Your iPhone's best-kept secret (6 Automations)

I’ve made a couple of videos now about the Shortcuts app for the iPhone, but I realised recently that I’d only ever covered half of what the Shortcuts app can do. Because, in those videos, we talked about Shortcuts, but we didn’t talk about Automations, and we should because Automations are AMAZING when you know how to use them.
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Chapters;
0:00 - Intro
0:32 - What is an automation?
1:35 - Automatically send an SMS each day
4:50 - Automatically text & open list when at location
6:41 - Your iPhone can ask to be charged!
7:59 - Auto Do Not Disturb when opening apps
9:31 - Auto Guided Access when opening app
11:14 - Lock Apps to Touch or Face ID
12:17 - End

[@ProperHonestTech]

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[@peterbrameld696]

I subscribe to this news letter it is great coming at the weekend when you have time to read it, thank you.

[@klutz8019]

I just need apple to allow shortcuts to delete alarms on my phone so I can have a useful nighttime automation!

[@paulnichols3436]

Thank you for the best tech channel on KZbin I thought I knew a lot about the iPhone. I now realise I know nothing. A big thank you. This is my first ever comment on KZbin and I’m 60 years of age😁

[@GarySmith-cp8mp]

Yes please do make additional video with more tips with shortcuts. I always learn something from each video you make.

[@gd4u422]

Yes, please do more automations!

[@dragonballjiujitsu]

You definitely have one of the best, most underrated tech channels on youtube.

[@tonymeadows100]

Your videos are invaluable for revealing some of the ‘deeper’ capabilities of the iPhone to folk such as me. A follow-up video showing more automations would be most welcome, please?

[@Cdr_Mansfield_Cumming]

Thank you so much for this video. I have been trying to get my iPhone to work with shortcuts for 6 months. Proper honest tech is the place I check for Apple tutorials that are easy to understand.

[@susanterry4276]

I love your videos and would love more ideas on how to use automation. Thanks for all you do!

[@georgee3401]

Very useful tutorial. I never really thought much about Automations. This video convinced me that I need to rethink that. More information about this topic would be welcomed. Many thanks!

[@scottboettcher1344]

Wow, this is the best "unknown" feature I've seen in year; Thank You!!

[@davedevries5866]

I ride a motorbike to and from work most of the time and as a result I have created 2 automations. 1 sends a message to my wife that I have arrived safely and switches my Apple Watch to ‘work’ and the other gives her an estimated ETA and sets my watch to ‘normal’. I also have one set up for when I go to somewhere totally different so that she knows the address incase things go bad (eg when buying something from FB sales etc and going to someone’s house).

[@stevelevy4754]

So clearly explained as usual. More please

[@GC2112]

Please do more automations, absolutely love them. Brilliant channel by the way 👍👍

[@JohnSmoleskis]

Great video. Thanks. My two favourite automations: When CarPlay connects, a shortcut runs. If the time is between 8-10 am (work commute), my local radio station play, between 5-7pm (home commute), a different station plays. At all other times, a playlist runs on shuffle. The newest automation: When i touch an NFC tag on the iPhone charger by my bed, scenes run that turn the lights and some power points off, then displays a menu of my favourite radio stations so I can choose what to listen to to help me sleep. It also turns a dummy switch in Homebridge on. When the switch turns off after 30 minutes, the HomePod mini turns off.

[@JunixKuizon]

May i know you open your radio station?

[@groundskeeperwille]

Definitely more videos about Automations and shortcuts please!

[@davidtaylorsr]

Seems like “ask to run“ should be off by default!

[@GrantTarredus]

Good point!

[@Teresa-K]

Love the smart tips. The send message when you want at a fixed time every day automatically is my favorite and the one I’d use more. Thanks for all the research you do to make videos like this. Would love more tips. Kindness, Teresa

[@Tina-vh9qg]

Thanks for the tips! I have just recently switched back to iPhone after many with android. There are several things that I missed switching back to iPhone and one of them was a preset text message to send at certain time. Looking forward to the next six tips for automation. I always learn something new and I watch your videos.

[@robiny1823]

This is the best video on automations that I’ve seen yet. More, please!

[@JensLauNielsen]

Yes please 😉 more automation 👍🏻

[@Korocoran]

Very useful videos ! clearly explained ! thank you very much !

[@dismaldunc]

well that was splendid, really useful thanks muchley!

[@donaldnorth3714]

Wow! I had no idea that these iPhone actions were available. I’m glad I can get the pdf of your video so I can practice and utilize each one! Thank you…..give me more!

