App Automations 101 - Shortcuts for Rotation Lock, Auto-Mute, and Focus Modes!

Automate apps on your iPhone with easy, like auto-turn off rotation lock, mute apps like Instagram on open, auto Focus Mode, and more! I walk through creating each automation step by step, and they only require 1 action.
📺 Videos Mentioned
Shortcuts 101 - 7 Easy Shortcuts
• Shortcuts 101 - Buildi...
13 Easy KZbin Shortcuts!
• 13 Easy KZbin Shortc...
Top 10 Home Automations
• 10 Useful Home Automat...
📲 Follow me on:
Join my newsletter: beard.fm/blog
Twitter: / stephenrobles
Threads: threads.net/@stephenrobles
Mastodon: mastodon.social/@stephenrobles
Website: beard.fm
🎧 My Podcasts:
Movies on the Side: www.moviesontheside.com
AppleInsider Podcast: appleinsider.com/podcast/appl...
HomeKit Insider: appleinsider.com/podcast/home...
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
00:24 Auto Rotation Lock
03:37 Mute Apps Automatically
04:45 Auto Focus Mode
06:49 Guided Access Automation
08:01 Watch Workout Automation
My Gear:
🛒 Earthworks Ethos Microphone: amzn.to/35hIh2h
🛒 Sony A7 IV Camera: amzn.to/3fZcp4S
🛒 Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 for Sony E-Mount: amzn.to/3qWe0yt
🛒 Earthworks Icon Microphone: amzn.to/3KLYLjq
🛒 Shure SM7B Vocal Microphone: amzn.to/3DzZe3n
🛒 Elgato Key Light Air: amzn.to/3EvNb8T
🛒 Sony a6400 Camera: amzn.to/3GlVqog
🛒 Sigma 16mm 1.4 Lens for Sony E Mount: amzn.to/3DxqyiK
🛒 ATEM Mini Pro: amzn.to/3dHfcyx
🛒 Rodecaster PRO II: amzn.to/46mK2WK
🛒 Sound Devices MixPre-3: amzn.to/3doT3EO

[@JohnGonzalezFL]

Stephen, thanks for such great pointers! Following one of your videos, I created a “Worship” focus mode that activates as soon as I get to church and turns off when I leave. No more embarrassing noises during that one quite point during church services!

[@beardfm]

Great use case! Glad it could help!

[@JohnGonzalezFL]

@@beardfm I don’t know if you remember working with me @ Sonrise Church… a long time ago. I love your content, even watched you on the TWiT network w/Leo.

[@ilias.k]

For apps that you want to do the same thing, like Orientation or Volume you don't need to have separate automations... At the search you can select any App, like Photos, Blackmagic, Hailide and it will work for each one of them. So you can "group" some of the automations based on the action and not to fill up with many "small" automations.

[@beardfm]

^ this 100% don't know why I never tried that!

[@ilias.k]

It's probably one of those silly "logical" things that Apple has and it makes you wonder, why I didn't know that earlier? 😂

[@frwiss]

This. Is. Amazing! Thank you!

[@rashedalpha]

Watching your videos on iphone shortcuts made my iPhone’s 15 pro ultra instinct unleashes 🤩🔥🔥 .. Thanks Stephen for these guides 🙏🏻

[@beardfm]

haha great to hear! thanks for watching 🙏

[@thejtray]

Shortcuts have really opened my world in iOS. I would love more videos like this. I have added a few of the automations you suggested. Thanks and keep them coming.

[@beardfm]

That’s great to hear! And I do have a 7 Shortcuts starter pack here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eX-voGVseruIq5osi=wE7nf_jkWWitRc9t

[@delv4108]

Love this video. I consider myself fairly iPhone savvy but had no idea I could set up automations like this. Removing the orientation lock in photos and turning the volume to 0% when opening instagram are game changers, I’ve always wished this would happen automatically but had no clue it was even a possibility. I also set the remove orientation lock for KZbin to be able to see videos full screen just by turning my phone. Thanks again for sharing!

