, and that also brings up a map of the route I should take home in Waze.
Step 4.
Tap in the "Search" bar on the screen, and then search for the action you want to create
a shortcut for.
Because I want to create a shortcut that tells my wife I'm leaving work and coming home,
I'll search for "Send Message" and will tap "Send Message" in the results.
I'll be returned to my Untitled Shortcut screen, where I'll now see Send Message added to my
workflow.
Step 5.
I will turn the toggle to the right of Show When Run off so I will not be prompted to
send the message, and the message will just send automatically.
I will set the recipient to be my wife, and I will enter the message, "I'm leaving work
now."
Step 6.
Now I'll add an item to the workflow that generates my best route home in Waze.
I'll type "Maps" into the Search bar, and then will select "Street Address."
This is required to pass my destination into Waze.
The Street Address dialog box appears.
Step 7.
I will enter the destination I want to autopopulate into Waze into the corresponding fields in
the dialog box, and will then tap "Done."
The Street Address item will now be added to my shortcut workflow.
Step 8.
Now I need to add a work item for opening my destination address in Waze.
To do that, I'll enter "Maps" into the Search bar again, and will select "Show Directions."
A Show Directions item now appears in my workflow.
Step 9.
I'll tap "Maps" to the right of Maps App to bring up a list of map apps to open my directions
in.
I'll choose "Waze."
Step 10.
Now that I have my shortcut set up, I'll press the "Play" button at the top of the app to
test it.
It worked!
Step 11.
Now I'll tap the "Settings" icon in the upper right corner of the Shortcuts app.
The Settings icon looks like two toggles.
The Settings screen opens.
Step 12.
Tap the "Name" field to give your shortcut a name.
I'll name mine "Leaving work."
Step 13.
Tap "Icon" to customize your icon associated with the shortcut.
I'll choose a background color of blue, and a glyph of a house.
Step 14.
I'll tap "Add to Siri" on the Settings screen so that I can launch my shortcut workflow
by speaking a specific voice command to Siri.
An Add to Siri screen appears, with a suggestion for what you could name your shortcut workflow.
Tap the orange button at the bottom of this screen, and then speak the phrase you want
to use to launch your shortcut workflow.
In this example, I"ll name my shortcut "Leaving work."
After your audio is captured, the next screen will give you the option to re-record your
phrase.
Tap "Done" when you're happy with your recorded phrase to go back to the Settings screen,
where you'll now see your phrase name to the right of Siri Phrase.
Step 15.
Choose whether or not to share your shortcut in either the widget or the share sheet in
the next two lines.
Step 16.
Tap "Add to Home Screen" and follow the associated instructions if you want to add an icon to
your iPhone or iPad home screen to launch your shortcut workflow.
Step 17.
Tap "Done" in the upper right corner of the Settings screen when you're finished, and
then tap "Done" again in the upper right corner of the shortcut workflow screen.
Your workflow will now appear in your Shortcuts library.
You can run your shortcut workflow at any time on your iPhone or iPad by launching Siri,
and then saying, "Run" followed by the name of your shortcut workflow.
For example, because I named my shortcut workflow Leaving Work, I'll say "Run leaving work"
and it sends a text message to my wife telling her I'm leaving work, and it would bring up
my directions home in Waze.
Congratulations!
You now know how to create a Siri shortcut using the Shortcuts app on your iPhone or
iPad.
Thanks for watching.
Leave your thoughts and questions in the comments section below.
Click the video link on the right side of the screen to check out another video.
Click the logo on the left side of the screen to subscribe to this channel to see more great
videos like this one.