[@syerye9748]

Great! Yes to follow up vid 😊

[@juandcompostera]

Been a viewer for a while and just subscribed just for this automations video. Definitely looking forward to more of this

[@michaelmaher1520]

Hey Tom, I have never used shortcuts but I have now set some up I'd like to see more as some of the ones you have put up in this video are very useful indeed

[@OldWhistler7743]

I’ve just set the low battery automation up…thanks 😀

[@mohammedelabbassi735]

Helpful tips and great insights ! Wish you the best bro !

[@peterbrameld696]

another really useful and entertaining video, thank you. Yes please, I would like to see the other six automations, whilst I knew this service was there I had no idea how it worked or how useful it is, thank you for educating me! I love this channel, are used to be a university lecturer, and I compliment you on your presentation skills, they are excellent. Keep up the good work, thank you once more.

[@humorous2me]

Your videos are golden. Thanks. I have a shortcut that runs 30 minutes before my target bedtime. It makes the iPad/iphone screen black and white and reduces the white point. I can finish anything I was working on and the visual appeal is reduced. A simple way to improve my sleep schedule.

[@njotterstrom9111]

I really liked this video. Very useful information, like most of them. Yes please for the follow up video. Cheers!

[@ololadeagboola]

You can simply use "lock the screen" action for the last automation instead of creating a timer

[@rickhazen7878]

Awesome, love to see more!

[@sharonx9]

These are wonderful. Thanks for sharing.

[@cmacmenow]

Fantastic! More please.

[@wli101]

Great video! One thing is that Focus Modes have a more efficient automation in the settings. For example, I have one for reading and any of the apps that I use for reading trigger the focus mode and automatically deactivate the reading focus mode when I close the app. No need to use Shortcuts.

[@LadyTracyOfTheDisk]

That was very helpful--thank you. I'd like to see that follow-up video. Also, I'd like to see a more advanced video on writing shortcuts using the various script commands, as the structure seems to be a bit different from standard programming languages.

[@hogthebuilder]

Amen to this! I have a google door lock that uses the nest app and ios for personal devices. Knowing how to marry the two would be awesome!

[@johnw1178]

Great video. I am going to have to think up a few automations of my own as this inspired me. I would love to see part 2 to this video when you have the time. Thanks again 👍👍👍👍👍

[@RachelleKS]

Love, love, love your videos. Yes, definitely a part two on this!😊

[@kriskollmar9728]

Yes, please make the other 6. This was very helpful.

[@iMagdiAdam]

Amazing as always , thank you

[@dubliner1100]

Brilliant thank you so much 👌

[@suemedeiros800]

Excellent video! Thank you!

[@daleholden]

Great video please release a few more

[@tp7147]

Yes please Tom that would be great. Love that you are English like myself so I can follow what you say easily, and love just the way you make everything so easy to do with automations and a clear instruction. I’ve learnt so much from your tutorials to which I’m ever so grateful. Thank you so much. Tina 👍🏻

[@GT-ho6co]

Added the Siri voice to nag me when battery gets to 25% it’s a shame it’s not possible to do this for my watch too. Looking forward to your next video on automations 👍🏼

[@TheMrBeeno]

We can’t wait for the other 6 automations. Great job.

[@soniawestbrook4372]

Love your videos you’re so helpful and so knowledgeable😊

[@Selfcare121]

Absolutely love the shopping list automation!!!!

[@jaribuaruba6949]

Thanks for this great video. I created 3 automations. I really like the one where I can add "Focus with do not disturb." Thanks for making this video. Love it! 😊

[@docjones1830]

brilliat ideas! thank you!

[@BeckmanCoulter2013]

Yes I would like 6 more, please!

[@rogerbeck3513]

Please make more videos like this one on Automations. Thank you for all you do to help.

[@alanbenham4139]

Super video. Thank you.

[@sammayet9002]

Thank you , very helpful 🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@rusnsc7622]

So thankful I discovered your channel awhile back and have been subscribed for a bit now. Your videos have provided a wealth of information to this fairly long time Apple user. With your help my use of the previously unused capabilities has increased my enjoyment of my iPhone and iPad. Thanks much, keep up the good work. Cheers! 🇺🇸🇬🇧

[@josefhab8095]

Thanks, Tom. Give us more, please.

[@eugenoprina]

Absolutely brilliant! Thanks a lot and please produce the follow-up video.

[@guyhermann9547]

Very appreciated this video. Thanks for the "How to" well done

[@MohitPandey012]

Thank you for the video

[@WaitWhat-jy9ck]

Your videos are the absolute best iPhone instructional content on YT! Keep up the good work and please make a followup video.

[@raimundgebhardt3204]

Thanks, this is nice!

[@HA-kw7vq]

Thank you - very helpful. This is what KZbin should be about - creating value with someone who has the expertise and knowledge. This was well explained and articulated.

