Apple Shortcuts App Tutorial: Beginners Guide
Video Overview & Insights
If you’ve ever opened the Shortcuts app and immediately closed it because it looked too complicated—this video is for you.
great video..thing about apple is they change things so often they make these kind of videos outdated in a few months—
I’m breaking down exactly how to use the Shortcuts app step by step — what it is, how it works, and how you can build iPhone automations that actually make your life easier. Whether you’re trying to boost your productivity, simplify your daily routines, or finally understand what all those “Shortcuts” tiles mean, you’ll learn it all right here.
We’ll cover:
This is brilliant! Thank you. One question. I do digital planning using Noteful and would like to link my calendar app to it via a shortcut. I got everything set up and tested it out. It all runs great from the shortcuts app. However, I cannot get the shortcut to copy correctly so I can paste it into my journal. Whenever I paste it, then click on it inside Noteful, it opens shortcuts but not my calendar. Can you help?
✨ What the Shortcuts app actually does (and why it’s a game changer)
⚡️ How to create custom shortcuts for texting, navigation, reminders, and more
Thank you so much for this!
📱 Real-world automation ideas like sending your location, managing battery life, or setting up daily routines
💡 Tips to connect with Siri Shortcuts, add them to your Home Screen, and build powerful automations that run by themselves
I never knew this existed. Very cool. Very useful.
By the end, you’ll know how to turn your iPhone into your own personal assistant—no coding needed.
If you’re into tech, iPhone tips, and productivity, make sure you like, subscribe, and hit the bell so you don’t miss more tutorials like this.
I feel like this is such a useful app but its very complicated to set up for me. Hope they simplify it
#AppleShortcuts #iPhoneTips #Productivity #Automation #ShortcutsApp #AshLeeDigital
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Apple Shortcuts has always felt like one of those features that's clearly powerful but just intimidating enough to keep most people from ever actually diving in 🙏 The way you broke this down for beginners made it feel genuinely accessible rather than like something only tech savvy people can figure out. The moment it clicked that Shortcuts is basically automation without needing to know how to code was the real turning point in this video. Really brilliantly explained from the ground up ✨📱
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Thank you very much for the informative video. I was able to set up an automation with your help. I have a question: I’m a registered nurse, and my schedule changes weekly. For example, one week I work Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and the next week I work Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday, then it repeats but I cannot set up my alarms that way. Is there a way to automate these alarms so they only go off on the days I work? I’ve been trying for about an hour and can’t figure it out. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
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DEEPERr DIVE! deeper dive! it's been so frustrating knowing i have this monster of an app in there and not be able to utilize that potential. The ideas for certain shortcuts seem intuitive in my head but then in app I get lost immediately! so you've at least gotten me starting out on the right path. I'll let you know if i actually successfully complete anything!
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I’m looking for a shortcut that will help me join a specific zoom call. It must allow me to automatically enter a saved meeting ID number and then the password. I would to duplicate this shortcut, one for each zoom meeting I need to regularly join
More User Perspectives
Amazing video! Thank you so much 😊
@stdy-g3l1:18 erm, “build your own from scratch” OK that’s what I’ve been doing, I wasn’t aware of the other options 😂
@Amelia-Cate78 easy steps to— called shortcuts. Lol
@donaldrichards9604That was very helpful…thank you so much!
@FFLSOT0702Thank you from Spain!
@GaryWalker-dw6fhThank you AshLee. Great video. Now I think I can automate some things I do on a daily basis.
@twosailzI appreciate your patient manner and comprehensive demonstration of Shortcuts examples. Many videos move so quickly that I can barely understand what they are doing let alone how they got somewhere. Although I understand I can slowdown or rewatch at will on YouTube videos, your videos are superior in my eyes because the information that you are sharing is clear, relevant and worth reproducing. Thank you! This was a game changer!!
@MichelePorter-r6oI had a hard time understanding her so didn't find this helpful at all
@tlk_72301:37 “Let’s look around”. Around what? I don’t know how you got to that point.
The last thing I understood was sending a text. “Select the contact, select message - - - “
Thank you this is the only video I found 😂 how to use it😂
@AriRascon-pt3nppov :Me using the shortcut app:
Absolute
\[°-°]/
Cinema
Bro i made it
@SamiraTranI have a hard time understanding her!
