Top 10 iPhone Automation Ideas and a Step-by-Step Guide to Create Them

Understanding Automation on iPhone

Automation empowers your iPhone to execute a specific action, known as a Shortcut, once a predefined condition is met.
You can configure your iPhone to undertake various actions based on different triggers—whether you’re arriving at or leaving a location, reaching a certain time, or launching an application.
These automated actions may involve activating features within an app, controlling settings on your iPhone, or initiating a Shortcut.
If your iPhone can recognize a condition or perform an action, you can link the two to establish an automation.

Configuring Automation on Your iPhone

Follow these steps to set up automation on your iPhone.

Step 1: Launch the Shortcuts app, navigate to the Automation tab, and tap on New Automation.

Step 2: Choose a Condition.

Browse through the available conditions on your iPhone and select the one suitable for your needs.
For instance, if you wish to automate something at 9 AM, select the Time condition.

Step 3: Decide whether you want the automation to run immediately when the condition triggers or if you prefer manual confirmation. Choose either Run Immediately or Run After Confirmation.

Step 4: Select how frequently you want to run this automation—options include Daily, Weekly, or Monthly.

Step 5: Tap Next.

Step 6: View the condition set at the top and then select the action your iPhone will perform when the condition is met.

You can create automations to execute actions via Shortcuts:

To trigger a new Shortcut when the condition is fulfilled, tap on New Blank Automation, then select Add Action and explore a vast array of scripts, shortcuts, and actions, or search for a specific action.

You can also choose to run existing Shortcuts, triggered by the condition.
To keep it simple, explore presets in the tab. Scroll down and select an app from the list and choose the desired action you wish to automate.

Once your automation is set up, your iPhone will automatically execute the specified action when the condition is met.

If you’re eager to see practical applications, check out the next section.

Top 10 Automation Ideas for iPhone

Here are some automation shortcuts I’ve personalized on my iPhone.

1. Activate Low Power Mode When Battery Drops Below a Set Level

I developed an automation that switches on Low Power Mode automatically when battery levels sink beneath a specified threshold.

Step 1: Access the Automation tab and choose Battery Level from the list.

Step 2: Adjust the battery level using the slider.

Step 3: Configure the automation to run when the battery falls below, rises to, or equals the chosen level. Tap Next and select Set Low Power Mode from the suggestions provided.

2. Obtain Directions to a Destination as Soon as You Depart

My iPhone retrieves directions to my workplace automatically when I leave my house during the specified time frame of 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM.

Step 1: Open the Automation tab and select Leave from the options available.

Step 2: Input your home address in the Location field.

You can specify that the automation runs when you leave during a particular timeframe or set it to trigger at any time. Tap on Next and select Create Blank Automation.

Proceed to tap on Add Action and search for the action.

Step 3: Look for and select Open Driving Directions, specify the From and To addresses, and choose the default app. After tapping Done, the automation will activate as soon as you leave home, opening navigation in your chosen app.

3. Activate Always On Display Upon Arriving at Work

I aim to minimize distractions at work, so I want to make the Always On Display feature available only when I’m at work, allowing me to glance at notifications without engaging. I set up automation to enable this feature when I arrive at work.

Step 1: Open the Automation tab and select Arrive from the list.

Input your work address in the Location section. You may choose to activate the automation when you arrive at a specific time or at any time of day.

Tap on Next and select Create Blank Automation.

Step 2: Tap on Add Action or search for it with the search bar.

Search for Always On Display, then set it to Turn On in the action.
Finalize by tapping Done, and the Always On Display feature will be activated upon your arrival at work.

You could also create another automation to disable this feature upon leaving work, eliminating the need for manual adjustment.

4. Schedule Messages Automatically

Previously, I used to set a monthly reminder to text my colleague for an invoice. Instead, I crafted an automation to send the text message automatically. Here’s how.

Step 1: Access the Automation tab and choose Time of Day.

Set the time and frequency for the automation to repeat.
I selected Monthly along with the specific day of the month.

Step 2: Select New Blank Automation and then Add Action.

Search for Send Message, specify the message content, and select the Contact.

Tap Done, and your iPhone will automatically send the text message once the time conditions are satisfied.

5. Automatically Toggle Airplane Mode

As my workday concludes, I prefer not to receive any work-related communications. Hence, I established an automation on my work iPhone to automatically activate Airplane mode at the end of each day.