[@beardfm]

Thanks for watching, appreciate it! These little automations make the experience just a little better 🙂

[@saverioyoung3003]

Great video man 😎 Thanks for the info

[@faradaycool4058]

Great work, Steph. Keep em' comin'. Thanks from Singapore

[@beardfm]

Thank you! Will do!

[@DriesGrobler]

The orientation lock automation for Photos is the best thing ever!!

[@beardfm]

Thanks! Love that automation

[@zabdielscoon3041]

This is actually really cool. It’s exciting to have these straightforward ways to achieve so much. More please!

[@beardfm]

Thanks! And more coming 👍🏼

[@Ykodi01234]

I love this kind of videos!! Thanks❤

[@beardfm]

Thanks for watching!

[@jjrambacal]

Appreciate the shortcuts videos!

[@beardfm]

Awesome, thanks! I plan to keep em coming!

[@vigiltgi]

This is incredible dude! Thank you for showing us automations. I've been really wanting auto rotate and rotate lock for years and I never thought it was possible

[@beardfm]

Thanks man! Glad it helped you set those up!

[@delv4108]

Same here, it’s awesome!

[@anthonydsouza1881]

Great video of the shortcuts Stephen. I wanted to know if it’s possible to create a shortcut for call forwarding for a secondary phone number. My cellular provider needs a code to be put before the number where calls will be forwarded to activate this function.

[@SeasideAya]

Thank you for this😊

[@beardfm]

Glad I could help!

[@Makingthetransition]

Thank you!

[@beardfm]

Welcome!

[@Balthazor1000]

great video! thanks!

[@beardfm]

Welcome 🙏🏻

[@ryansyahputera6053]

Can you make automation to set orientation when playing videos in safari? Just when playing video, not when open safari

[@ReluctantSpirit]

Nice..good job

[@beardfm]

Thanks! Appreciate it

[@H1TMAN03]

Awesome video ❤

[@beardfm]

Appreciate it!

[@TheHockey1980]

Can you do one that has my HomePod greeting me in the morning and tells me the weather when my alarm goes off

[@ShurororoMaster]

Great content. Many thanks. Is there a way to stop muting instagram or other apps if I have a bluetooth connection on?

[@beardfm]

Thanks! If you use the app Toolbox Pro, you can pull data like Bluetooth connections and media currently playing. Then, start the automation by getting the Bluetooth status, an “If” statement, and you can specify that way

[@user-yw2ir1yj3y]

How I can automate auto disable my alarms and sleep mode auto when I wake up before them? It’s annoying to disable sleep mode or alarm manually every morning

[@charlie88w]

Stephen, I'm addicted to your channel 😄 I'm curious, is that possible to create automation whenever my iphone connected to car Bluetooth, I want to be able listen to music and open Google Assistant app for Google map navigation? Thank you so much.

[@beardfm]

You can! Will do something like that in a future video. And thank you for watching ☺️

[@achu1250]

Hi Stephen, your videos are amazing. I have a question and please let me know if it's possible. I want to set a automation based on two conditions. Example : when my car play is disconnected and when I'm at my work location I want a particular focus mode to be activated. Is this doable through the shortcuts app?

[@beardfm]

You can! I’ll do this in a follow up video as it will be advanced with if statements.

[@luluh325]

hi Stephen, how if deleted the shortcuts apps on iphone but still working the automation, if i open the apps like facebook or messenger in a seconds it will turn to the camera & alarm timer what should i do? pls can you help?

[@Rahul_dz7mi]

Great. That orientation stuff is very helpful. I have a question. I’ve set an automation for when my battery reaches 100%. It speaks out loud but only if my media volume is up. But how to set it in such a way that the volume goes up when it runs, even if it’s set to mute?

