How to create Automation on iPhone, iPad

The Shortcuts app is directly integrated into iOS 13 and iPadOS 13. After years of improvements, you can now create automation based on notifications on iPhone and iPad.

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How automation works on iPhone and iPad

Apple introduced the Shortcuts application in iOS 12. Previously, the application was sold on the App Store called Workflow.

You can ask Siri to initiate a shortcut (a predefined set of actions) or press a button on your iPhone or iPad to perform it. Now, keyboard shortcuts can be automatically turned off based on the given parameter. It may even occur in the background and use certain external triggers such as NFC. Shortcuts Automations is available on devices running iOS 13 or iPadOS 13.1 or higher.

However, not all shortcut automation is automatic.

By default, the automation displays notifications so you can activate shortcuts after touching Run . A number of shortcuts based on physical manipulation directly with the iPhone or iPad will automatically run

How to create event automation on iPhone or iPad

You can create two types of automation on iPhone or iPad: Personal and Home . Personal automation is related to iOS and iPadOS devices. Home automation is related to the HomeKit device.

In this article, we will focus on Personal automation on iPhone and iPad.

Let's take a look at the actions you can activate.

Event:

1. Time of Day : You can activate it at any time of the day, at sunrise, at sunset.
2. Alarm : This shortcut runs when the alarm clock stops or pauses.
3. Apple Watch Workouts : It can be activated when starting, pausing or finishing exercises on Apple Watch.

Travel:

1. Arrive : Activate based on the location of activation when arriving at a certain location.
2. Leave : Activates when you leave a certain position.
3. Before I Commute : This action tries to predict when you usually go to work or home and the shortcut trigger at the specified time or up to an hour before leaving.
4. CarPlay : Shortcuts are activated when connecting and disconnecting with CarPlay.

Setting:

1. Airplane Mode, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Do Not Disturb, Low Power Mode : This shortcut activates when these settings are turned on or off.
2. NFC : With this trigger, you can touch iPhone on the NFC sticker and run the shortcut. Modern iPhone phones (iPhone XS, XS Max, 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max) can run NFC shortcuts in the background.
3. Open App : This trigger runs a shortcut when opening any application.

Let's see an example to better understand. Let's say you want to create a shortcut to play music when opening the Twitter application. Open the Shortcut app, then touch Automation in the toolbar at the bottom.

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Next, touch the plus sign (+) at the top. If you are using Automations for the first time, you can skip this step.

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Here, touch Create Personal Automation .

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You see the list of actions mentioned earlier. Scroll to the bottom of the screen and touch Open App .

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Touch Choose in the App section. Search for and then select the application. Tap Done to return to the previous screen, then touch Next .

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Now, touch Add Action . You can scroll through suggested actions or discover actions based on apps and categories.

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The best way to find an action is to look for it. Click Search at the top and then type Play Music .

In the Actions section, touch Play Music .

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On the next screen, touch Music .

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Tap the Search bar to search for playlists, songs or browse in the library.

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Browse the list and then touch a song or playlist to display a detailed view.

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When you find the playlist or song you want, tap the plus sign (+) to select it.

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Touch Next .

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You can now view automation information divided into When and Do components. Because this option supports background activation, you can turn on the Ask Before Running feature .

When satisfied with Automation, touch Done .

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Now, when you open the Twitter application, the playlist or the song of your choice will be played. If not enabled in the background, you will see the message, touch Run to run the shortcut.

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How to run automation in the background

You can turn on most automation to operate in the background. These are actions you can control or a direct result of the actions you perform on your iPhone or iPad.

The following types of actions support background activation (you still receive notifications about them): Alarm, Apple Watch Workouts, CarPlay, Airplane Mode, Do Not Disturb, Low Power Mode, NFC and Open App.

If you set up Home-based automation, the following actions work in the background: Time of Day Occurs, People Arrive, People Leave and An Accessory is Controlled. You must enable this feature separately for each shortcut that supports it.

Select the shortcut from the Automations tab, then turn on the Ask Before Running feature .

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From the dialog that pops up, touch Don't Ask .

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Now that the shortcut is activated, you will see a message saying Running your automation .

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How to create automation based on NFC

You can use empty NFC tags as triggers for keyboard shortcuts. The Shortcuts application does not write any data on the tag, it simply uses as a trigger.

Newer iPhone phones (iPhone XS, XR, XS Max, 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max and newer models) can use the NFC tag to trigger actions even when the Shortcuts app is not enabled.

Open the Shortcuts application and then access the Automations tab. Tap the plus sign (+), tap Create Personal Automation and then touch NFC in the list.

Note, if this is your first time using Automations, you don't have to touch the plus sign (+).

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Touch Scan next to NFC Tag option.

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Hold iPhone near the NFC tag to scan it.

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After the scan, name the NFC tag and then touch Done .

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You will return to the New Automation screen, touch Next .

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In the Actions screen, touch Add Action .

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Here, you can browse through suggested actions or search for specific actions. Touch the action to select it. In this example, we will choose the Send Message action.

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In the Actions editor, you can configure action parameters such as message text. When done, tap on Next .

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In the overview screen of New Automation, be sure to turn on Ask Before Running .

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In the dialog that pops up, touch Don't Ask to turn on automatic activation in the background.

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For now, simply hold your iPhone close to the NFC tag or tap the top of the iPhone on the NFC sticker to run the shortcut.

I wish you successful implementation!