How do I open the shortcuts app?

Look for the Shortcuts app on your iPhone — it has an orange and white icon with two interlocking squares. If you can't find it, swipe down from the middle of your home screen to search for "Shortcuts."

How do I create a new automation?

Tap Automations at the bottom of the screen, then tap the + button in the top right corner. You'll see a list of triggers — choose one. For a bedtime automation, choose Time of Day.

How do I configure the trigger?

Set the specifics for your trigger. For Time of Day, choose the time and which days of the week it should run. For Arrive at Location, enter an address and set a radius (how close you need to be before it triggers).

How do I add your actions?

Tap Add Action and search for what you want to happen. For a bedtime automation, search "Do Not Disturb" or "Focus" and select Set Focus. Choose your Sleep focus and set it to turn on. Tap Next and then Done.

How do I test and manage automations?

Your automation will run automatically at the next trigger. To check it worked, look at your notification center or settings afterward. To edit or delete it, go back to the Automations tab and tap the automation's name.

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The Shortcuts app comes pre-installed on every iPhone running iOS 13 or newer. Most people have never opened it, which is a shame — it's one of the most genuinely useful apps Apple has ever made. With it, you can set up automations: things your phone does on its own, triggered by a specific time, location, or action, without you having to tap anything.

There's an important distinction between a Shortcut and an Automation. A Shortcut is something you run manually — like a button you tap (or a Siri command you say) that kicks off a sequence of actions. An Automation is something the phone triggers for you automatically based on a condition you define.

Here are some automations that work well for everyday users:

Turn on Do Not Disturb at bedtime. Set a time-based automation that enables Focus mode at 10 PM and turns it off at 7 AM. You'll never have to remember to silence your phone before bed.

Send a text when you arrive home. Create a location-based automation: when you arrive at a specific address (home, work, your gym), automatically send a text like "I'm home" to a family member. This is popular with families who keep tabs on each other.

Turn on Low Power Mode when battery drops to 30%. A battery-level trigger can automatically enable Low Power Mode before your phone has time to drop further.

Open a specific app when you plug in headphones. Or start a music playlist automatically when you connect to your car's Bluetooth.

To create an automation: open the Shortcuts app, tap Automations at the bottom, then tap the + button in the top right. You'll see a list of triggers — Time of Day, Arrive at Location, Leave Location, App Open, Bluetooth Connection, Charger Connected, Battery Level, and more. Select a trigger, configure it, then add the actions you want to happen.

For each action, tap Add Action and search for what you want to do. Common actions include Send Message, Turn On Do Not Disturb, Set Volume, Open App, Play Music, and Turn On/Off a specific setting.

Location-based automations require you to grant Shortcuts "Always" location permission in Settings > Privacy > Location Services > Shortcuts.

The Shortcuts Gallery (tap Gallery at the bottom of the app) has pre-built shortcuts from Apple and the community that you can add without building them yourself. Browse it for ideas.

To delete or pause an automation, go to Automations, tap it, and toggle Enable This Automation off or tap Delete Automation.