What are Shortcuts and How to Build Them - Shortcuts 101

[@ChrisLawley]

What all would you like to see in future Shortcuts videos?

[@gabrieltataru7366]

Some shortcuts for sharesheet ? :D

[@veritas.ve.42]

Continuing with the notes example, how to get the shortcut to first choose from a list of existing folders and then create a new note (typed or dictated) or clipboard either within a specific existing note or as a new note? E.g. open a folder called “Ideas”, then open a note called “scratchpad” and create the new note or clipboard within scratchpad. Or alternatively create the new note or clipboard as a new note within folder “Ideas”.

[@astra1360]

I'd love for you to review the now very prominent Icon Themer shortcut. It is extremely powerful and really shows what shortcuts are capable of. Also it seems quite useful but many people have reservations about how it works. Just a thought - looking forward to anything!

[@cbasacik]

API’s ?

[@jakepe88]

How to use multiroom streaming “zones”

[@GameKingFaiz]

Wow, as a Software Engineer, I think it's really intuitive how Apple simplified what essentially is basic programming!

[@yukaritakeba8880]

Stop the cap

[@hi-its-matt]

@@yukaritakeba8880 nah it’s not bad, it’s pretty much just scratch but actually functional lmao

[@palmyrene]

@@yukaritakeba8880 err what

[@pabloduarte4470]

Real programming is easier

[@sebastianozorro2138]

Totally agree. After switching from Android I was amazed by the possibilities of custom automations.

[@Jsmithphotography]

My wife and I were just talking about how I really enjoy your videos and that there hasn’t been another person as in-depth and productive with the vast amount things you can do with the iPad. I love your vids!

[@ChrisLawley]

Thank you!! 😃👍

[@ercanyurttaser6872]

FINALLY! Always loved your shortcuts this was literally one of the main reasons why I subbed 😄

[@ChrisLawley]

Glad you like them!

[@stephonchatmanm4773]

@@SpanischlehrerinYasemin scammer

[@whatbensees]

I was literally thinking about watching a video about this topic this morning and boom, 2 hours later, it appears!! Thanks for the consistent great content!

[@ChrisLawley]

Perfect!

[@samuelmanny6231]

Google got so good in spying 😂😂😂 and recommending

[@adwinalias]

Thank you so much for this! Can’t believe I just automated how I use Evernote. Can’t wait to see the rest of the series

[@kaitlynk2145]

So thankful this series is starting!!!

[@stupacmoto]

Yes!!!! This is what ive been waiting for... thanks so much. Looking forward! 👌🏽

[@ChrisLawley]

Hope you like it!

[@stupacmoto]

Christopher Lawley love your videos. I know i will enjoy it. Thanks for your content. Keep at it 😀

[@crocandy1]

Me too. I've always watched the videos and thought that's amazing but probably beyond my ability.

[@ToddMcKeever]

Truly glad I found your channel and have learned so much from you. I must admit this time with this video on shortcuts I was extremely excited to watch. This time you lost me and this was suppose to be shortcut 101? I will rewatch again. Overall, keep up the great job you are doing.

[@Geiir]

YES! This is exactly what I needed. Thanks for your always amazing content 😄

[@bradsheffield246]

Great job on the basics of shortcuts. Looking forward to more of these

[@NeuroBoy314]

Great video Chris, with this series all be able to make my own shortcuts instead of stealing yours from your web site. Shortcuts is awesome BUT it only works with very few apps, I'm a Google and Microsoft ecosystem user and shortcuts is almost for Apple apps!

[@rodgaray]

Thank you so much for this series of videos Chris!!! I’m really want to use the everyday, I’ll follow this series of videos very thoroughly! Again, thank you so much

[@astra1360]

great Video man! Looking forward to the advanced ones!

[@kriscastro]

thanks for this! perfect timing because i've been binging your recent ipad videos and was curious about what shortcuts i could use to improve my workflow and how to even make them

[@ChrisLawley]

Great to hear!