[@beardfm]

Thanks! You can add a media volume action right before the spoken text, and raise it to 60% or so

[@mohasinibrahim4398]

Hi Stephen, thank you and it is very useful. I would like to use shortcuts to open an app and toggle button in there to on/off. How do I do that?

[@beardfm]

Appreciate it! You can certainly open an app with Shortcuts, but unless that app has specific Shortcuts actions built-in, you won't be able to toggle something specifically on/off

[@mohasinibrahim4398]

@@beardfm Thank you !!

[@vijaynarasaiah7908]

Hi Stephen, do you have the short cut to toggle Silence Unknown Callers between 7pm to 7am?

[@beardfm]

Unfortunately I can’t share Automations to download via link, but in Shortcuts you can go to the automations tab > hit plus > time of day automation > run immediately > new blank shortcut > search for action “silence unknown callers” and create it there!

[@VioletTheCamaro]

Great. I added this for all POP games. Can you batch them for all media volume apps or do you have to do it individually per app?

[@beardfm]

thanks! And unfortunately you have to add an automation per-app. You can't select multiple at a time.

[@fatihmandac8703]

Hi Stephen, how can I turn off banner pop-ups when the phone is turned sideways as an automation for iPhone shortcuts? For example , I opened a video on KZbin and click to full screen. I don't want to take notification banners. Like this 🤔

[@Aayankhan-fv4je]

When iphone is locked focus mode turn on and when iphone is unlocked focus mode turned off, so how we do this scenario and set this scenario please make a video about it 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@beardfm]

Will try that!

[@Aayankhan-fv4je]

@@beardfm through shortcuts 😊

[@radovanrosic3653]

does anybody know how to open microsoft documents (word,excel...) from mail (as a attachment) on Apple watch? Cant find anywhere some tutorial...thanks!

[@user-bm8rh1oz1j]

Hey, your channel has been really useful. What I would like to do is 1. When I take a photo, is it possible to move the photo to a specific folder? It could be based on location or if am in any focus mode For example I want to move all the photos which I take using my camera while am at work location into a folder named work! Is it possible to do it? Your help will be very useful

[@frwiss]

Stephen, could you please show us automation to turn off the auto-lock screen when. a certain app is on? Thank you in advance!

[@beardfm]

Unfortunately that’s not a Shortcuts action you can program. But I have a Settings shortcut here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gHfFYquFediVj8Usi=DwCVwXPDRT2NDPE4

[@frwiss]

Thank you for taking the time to respond!@@beardfm

[@GT-ho6co]

Anyone know why I run an automation it notifies me after it’s run even though it’s set not to?? I have one for increasing volume when I connect to Bluetooth in my car. I don’t want the every time it ran. Great videos my the way really well done 👍🏼

[@beardfm]

Thanks! And there's the "Show When Run" toggle that will be on individual actions, and there's also the "Run Immediately / Show Notification toggles when you first create an automation. I'd be sure to check both

[@HughD]

Stephen, I find myself watching your channel more and more because you are doing a great job of explaining things. Keep up the good work. I predict your channel will continue to grow.

[@beardfm]

Appreciate that! Doing me best to explain for everyone to understand 🙏

[@f9fad]

hi nice video! you got battery tips video?

[@beardfm]

Hm not yet but will put one together!

[@vidpic8311]

Can you create a shortcut to connect to a specific network in my home

[@beardfm]

You can actually use a URL scheme to connect to a wifi network. Use the Open URL action and use this: WIFI:S:NETWORKNAME;T:WPA;P:PASSWORD;; Replace network name and password with the network info you want. Then you can add actions to play music and handoff playback to a HomePod on that other network! May need to add a couple wait actions in between to give your phone time to connect.

[@JCarterTV1]

Make more of these shortcut videos please

[@beardfm]

Planning on it! Have a few on the channel too: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eX-voGVseruIq5osi=J-6cnKoVy2obWS0C

[@rafiahmedd]

Is there a way to use the Auto-Mute shortcut with Insta/TikTok, BUT if music/podcast is playing outside the app for it to bypass or ignore the command? It’s annoying if something’s playing and then muted if those apps are opened. Appreciate your help!

