Save Time! How To Get Started With Apple Shortcuts

The Apple Shortcuts app for iPhone and iPad is a powerful yet under-used and misunderstood app. In this video, I'll break down the fundamentals of the Shortcuts app for seniors and beginners and help you get started with a couple of sample shortcuts.
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:47 Overview of Shortcuts app
3:07 Shortcut: Do Not Disturb Until I Leave
9:26 Shortcut: Photo Grid
12:14 Shortcut: Reminder to Charge
13:52 Use Automation to Run Reminder to Charge Shortcut
15:56 Bonus Shortcut: Keep Track of the Books You've Read
22:07 Delete Shortcuts
22:21 Sync Shortcuts across your devices
Download Sample Shortcuts:
Reminder to Charge: www.icloud.com/shortcuts/7c28...
Don't forget you must add the automation.
DND Until I Leave:www.icloud.com/shortcuts/a50f...
Photo Grid: www.icloud.com/shortcuts/a50f...
Bonus Shortcut Books I've Read: www.icloud.com/shortcuts/a992...
Don't forget to set up your Folders and Notes.
👀 Check out:
My Gear: www.ellenstipsforios.com/gear/
Resource Guide Library: www.ellenstipsforios.com/guides/
Sign up for my Live Q&A: pages.ellenstipsforios.com/live
Where can you find me on the web and access more tips!
🖥 Blog: www.ellenstipsforios.com
🐥. Twitter: / ellen_tips
If you need help with your iPhone or iPad reach out to me here:
📆 bookme.name/EllenSweeney
• Save Time! How To Get ...
#appleshortcuts #ellenstipsforios #helpingseniorsmastertheiriphonesandipads

[@jbmanning]

I don’t know how her channel doesn’t have more subscribers. I’m only 36 years old, I am generally very tech capable, and I still watch her stuff because it’s so well explained. Thank you, Ellen!

[@EllensTipsForiOS]

Thank you so much JB!! It makes me happy to help people like you!

[@davidphamusa]

Great tutor! Clear instructions make learning a breeze. Thank you, Ellen!

[@EllensTipsForiOS]

Thanks so much David!

[@DarrolandTracey]

The photo grid link takes you to the DND shortcut. Great video, thanks!

[@EllensTipsForiOS]

Thanks for the info!

[@Teresa-K]

Hi Ellen, Thanks for the lesson to set up shortcuts for certain applications. I especially like the shortcut to remind you to charge your battery. Very useful applications. Always look forward to your practical and useful videos. Kindness, Teresa

[@EllensTipsForiOS]

You're very welcome Teresa! I appreciate you taking the time to comment.

[@MarcP5267]

Wow thanks for this Ellen. Never used shortcuts until now.

[@EllensTipsForiOS]

You're so welcome Marc! Hope you have fun with Shortcuts.

[@MarcP5267]

@@EllensTipsForiOS yea just added the do not disturb one you demonstrated in the video.

[@EllensTipsForiOS]

There are so many good Shortcuts!! Check out the Gallery in the Shortcuts app.

[@zikkumzakkum5716]

Great explanation of Shortcuts…thank you!

[@EllensTipsForiOS]

You’re welcome! Glad it was helpful and thanks for watching.

[@deblabree4714]

Admittedly, these shortcuts are just way beyond my comprehension which is sad because I can see how useful they could be when used properly. TY for these vids.

[@EllensTipsForiOS]

Don’t give up on Shortcuts Deb!! Find a couple you can utilize and stick with them. Maybe try a basic Automation that will set a daily alarm on your iPhone. Let me know how I can help.

[@abdulazizo.alsomali832]

great video as usual, personally i use it to track my daily habits. 👍🏽 like from KSA

[@EllensTipsForiOS]

Thanks for sharing and kind words Abdulaziz!

[@leilanimr]

I dismissed Shortcuts because I thought they would be a bit over my head setting up. Thanks for this video, I believe I'll give it a go!

[@EllensTipsForiOS]

Great!! Shortcuts can be really fun @leilanimr!

[@patriciawirry818]

A friend and I have an Apple Watch and try to keep them charged to ensure most of our activities, including our sleep metrics, are logged. We should have our watches charged to at least 50% before going to bed. The Apple Watch gives you a warning when the battery dips to 10%, but if it does that right before bed there's not enough time to get it appropriately charged for that night's sleep. We were talking about this issue yesterday. How could we set reminders to charge our watches when the battery dipped below 50%. We didn't come up with a good solution. Until now. Thanks so much for showing the reminder to charge shortcut. That's exactly what we needed. I followed along with you and created the shortcut. I can't wait to tell my friend to watch your video so that she can create the shortcut too. Thanks so much for your great KZbin channel.

[@EllensTipsForiOS]

I’m so glad to help Patricia! Thanks for sharing your story!

[@sf9530]

Another great video. On my iphone, I have shortcuts to dial my friend's numbers. How can I share these icons with a friend? Would air drop work? Thanks.

[@EllensTipsForiOS]

Thanks S F! You can share a shortcut by pushing and holding on the shortcut until the pop up menu appears. Choose share and then send it. The person receiving the shortcut would then have to configure the shortcut with the information they need to use it. Hope that helps.

[@mohamdy8950]

How practical u r❤

[@EllensTipsForiOS]

Thanks so much!!

[@KKLeung]

Thanks for sharing your experience. How can you add a circle pointer to display and navigate the actions in the ipad.

[@EllensTipsForiOS]

I’m using a Bluetooth mouse attached to the iPad. Hope that helps.