[@kevinwagner5023]

well done, thanks for taking the time to make a high quality presentation that hits all the key points

[@zoulhhh]

Nice explanation. Looking forward for more. I always found shortcut tutorials confusing. But this is great. Thank you.

[@ayschan]

One of the most underrated KZbinr. I am sure you will be rising in the KZbinr world just like the Tesla in automotive industry. Just subscribed to witness that.

[@farbencut]

So many people under-estimate the power of shortcuts. But this is kind of awesome!

[@georgee3401]

Excellent tutorial. Many thanks!

[@peter.organist]

Excellent intro to Shortcuts! Thank you!

[@MonkeeHang3r]

This was very informative, appreciate you doing these kinds of videos. Thank you!

[@SirMopy]

Thanks man! Very easy to follow along and nicely explained!

[@rashidabohra4732]

Thank you sooooo much !!! I really wanted this series 🙌

[@niteshsunka]

Well its like programming a code. It bloody so difficult. Thanks bro. Atleast our mind are ready to learn this rocket science😁

[@sivakumarkathiravan]

Thanks a lot! Looking forward to your future videos.

[@rustycage55]

bro u da only one who knows how to explain shortcuts in whole youtube

[@ChrisHolly]

Perfect tutorial, thank you so much!!!

[@ChrisLawley]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@scottsimons2681]

Hi Chris, can you make a shortcut to open the app Zoom and log into a reoccurring meeting or something similar? I think this will be helpful. Thanks bud.

[@03cobrah]

Now that the action button for the iPhone 15 can utilize shortcuts. I’d love to see more tutorials utilizing this

[@tuandinhhang2747]

I’ve been new to Shortcut lately and I find this video very useful and easy to understand how Shortcut operates. Thank you very much for you work! Btw may I have the link for your ipad wallpaper? It’s beautiful! Thank you!

[@oliviermela]

Awesome! Thanks for this video.

[@TheOneGaming0]

I made a shortcut that opens a random app/game so when i dont know what to play i just use the shortcut

[@Lucas_van_Hout]

Great idea

[@deepakkhatri8194]

very informative. thank you for such a nice video

[@BiotechMoneyPrinter]

Wow! Such a great teacher! You certainly deserve way more than 142K subscribers. Thank you for creating this amazing video.

[@lucasbouche2255]

Perfect tutorial/presentation/initiation

[@ChrisLawley]

Glad you think so!

[@lucasbouche2255]

Christopher Lawley hey thank you your channel is amazing. I became a productivity master of IPad and I review and train my English with you (I’m french)

[@jeff2tc99]

great job Chris. Suggestion Countdown from a number at a selected interval. Great for counting reps for an exercise so you can watch/read something instead counting.

[@ChrisLawley]

Great suggestion!

[@jazzman3968]

Chris...teaching myself shortcuts, and your videos are really helpful. Can you give me some advice? I have a shortcut that asks for text that I append to a note that my shortcut has created. Is there an action that will change the format of that text (e.g., bold, heading size)? I thought the “Rich Text from Markdown” might help, but it doesn’t (or I’m using it working). Having new notes formatted in the style I want is the whole point of the shortcut, so figuring out how to do this is critical. Thank you!

[@Sibert_]

Am I the only one who still doesn't understand any of it?

[@whortle]

Nope.

[@tcltv4610]

2024 and I still don't understand it.

[@Trackhoe075]

@@tcltv4610I think it’s this guy doing the video

[@Trackhoe075]

Nope it may be the videographer

[@TonyTylerDraws]

Makes sense to me. It’s automating app actions automatically?

[@chrisinreallife7969]

Seeing ADTR was a plus + 😂

[@Moriningland]

I never use shortcuts because I simply can’t get them to work. I’ve tried a few times over the years to figure them out and I just can’t. Even now, I tried the gallery option to open two apps side by side, followed the prompt and the apps just don’t open up together. Tried it twice with different apps and it just doesn’t work. Nice idea but they are just too confusing to create and implement

[@raycarter4030]

thanks for making something impenetrable even more so.