[@beardfm]

Actually, using Toolbox Pro app you get additional shortcuts actions, including “is audio playing.” So you could start the automation with “when insta opens” then first action: Is audio playing > if yes > do nothing > otherwise lower media volume to 0

[@shakthivel9354]

How to book cab

[@EmadMokhtar]

I wish I can create a shortcut that sync the silent mode between iPhone and the Apple Watch

[@Sashazur]

Yes if you make a shortcut that controls both of them at the same time. But I don’t think you could make one that detects when silent mode changes on one device and then do it on the other one.

[@dronefilmsgermany]

can u createa shortcut to disable and enable call forwarding?

[@beardfm]

Unfortunately there are no actions for that

[@Breault720]

is there a way to trigger some of these automations to use using a shortcut as a trigger? I use the iCloud Passwords shortcut from a previous video to access work passwords/2FA, and would love to use that shortcut to trigger my work focus mode. Is that possible?

[@beardfm]

Hm, you can add the "Set Focus Mode" action to the end of that passwords Shortcut so it triggers automatically every time. Otherwise you would have to create an automation for when "settings" is opened, but that's not ideal as I imagine you'd go into the settings app many other times besides just passwords.

[@user-xc4hi9ev7u]

hey .. nice videos ... is there any shortcut or automation for "auto brightness" turn on/off ?

[@f9fad]

yes. almost same method

[@beardfm]

Thanks! Actually don’t see an action for auto brightness. Would have loved that as filming the iPhone screen often it’s annoying to have it auto adjust

[@user-xc4hi9ev7u]

@@beardfm thanks for reply... actual i also tried to search and try create shortcut and automation but never found any.. i think apple kept that feature so locked up.. first its move from screen brightness section to accessbility tab

[@bm63]

Added a few of these! But I notice unlike normal shortcuts they share auto across devices whereas automations for me did not… with option to share either.

[@beardfm]

Yeah these Shortcuts automations can really only run on iPhone, unless they're HomeKit specific. And you can't share them either.

[@Stevens288]

Stephen what case you using in the video?

[@beardfm]

Decoded leather case! I review it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bIixn6pviNybr8Usi=cG4oP_4cbA-X_Xth

[@Piscifunalliym]

Since Apple does not make it possible to use alarm and ring tone separately, could you create a short cut that whenever the alarm goes off it turns down the volume to for ex 10%? Great vid😊

[@beardfm]

Thanks! And “when alarm goes off” is actually an available automation trigger! So yes, you can start with that and then add a volume adjustment action

[@Piscifunalliym]

Please do a vid on this request. I cannot make the shortcut. 😢 This would help so many people and would solve 15 years of requests to apple concerning this matter..👍 😃

[@francheskacelian1001]

I don’t know how to use the updated version of shortcut I want to make custom automation for my sleep focus mode but it’s giving me limited opens on what I can do if you could please help me I’ll appreciate it

[@beardfm]

Are you trying to trigger an automation based on the sleep focus mode activating or have actions occur *when you enable* the focus mode?

[@francheskacelian1001]

I want it do trigger an automation when sleep focus is on @@beardfm

[@luzcastellanos8189]

Stephen, I need your help. I hope you will read this. I like to have my phone in silence mode, at any time and everyday my phone is in silence mode but because of that sometimes I miss important calls. Is there a way I can setup my phone to increase the ringtone to 100% when an specific contact calls? I saw something like that in the automation part but it works only for messages and emails. In simple words what I want is "When I get a call from "x person", set ringtone volume to 100%". Could you please help me?

[@Sashazur]

You can do that without shortcuts. In settings change your ringtone to silent and ring volume to 100%. In contacts set a custom ringtone for the contacts you want to ring.