@robertweir9034great cadence and information! THank you. The advanced logic is what scares me....
@chaskinsncI'm lost on the first step! When I open the app, it looks nothing like yours. I'm trying to use Shortcuts on 2 different phones, one running iOS 18 & one running iOS 26.
@Khest25Thanks!
Shortcuts can start my car. I’m sold LOL
Thank you for an excellent tutorial! Subscribed and Happy New Year!
@RussRikerFinally a clear explanation of creating shortcuts. Thank you so much.
@dickhamGirl, you put yo foot in this video!👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
@TriceTymeStill can’t figure it out. How on earth does Apple create a productivity app that makes no sense. Lol
@Destra33Thanks for the great video!
@TiberiusCatThank you so much for this!
@antonioxanderlattimore1768One of the best investments Apple has made, but unfortunately it's an EXTREMELY complex app to use. Those with logical and mathematical thinking will find it easy and might even profit from it. But I'd rather not use it or use another brand of phone with easier-to-use functions. Sorry Apple, you overcomplicate the rules and steps of an amazing app, but it's annoying to create shortcuts. I'm out.
@flavio6325I’m really having trouble figuring out how to create a shortcut to send a mass text out to clients so they won’t all be replying like a group chat. Can you help?
@123cbzbThanks a lot! Good explanation 👍🏼
@pieterzed2:26 ring notifications
@MymovieFan2026Thanks for sharing, could you please make a video for vocal record shortcut and where is to retrieve it or where it be saved
@omarnader776Can I create a shortcut to turn on and off Sounds & Haptics? I am constantly turning them on and off and it's annoying to have to always go into Settings in order to do it.
@karamarie6781This is an incredible tutorial thank you!
@tylerharris398I am honestly blown away at this video. I currently have it on pause to write this because I am overwhelmed with relief to be honest, that I shortcuts is really not as hard as I thought it would be. I actually watched your wallpaper background tutorial first, and then found this. I am going to spend the rest of Thanksgiving doing upgrades for myself. So on this Thanksgiving... I am thankful for you. Truly, because I have been overwhelmed and behind at work due to not having any good productivity tools that I can figure out how to use. So thank you, times a million. I do have a few questions or things that I can not figure out how to integrate into a better workfow for my self, and you are the first person explaining these things that I can actually understand and follow. So, my question to you is .... do you, would you, maybe be interested in being my personal tutor on these subjects? I am genuinely willing to pay, without hesitation. I know it may be a weird ask, but at this point I am desperate for some organization in my work and personal life... and despite spending hours and days trying... I am not doing well on my own. Im sorry if its a but forward or strange, but worst you can say is no and I respect that. Anyways, I just thought I would try!! Thank you so much! My email is Lwhitlaw@livewellpcp.com if your willing to talk more about it! Thank you again for considering! - London, an RN with a large technology gap currently...desperate for change 🤣
@LondonWhitlawSuch a great video! I don’t know why I haven’t used this app before! I’m also going to be pairing with some NFC chips for adding things to my grocery list and checking in certain places! Life-changing! You did a great job
@amiemadeitI’m new to this Shortcut coming from Android where there is something more advanced but similar like the Tasker app.
Why didn’t you use the If command in the reading automation for the reading apps, instead of creating two automations? 🙂
Great video, I learned a lot and feel less intimidated by shortcuts ❤
@drich21116:00 bookmarking how to create a shortcut, because I know I’ll have to replay this a few times until I get it.
@tucatsThanks captain! this was super helpful,
@kookaburrito6771This is amazing I'm like my grandma when it comes to technology like this so I needed this hand holding. So helpful and clear!
@emilyvazquez5608Hey you might want to edit this and take out where u someone’s number at 8:13 . I enjoyed this video and thank you
@AlabamaMomma31Great video you should do one expense tracker in Numbers or Google sheets just an idea
@gprime9575Thank you for a clear explanation for the shortcut apps. Thank you so much
@chris-o8r9qI use Shortcuts to group similar apps and use the “Choose from menu with prompt.” When selected, it opens a menu with all the apps or shortcuts I’ve added. I’ve got them all right there, but with only one icon showing on my screen. It cleans up the screen and you can make it a bit more visually appealing.
@rfh41