Creating and Using Custom Siri Shortcuts

Siri Shortcuts is a feature introduced by Apple in iOS 12 that allows users to create custom voice-activated shortcuts for various tasks on their iOS devices. With Siri Shortcuts, you can automate actions, streamline your daily routines, and interact with your favorite apps more efficiently. In this tutorial, we will walk you through the process of creating and using custom Siri Shortcuts.

Prerequisites

Before we get started, make sure you have the following requirements:

An iOS device running iOS 12 or later.
The Siri Shortcuts app, which is pre-installed on devices running iOS 13 or later. For devices running iOS 12, you can download the app from the App Store.

Creating a Custom Siri Shortcut

To create a custom Siri Shortcut, follow the steps below:

Open the Siri Shortcuts app on your iOS device.
Tap on the "+" button to create a new shortcut.
Tap on "Add Action" to select an action for your shortcut. You can choose from a wide range of pre-defined actions or search for specific actions using the search bar.
Once you've selected an action, you can customize its parameters. This step varies depending on the selected action. For example, if you have chosen the "Send Message" action, you will need to specify the recipient and the message content.
After customizing the action, tap on the "+" button next to "Add Action" to add additional actions to your shortcut. You can add multiple actions to create a more complex shortcut.
To add a custom voice command for your shortcut, tap on the settings icon (three dots) in the top-right corner of the screen.
Tap on "Add to Siri" and record a phrase that you would like to use to trigger the shortcut. Try to choose a phrase that is easy to remember and associate with the desired action.
Once you've recorded the phrase, tap on "Done" to save your shortcut.

Using a Custom Siri Shortcut

To use a custom Siri Shortcut that you created, follow these steps:

Invoke Siri by either saying "Hey Siri" or pressing and holding the home button (on devices with a home button) or the side button (on devices without a home button).
Say the custom voice command that you assigned to your shortcut. For example, if you created a shortcut for sending a message, you could say "Hey Siri, send message."
Siri will process your command and execute the associated shortcut.

Managing Siri Shortcuts

You can manage your custom Siri Shortcuts by following these steps:

Open the Siri Shortcuts app on your iOS device.
Tap on the "My Shortcuts" tab to see a list of all your shortcuts.
To edit a shortcut, tap on the shortcut's name and make the desired changes.
To delete a shortcut, swipe left on the shortcut and tap on the "Delete" button.
To rearrange the order of your shortcuts, tap and hold on a shortcut, then drag it to the desired position.

Conclusion

Custom Siri Shortcuts empower iOS users to enhance their productivity and streamline repetitive tasks. By following the steps outlined in this tutorial, you can create your own personalized shortcuts and use them with Siri effortlessly. Experiment with different actions and combinations to unlock the full potential of Siri Shortcuts and save valuable time on your iOS device.