[@KKLeung]

@@EllensTipsForiOS Hi Ellens, thanks for your reply. What is the brand of the mouse and does it work for IPhone? Thanks

[@EllensTipsForiOS]

KK it’s a Tecknet Bluetooth mouse very inexpensive and purchased from Amazon. Yes it works on my iPhone and iPad.

[@KKLeung]

@@EllensTipsForiOS thanks for your reply. I got it.👍

[@EllensTipsForiOS]

You’re welcome!!

[@carlcheng4151]

Thank you for sharing this, Ellen. I was trying to create a shortcut to join a Zoom meeting. Even though I have the meeting ID and passcode in the action, it didn’t join the meeting when I ran it. I am new to this, so I didn’t know what I might have missed. Do you have any suggestions?

[@EllensTipsForiOS]

Hi Carl without seeing your shortcut I’m not really sure what’s happening. Sorry!😞

[@carlcheng4151]

@@EllensTipsForiOS Thanks for your quick reply. After seeing the error message, I figured it out. I needed to open Zoom first, then the shortcut would fill the meeting ID and passcode for me.

[@lorenz681]

Is it possible to make a shortcut to toggle call forwarding to a prescribed number on and off?

[@EllensTipsForiOS]

Sorry as of now there doesn’t appear to be a shortcut for call forwarding.

[@MarkTriplett]

Hi Ellen! I setup the books I've read shortcut, but when the book info is written to my Apple Notes, it doesn't do it as a clickable URL, only just as text. Any ideas what I'm doing wrong? Thanks for a great video!

[@EllensTipsForiOS]

Hi Mark! Mine is the same! It started with iOS 17. I’m hoping Apple will fix it with an update. For now I copy the URL and add it as a link. Although that really isn’t a shortcut is it!

[@RobertSlockbower]

God bless I could never do! If they are short cuts why do they take so long to explain

[@EllensTipsForiOS]

Well Robert once you take the time to set them up you will receive the benefits of the shortcut!

[@skoobygeek]

Was wondering if I could use the Books I read in DayOne instead of a note?

[@EllensTipsForiOS]

Great question! See if you can alter the steps in the shortcut. I’m not sure if it’s possible. If I come up with a solution I’ll post it here.

[@skoobygeek]

@@EllensTipsForiOS I will try it here at my end too

[@ic7505]

Hi Ellen, I find the whole shortcuts thing overwhelming, as in I don’t know what I’d use them for, and when I look into it, it just seems 😱. However, after watching this video, I’ll have another look. I know you’re only an email away 🤩. I do appreciate how much work it is to do what you do, so thank you. Nope, still totally confused on how to run a shortcut. I looked at a preset ‘news’ shortcut, clicked the 3 dots, but don’t know how to make I show me news 🤷‍♀️🥵. I need help 🤣🤯

[@EllensTipsForiOS]

It can be overwhelming Isabel! Maybe try just a couple to start out with. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[@ic7505]

Ellen, I just updated my reply. I’m 🤯

[@EllensTipsForiOS]

Have you added the Shortcut to the Shortcuts app?? If you have you just need to tap on the Shortcut and you will be prompted to do something. You don’t need to tap on the three dots.

[@ic7505]

@@EllensTipsForiOS Elle, I tried the low battery shortcut, for my Apple Watch. Chose device - watch - added automation and when run it says ‘time to charge watch NO’. Is that because my watch is currently fully charged or .?? I feel really stupid 🤦🏼‍♀️

[@EllensTipsForiOS]

Please Isabel you are far from stupid! If you setup the automation correctly it should trigger when the Watch drops below the battery level you set.

[@sbeckas]

Many of use dark mode and when you show yellow text on a white background it is visually very challenging. Perhaps you could consider using black text?

[@EllensTipsForiOS]

Hi sbeckas! I’m not sure what you’re talking about. I don’t use any yellow text. Let me know what you mean.

[@sbeckas]

@@EllensTipsForiOS time stamp 17:17 Books I've read under folders yellow highlight box and yellow text on white background. I am on my Mac laptop using Ventura

[@EllensTipsForiOS]

Now I understand!! So that’s the default highlight color in Apple Notes. You can’t change it on the iPhone or iPad but I can change it on my Mac and it will change it on the iPhone and iPad.

[@sbeckas]

@@EllensTipsForiOS Thank you for listening to my feedback-visual challenges can be made easier sometimes by just color changes. Your videos are very helpful to many of us.

[@EllensTipsForiOS]

Thanks for the suggestion and for watching the videos.

[@earlbaron]

the link to find “Books I’ve Read” doesn’t work and comes up with the message: The operation could not be completed. (NRSURLError domain error 400.) It is a shame because I wanted to give that shortcut a go as you described!

[@EllensTipsForiOS]

I’m not sure why you’re receiving this error. I checked on an iPad and iPhone and didn’t have a problem. What device are you using?

[@RobertSlockbower]

I am deleting the app

[@EllensTipsForiOS]

You’re missing out on the best part of iOS!!

[@misiy.01]

Thanks a lot ma’am, u ar gorgeous. But please make a videos about How to record this ipad like this. And how to edit videos. THANKS MA’AM 🤍🫶🏻🫶🏻

[@EllensTipsForiOS]

Sorry Zan! That’s not what my channel is about. I can tell you I film and edit in Screenflow. The iPad comes in as a camera and then I use a mock-up of on iPad so it looks like you’re seeing the device. Hope that helps.