[@madnessintomagic]

hahahaha.. I feel the same. This seems more like shortcuts 103

[@Scalloped76]

Fantastic tutorial! Thanks a lot! 👍

[@openmfc]

Very useful - thank you.

[@b1nzy]

Are you using an external mouse & keyboard with your iPad? If so, which ones? Thanks

[@jmula1963]

how do I make a shortcut that links my icloud notes with my Obsidian brain?? can u help me out Christopher? big fan. been following awhile.

[@SunshineFL]

In needed this great info. Thx.

[@jackkemp7256]

My favorite shortcut is through the little shop in Mushroom Mall

[@jamiehatzis6176]

This was a really helpful video. Thanks.

[@ChrisLawley]

Glad it was helpful!

[@milgat]

I would love to create a shortcut on Todoist - to add specific items on my existing projects

[@fisakdigital]

Great videos! Many thanks

[@ssn694]

Nice job. You really take your time in all of your videos to patiently explain what you are doing. Question: at 11:22 you mention that hitting the return key is like clicking done instead of adding a new line. Seems like since ios14 my magic keypad return key doesn't have that action anymore, it just adds a new line and the only way I can select done on a shortcut is with the mouse or touch. Can't seem to find an answer anywhere. Any ideas?

[@ChrisLawley]

Oh maybe they fixed it. It’s been like that for years, and I guess I haven’t checked since being on iOS 14.

[@Mallymutts86]

I like your video. I’m trying to set up some different “scenes” if you will in my house with shortcuts. Example is morning coffee time, I’d like a slideshow of a photo album to play on my Apple TV, while a pre selected music playlist plays on my HomePod. I can’t seem to get this to work, but I have a lot of these scenes that I’d like to set up.

[@ms20700]

Awesome... very good explanation... can u share your iPad wallpaper link?

[@PiotrNawrot]

Hi Chris :) Nice video .. one question, do I have option to set up a keyboard shortcut to for example add a task to my Todoist app? I get used to do this on my mac but still could not find any option do this on my Ipad ..

[@kevinshea5819]

I love you and shortcuts

[@ChrisLawley]

Thank you!

[@YolandaPlayne]

@@ChrisLawley lmao grow a clue

[@edwardwillard243]

Thanks for the video. I've learned how to setup shortcuts, now, but wonder why there doesn't seem to be a way to create a shortcut where you could have your wallpaper change every hour, or every time you turn on your iPhone i.e.?

[@r0bekr155]

i love shortcuts, it's actually quite intuitive for me as i'm an educated Automatician.

[@terrancewilson6349]

Great videos.

[@veritas.ve.42]

Good video as usual. 👍🏻

[@terrywarnold]

I figured out how to add a shortcut for2 apps to open in split screen but, is there a way to make the apps connected to that shortcut perform a specific action? Example, the shortcut I created was for the Notes app and Calendar to open in split view. I would like that every time I run the shortcut, the Notes app opens to a specific note cause it’s notes that I refer back to pretty often. Thanks!!! Great video btw!!!

[@holgernikola6110]

Not sure if I‘m right here but it seems you’re pretty familiar with shortcuts. Is there a way to create a shortcut that enables the VPN connection and opens the mail app by pushing just one soft button? Appreciate your help.

[@shinymetalvids]

I’d like my watch face to change (to what I set in advance) depending on a date range (a different face for each season) and to also be yet another face within each season on the weekends. Additionally to be another face on set dates (birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas). An extra bonus would be if on a standard date (all faces set at sunrise) it auto picked from two depending on if rain was forecast. There has to be a better way than a huge list of "if-otherwise".