I set up two automations: one to switch on Airplane mode at 8 PM daily, and the other to turn it off when my workday starts.

Step 1: Head to the Automation tab, select Time of Day, and specify the time to enable/disable Airplane mode.

Step 2: Choose New Blank Automation, search for Airplane Mode, and select either On or Off based on the automation you’re creating.

6. Activate Do Not Disturb When an App is Launched

While watching Netflix, I prefer not to be interrupted by notifications. Therefore, I set up automation to enable Do Not Disturb mode whenever I open the app and to turn it off when closed. You can select any focus mode for this automation as desired.

Step 1: Access the Automation tab, scroll down, and select App from the options.

Choose Netflix, and check the boxes for Is Opened and Is Closed. This ensures the automation operates whenever you launch or exit the app.

Step 2: Select New Blank Automation, tap on Add Action, and search for Focus.

Choose Turn On and select Toggle from the dropdown menu. Then pick Focus and choose Do Not Disturb from the dropdown list.
Finalize by tapping on Done, and Do Not Disturb mode will toggle on or off depending on whether you open or close the Netflix app.

7. Enable Auto Rotate When You Launch an App

Additionally, I ensure that auto-rotate is enabled every time I open Netflix by creating automation that disables the orientation lock whenever I launch the app.

Step 1: Access the Automation tab, scroll down, and select App.

Select Netflix and check the Is Opened box to ensure the automation triggers when you open the app.

Step 2: Choose New Blank Automation, tap on Add Action, and search for Orientation Lock. Make sure it states Turn orientation lock Off. If it doesn’t, adjust the buttons accordingly.

Fun Fact: While this example illustrates adding a single app for automation, you’re welcome to include multiple apps within a single automation on your iPhone.

8. Play a Designated Playlist When Starting a Workout on Apple Watch

My running routine isn’t complete without my energetic Rock Playlist, so I set up an automation to play the playlist when I kick off a Running Workout. It even works when initiated via my Apple Watch.

Step 1: Access the Automation tab and select Apple Watch Workout from the options.

Choose Running and confirm by checking the box to trigger the automation when the workout commences.

Choose New Blank Automation, search for your preferred music app (such as Apple Music), select the Play shortcut, and designate the playlist.

Step 2: Tap Done; the automation will queue the selected playlist as soon as you initiate the workout.

9. Enable Live Captions Upon Opening an App

Live Captions on the iPhone is beneficial for real-time audio transcription from various apps. I established an automation that activates live captions right when I launch the Google Meet app.

Step 1: Open the Automation tab, scroll down, and select App from the list.

Select Google Meet and ensure to check the Is Opened box, ensuring the automation activates upon launching the app.

Step 2: Select New Blank Automation, tap on Add Action, and search for Live Captions.

Ensure it indicates Turn Live Captions On. If not, make the necessary adjustments.

10. A Combination of Automations for Bedtime

The Shortcuts app also supports multiple actions within a single automation. For instance, here’s my bedtime automation setup.

For the Automation condition, I’ve chosen Sleep that activates when my Wind Down Begins.
During Wind Down, I’ve arranged the automation to perform the following actions:
- Enable Color Filters.
- Switch my music playback to my Bluetooth player.
- Play a specific playlist from YouTube Music.

Additional Useful Automation Ideas for iPhone

1. Set Up Home Automation

You can also automate devices connected through the Home app on your iPhone. This allows you to manage devices when you depart from or arrive at home, as well as control actions at specified times of day, alongside any other conditions supported by the Home app and accessories.

2. Set Up Automation Using NFC Tags

When your iPhone detects an NFC tag, you can trigger a particular action or workflow. For instance, if your iPhone identifies an NFC tag on gym equipment, you can begin logging your workout automatically.

Access the NFC action under the Automation tab, Scan a tag, and explore the automation options available.

3. Establish Automation with CarPlay

Upon entering your car, when your iPhone connects to CarPlay, you can automate various actions and features, like playing your favorite driving playlist or automatically retrieving directions to a certain destination.

4. Create Automation with Apple Wallet

You can also implement automations triggered by Apple Pay transactions on your iPhone. For example, when completing a transaction, you can have your iPhone take a screenshot and add it to a particular album for record-keeping purposes.

Access the Transactions section, select the relevant cards to trigger automation upon tapping, and explore the actions you can set up.