[@Sosunny35]

I think I have watched all videos you upload since I subscribed. 😁 I must know every tip. I want to use the tool I have to the fullest!

[@alanr9496]

More automations please!

[@Send2ginger]

❤your videos!! This one is super! Please make a follow up for more automations. Very helpful. Thanks! 🥰

[@praveennair9501]

Another simple automation I have is when KZbin is opened, turn off rotation lock and vice versa

[@weircottage]

Really clever!

[@wanttoplae]

Very cool. Is there a way to automate a birthday message to a contact when it’s their birthday (assuming I’ve added their birthdate to their contact Card?)

[@GrantTarredus]

These are positively brilliant! Thank you very much… and a follow up video with six other ways to employ this would be more than welcomed. It really should be incumbent on such a phenomenally profitable company as Apple to supply the purchaser of an iPhone with a book length manual covering everything. The functionality of these machines is staggering and most of the countless menu options are hardly intuitive, but for our hundreds of dollars what comes with the device? A decal of Apple’s logo, so we can enjoy the privilege of promoting them. Proper Honest Tech is nothing less than invaluable.

[@rosscoman]

There is a 600 page manual available for free in Apple Books, from Apple. It's mentioned on that piece of paper in the box that you must have ignored.

[@arthendrickson4860]

@@rosscoman Yes, although, I still don't understand many of the information regarding shortcuts. Examples would prove helpful.

[@allentaa]

I would really appreciate a follow-up video. Your videos are so very helpful and professionally done. I have learned so much. Thank you and please keep them coming…😊

[@selimmaxwell]

Unfortunately for the location-based automations, you will need to approve it when it asks to run! Quite frustrating

[@imaadmalik7336]

If it’s really something you want to do you can link it to a focus mode and it will automatically do it

[@FifthBtle]

@@imaadmalik7336 What do you mean? Can you explain this? I've been trying to create a couple of different Arrive automations and haven't been able to figure out why they don't work.

[@atheistboomer7700]

I have set up an automation to stop my iphone from playing a random music track, at full volume, when it connects to my Toyota car audio system. It works, but it only if I confirm it, by which time it is too late, and I have already been deafened! Anyone know how to make it just run, without confirming?

[@progoproductions]

@@imaadmalik7336 could you expand on this please?

[@danielre988]

Hi, the automation vid was brutal. So complicated. Siri shoild be able to do that for you. Seriously Siri needs desperate help or apple will lose me

[@farnazsaher12345]

You are the best. Pls make a follow-up video

[@MaximusShredus]

Thanks for the video. I'm keeping my eye out for tickets for a sold out upcoming concert and receive mails when tickets periodically become available. However, as I keep my phone on vibrate it's sometimes 10-15 minutes later by the time I realise I've received one of those mails and find the ticket offer is already closed; I now have an automation set to play a song by the actual band each time one of these mails arrives which should hopefully do the trick - some of my work colleagues may not appreciate it though 🤭

[@susanrainey9694]

Yes, please - more automations!

[@macbitz]

Very useful, thank you. I used to get a reminder at 8pm each day to charge my Apple Watch if it was under 50% but it's stopped. Think it was app related so I'll craft an automation shortcut instead. By the way, the paparazzi are now going to be hanging out at the Isle of Dogs Asda, waiting for you to turn up! 😉

[@garyackers1469]

Thank you for “showing me how “ to do automation …for me this is a game changer …👏👏👏

[@cgpandre]

Thank you.

[@jesussantiago7687]

Super USEFUL video. I use Signal for text messaging and I didn't see an option to add the text I want to send. Definitely continue with more of these Automation tips.

[@paulah4435]

Definitely do more please! For example, I have been trying to set up two shortcuts/automations. The first is to put my phone into silent and turn off vibration/haptic. This is only when in silent for invigilating exams, otherwise I want vibration/haptic on. The second is to toggle the show my caller ID. Sometimes I need to use my personal phone to call patients but I don’t want my personal number to be displayed. Other times I want the person to see it is me. Any help appreciated!

[@tardis33]

I love your passion for automations, especially where there is no user interaction needed. I have a shortcut for when I receive a notification to send a text message, but I cannot seem to automate it. I even asked ChatGPT (which I set up from your previous video) but I couldn't get the instructions to make any sense. Any tips?

[@mrbkii]

More short cuts please.

[@mackellar829]

THANK YOU! Very well presented and easy for this 72 year old to follow and enable. I am SO VERY GLAD that I found your tutorial site.