[@edgesamantha]

I realise you may not have time to answer my question, so I understand if you are too busy and don't reply, but would really appreciate your insight if you can. Would it be possible to use shortcuts to automatically press a button within an app when presented with a certain screen? My specific situation is that I'm trying to set up a Square payment device to receive busking donations without needing to initiate them. I managed to do so with an Android, but am exploring using an iPad and have run into an issue. When it approves a payment, it remains on the approved screen, showing the amount just paid and does not return to the home page till the 'new sale' button has been pressed. So I really need a work around for this. I.e when the app remains on the approved screen for 30 seconds it would navigate back to home page. Or even if the app is inactive for 120 seconds to navigate back to the home page. Is it possible to get shortcuts to do things within apps like that or is that just something only the app developers can make occur?

[@SuRfDeMoNRB]

Awesome video thank you! This made me start playing with shortcuts and I’m trying to control things through google assistant. Problem I have is the google assistant opens and it does what I want but then stays open. Is there a way to get shortcuts to close an application once its done with it?

[@Dr-CAPT-Bret]

Please teach us how to generate a shortcut to create a journal into Notability

[@asan1050]

ThanksMuch!

[@lilahmae411]

I want to make a shortcut where its like 5:00 AM to 12:00 a certain image i choose puts itself on my lock screen, and at night, like 7:00 PM to 5:00 AM it change.

[@NakulKrishna]

Cool video. I’m looking forward to slightly more advanced tutorials. Need to know how to grab and manipulate different information from my iPad and use them within shortcuts. The majority of the scripting page is a mystery to me.

[@ChrisLawley]

I’ll keep that in mind as I plan these out!

[@NakulKrishna]

Christopher Lawley thank you for everything you do, your channel has helped me get more productive.

[@MichaelSchwark-yn3jb]

Whenever I have the shortcuts on my iPhone 8+ programmed they are properly executed but return an error message as a notification. I would love to know why that is. I know that some cannot trigger without manual confirmation but still all of them (even time related) result in an error notification. Is there a workaround? I have iOS 15 Beta 6 installed! Thx fort the great tutorial! Saludos!

[@louismarquez9562]

Hey Chris, really hope you see my comment cause Apple employees couldn't answer my question. I'm trying to create a keyboard shortcut on the iPad that would output certain text templates I have written on my notes app. It is similar to the "text replacement" feature in settings, but the only problem with that is that is the formatting (it wont let it paste multiple lines of text). Is there a way I can do it on shortcuts on iPadOS? I think I've seen people do it on MacOS

[@AlanSpackman]

Chris thanks for your time explaining shortcuts. But wouldn’t it be faster just opening the app notes and listing what you would like to do. Why the run around entering data?

[@ToasterEatingToasted]

Where is the done button😭

[@lionels839]

Thanks again ! An interesting shortcut would be to automate video export to youtube (with everything filled) to ease the process at it maximum...I know the process using shortcut + zapier + auphonic but if you have something better please let us know !

[@TheGiftedRN]

Can you do a updated version of this for external links used in GoodNotes (apple & fantastical calendars for events, ynab, things 3, message, email, music, etc.)

[@rayflanagan9970]

Great tutorial. Love the menu option. Quick question: When using the clipboard option, the note takes on the name "new note." I don't see a way in NOTES to rename that note to something more relevant. Am I missing something?

[@rayflanagan9970]

Disregard..... found it.

[@Stefano-nz9kg]

It is possible to make a shortcut for selecting a specific Bluetooth device?

[@haggypie8979]

Hii bro. So thanks for the useful video.

[@baldfvi]

How can I create a link that opens an app already installed in my iPhone? I want to use this link in a daily reminder I already configure on the Reminders App. Appreciate any help!

[@Miklalo]

Awesome please keep helping us out some of us would like to master this application i know how to use tasker like this for android but ios is completely different so I’m very much lost if you know what I mean!

[@stevendurbahn1957]

Hi Christopher, Do you have a shortcut to turn on or turn off "show my caller id"?

[@rabii3983]

Could you do a tutorial so it can remind me to wear Sunscreen every time the UV index is equal to 2 or above from weather app? I did it by accident correctly (I think) but can’t make it again.

[@stus4561]

Thank you Chris! My issue is I'm still not hooked. Can you give us a few examples of shortcuts you can't live without - something that make me go, "Ah! Now I get why I need to use shorcuts!"?