[@YonkoHub360]

1:11 Bro plz help my iPhone doesn’t show both “ run after confirmation “ and “ run immediately “ how can I enable that option 😢 plz help

[@beardfm]

What action or automation are you trying to build?

[@notcrystal_7]

Isn't there a way to keep a time period that automatically turn on the sleep focus?

[@beardfm]

Yes, you can schedule each focus mode in Settings > Focus on your iPhone

[@notcrystal_7]

@@beardfm thnx, done 👍

[@kianostad]

Do you know any in-depth tutorials for the Shortcuts app? While there are many resources online explaining the basics like what it is, how to download or share one, and the necessity of installing shortcuts, I'm looking for a more advanced guide. Specifically, I'd like some insights into the inputs and outputs of actions, beyond just dealing with simple text. For instance, my camera captures both high-res RAW and low-res JPG images. I want to streamline my workflow by reviewing and deleting unnecessary JPGs (as they load faster) and then running a shortcut to swiftly remove RAW files without corresponding JPGs (e.g., abcd.jpg -> abcd.raw) to free up space. Do you think this is achievable?

[@beardfm]

Hey! So that kind of automation can be done, but it has to manually be triggered in Shortcuts. An alternative could be to use an app called Hazel which will monitor a folder on your Mac and perform actions based on file type, size, name, etc automatically: www.noodlesoft.com

[@empireofhouse87]

Thank you! That volume popping up on Instagram is annoying!

[@beardfm]

Your'e welcome! I set that for TikTok and Instagram for sure, no more loud reels when I'm not expecting it

[@empireofhouse87]

@@beardfm Very Helpful. Have to do that for TikTok as well!

[@HasidicHomeboy]

You seem like the shortcut guy. Hoping you see this. Do you have a video that would show me how to make a shortcut to one blink camera app and click the “arm” or “disarm” button on the main page? I want to make a shortcut for my Apple Watch. One that opens and clicks arm. One that opens and clicks disarm. Can’t find tutorial that shows gestures

[@beardfm]

Hey man, unfortunately gestures like that aren’t really a part of Shortcuts. Apps have to put specific actions in the Shortcuts app for it to work. Sorry about that!

[@CreachterZ]

Do you take requests for a walk-thru of a particular use case to teach how to get started?

[@beardfm]

I plan on making a bunch of Shortcuts videos to send your requests! Can't guarantee I'll cover everything but can certainly add to the list

[@CreachterZ]

@@beardfm Cool. I’m not asking for a “Hey, do this for me!” I’d like to learn. Here’s my scenario: - I’m watching a KZbin video and need to go to the kitchen to do some cooking task. - I want to pause KZbin and start a playlist in Apple Music, Spotify, whatever. - When I’m done, I want to pause the music and play the KZbin video from where I was.

[@ReluctantSpirit]

Next whenever i play a youtube video it automatically airplays on apple tv

[@beardfm]

Swipe down the control center, tap the AirPlay in the top right corner, then tap control other devices at the very bottom. Then go all the way up and choose iPhone. See if that helps!

[@ReluctantSpirit]

hmm... how is that automation😂

[@priyanshugupta9816]

Make a video for macos

[@beardfm]

For features, I got you: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nHeYqWebbciEmqMsi=w1plJEJoAzgdChN- But are you wanting Shortcuts for macOS?

[@priyanshugupta9816]

Yes@@beardfm

[@nickwall]

You know you can choose more than one app right? So you only need one automation for Photos and Halide for example

[@beardfm]

Wow, actually didn’t know! Thanks for that

[@nickwall]

@@beardfm Happy to help and know I have out-geeked you, my year is complete 😉😂

[@DJRatchet1]

can you do a scheduled text message? everynight text my mom I love u at 8pm??

[@beardfm]

You could actually do that! Shortcuts > Automations > Time of day (run immediately) > send message

[@DJRatchet1]

all my life.....thank you! @@beardfm