[@jessmelgar219]

I believe shortcuts and automations are under appreciated and also under supported by Apple. I’d love to see this continue to grow even more robust in the near future, with broader support for cross-functionality with other devices and also more streamlined. But also make some of these things more intuitive. For example, if I want a vocal reminder from my homepods the way my alexas do, I shouldn’t need to use shortcuts/automation. It should be an option in the reminders app to have a reminder announced and from where

[@sandraoi2006]

Hi there, your vids are great, thank you so much for creating them. is there an automation where the day’s “daily trip” meditation on the Calm app can be downloaded each morning? Calm doesn’t have a shortcut for this & wanted to have it downloaded so when I’m out & about, I can use it offline vs.using up data to download/play when I’m away from Wi-Fi? Thanks.

[@nikhil_vemu]

Great Automations man! Regarding locking app, we don’t need to use a Timer. In some recent update, we’ve got a new shortcut (Lock Screen) to directly Lock Screen.

[@LeckieInstallsLondon]

To save my phone battery from overcharging I set up an automation that triggers when my phone is >85% on the charger and it turns off my wifi outlet the charger is connected to. Its worked flawlessly for over a year! This feature of setting the max charge level really should just be built into the phone the same way tesla has built it into their cars to protect the battery.

[@lormor460]

I would need a year long course to be able to learn everything my phone can do. 😮😮. My own phone is out of my league. Let be your videos.

[@flyboyutahfoy8896]

Thanks!

[@ProperHonestTech]

Thank you!

[@FlaminpieSpain]

Follow up video would be great thanks

[@redgar6467]

Thanks for pointing out that you can adjust the radius of a location. I use a focus mode for Disney parks and the default would turn off when i left the parking lot. I expanded the radius for 15 miles and now I should be A OKAY

[@mg4695]

Wow! Very useful and FUN. Please do the follow up video. I’ve set up an automation to take the place of an alarm. When the Work focus ends I have Siri say: “Pardon the interruption, Professor. It’s time for class to end.”

[@quadimus]

In the final automation you set the timer for one second and then to lock the phone, is that only for this one automation or will it occur every time I use the timer? Six more tips would be greatly appreciated!

[@vdubs5189]

Thank you so much! I switched from Android which has a delay deliver feature right in the messaging app that I used all the time. The message automation is a decent substitute, but I never want to send the same message more than once. Is there a way to set the automation to stop running after the first time?

[@mattshaffer83]

Love your videos!! Do you have any Apple Watch automation videos? I play ice hockey. When i start the ice hockey workout from my apple watch i want the fall detection to turn off, always on display to turn off, do not disturb to turn on, and my watch to lock automatically. I haven’t found a way to do any of that yet. Any ideas?

[@faris.shoraif]

Heyyy, bro! Thanx for the tips! Found them cool and helpful! Though for the Auto Lock Screen @11:55, I find myself using the timer a lot, and would suggest heading for actions and use “Lock screen” instead of using the timer! Let me know what you think! The question I have for you is… Would it be possible to ‘Trigger Guided Access’ generally on any up using Siri? As in, assign an activation phrase for Siri… Say ‘Guided Access’, for example, if my phone is already in a friend’s hand? 🤔

[@raf6125]

thanks for the tip! Why use the timer to lock the phone when accessing an specific app, while you can directly lock it?

[@Juan-ez7qv]

i didn't know you can do this but thanks! this is much more elegant

[@WoodNotts]

Definitely want to see more examples as I’m still trying to create one for use on my motorbike. Because I forget to start the BMW Connected app before I ride my bike and the weather means taking gloves off in the rain makes it near impossible to get them back on with wet hands, I’d like to create an automation so as when I put my iPhone XS Max in the BMW Connected cradle (and Bluetooth charger) it will unlock my phone and start the Connected app. I’ve tried the ‘When’ Bluetooth, device option and ‘Do’, open Connected but it came up with an error message. I have also noticed that it doesn’t list all the Bluetooth devices in the Shortcuts app but the phone is connected to the bike (ICC6.5in) and the wireless/Bluetooth charging cradle (BMW_Cradle_EAE2) I know this is a big question as to how to make this work but there must be many thousands of users all over the world that would benefit from an Automation that would do this so any further help at all would be greatly appreciated. Thanks👍

[@TheHockey1980]

Love your videos but can you do one with HomePods and ⏰

[@murrieteacher]

Hi Tom, I will have to play with this automation ability. I am continually frustrated at the lack of home control available with the iPhone and iPad. I have had home automation of my devices for about 20 years using a Phillps Pronto that had the capability of over 100 steps in ONE LINE for a device. I could get the TV and amp to turn on at 7pm, and select a specific channel. Unfortunately all new iPhones and iPads gave up the inclusion of IR and the Pronto is now unreliable. I have seen a program called Roomies that may take the place of the Pronto. Have you looked at it?