[@fyvewytches]

Same here. I've been using all sorts of automation (AppleScript, shell scripts) on the Mac for years, but I've yet to see a shortcut on iPadOS that I find interesting.

[@davidtopp1972]

Chris, I am wondering if you could suggest how I can create a simple shortcut to Open an Excel file on my iPad. I am running iPadOS 17.5.1. I know I could do this in earlier versions just by doing: Open File in default app, but now that does not work.

[@davidtopp1972]

Chris, I have done some additional experiments, and have discovered that the issue seems to be “Password Protected” files. Excel files without passwords will open, but files with passwords will not open.

[@iheart_aisha]

TY!!!

[@Robynia777]

Can I make an action that will tell me a food order when I pull into a specific restaurant?

[@kimbrown1225]

I need to make a very very simple shortcut, probably so simple that I shouldn’t even need the shortcut app to do it. Just can’t seem to find a way. Under the settings app in iPhone 12, there is a submenu that I use daily: Settings>Accessibility>Hearing Devices. This shows the current connectivity status of my hearing aids to my phone. My goal is to simply have a shortcut icon that takes me straight to that screen. Idk how to code, and the shortcuts app seems so complex to me. Can you help?

[@Mastertist]

Thanks for the useful tutorial. I have been trying to turn my now useless fn key to work as the globe key using a shortcut, instead of setting my caps lock to globe key. Is there a way I could use shortcut to turn fn key to globe; or create shortcut that would UPPERCASE my letters and then turn them back to lowercase when I am done using?

[@LoLcastro23]

Hello from Brazil Christopher !!! Can you make a video talking about you podcast editing process? That would be awesome!

[@ChrisLawley]

It’s on the list!

[@mrksbrntnr5460]

Hey Christopher! As an English teacher in Germany, I have to create documents in Pages in English as well as in German. Can I create a shortcut to quickly switch between these language settings in Pages?

[@norberto95]

Hi. I have been trying to make a simple shortcut but i have failed. My vision of a restaurant tip: I want to force the tip to make my total bill reflects in cents the day of the bill. Example: Input the bill amount, e.g., $34.54. Select the percentage tip: e.g., 20%. Input the day of the month, e.g., 25. Calculate the tip. In this example is $34.54 * .20 = $6.90. Now add original bill + tip = $41.44. I want my total bill to finish in .25 cents (day of the month). Now, show me the output $42.25 then show me the tip i have to add to accomplish this total. Subtrack $42.25 - (Original bill + tip) = .81. Note: Show me my tip: $6.90 + .81 = $7.71. Thus, show me Original bill $34.54 + ajusted tip ($7.71) = $42.25.

[@ichbinnichtich]

it seems like a great tool but it will take me time to get used to it!!!

[@ChiMobileX]

Is there a way to make a shortcut to enable screen recording without having to swipe up in control center

[@vvibin31]

Is there a shortcut to lock screen without using lock/unlock button?

[@prayerwarrior741]

Hey, thanks so much for this tutorial , was very helpful! But I think I did something wrong 🙁. When I tap on the “clipboard” after tapping on the notes shortcut, a display pops up to please specify some text in the create note action. Help!! Thanks!!!

[@apkoevoet3488]

Im using your today summary but when i have multiple events on my calendar it gets all mixed up, do you know how to fix that?

[@maxortner1997]

Would it be possible to create a shortcut which can control Spotify from an other app (from safari without to open the control center? Maybe with a keyboard shortcut) ? E.g. to skip a song or go to the previous one? Thanks!

[@KVergot]

Id love to have a shortcut for how to see metadata on your photos

[@BeekSizl]

Hi. Thanks for your video. Is there a way in shortcuts to find an Apple 1 music radio station and play the latest episode? Thank you

[@friscodog]

I need to be able to open a new Numbers document using a specific Template I've created for my daily facilities checklist (looking for burned-out lightbulbs, water leaks, or any other problems).