Shortcuts (Apple)

{{Short description|Scripting application by Apple}} {{Infobox software | name = Shortcuts | logo = Shortcuts (iOS 26) app icon.png | logo_size = x64px | screenshot = Apple Shortcuts screenshot.png | screenshot_size = 245px | caption = Screenshot of the Shortcuts Gallery on an iPhone 14 Pro running iOS 26 | released = {{start date and age|2014}} | author = DeskConnect, Inc. | developer = Apple | latest release version = | operating system = iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, macOS and visionOS | license = Proprietary | language count = 34 | website = {{URL|https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/shortcuts/welcome/ios}} }}

'''Shortcuts''' (formerly '''Workflow''') is a visual scripting application developed by Apple and provided on its iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS and visionOS<ref>{{Cite web |title=Einführung in die App "Kurzbefehle" auf der Apple Vision Pro |url=https://support.apple.com/de-de/guide/apple-vision-pro/tan86d877255/visionos#:~:text=Die%20App%20%E2%80%9EKurzbefehle%E2%80%9C%20ist%20eine%20iPad-App,%20die%20auch,nur%20einmal%20tippen%20musst%20oder%20Siri%20verwenden%20kannst. |access-date=2025-05-11 |website=Apple Support |language=de |archive-date=2025-07-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250701095456/https://support.apple.com/de-de/guide/apple-vision-pro/tan86d877255/visionos#:~:text=Die%20App%20%E2%80%9EKurzbefehle%E2%80%9C%20ist%20eine%20iPad-App,%20die%20auch,nur%20einmal%20tippen%20musst%20oder%20Siri%20verwenden%20kannst. |url-status=live }}</ref> operating systems. It allows users to create macros for executing specific tasks and automations on their device(s). These task sequences can be created by the user and shared online through iCloud. A number of curated shortcuts can also be downloaded from the integrated Gallery.<ref name="ars-workflowacquired">{{cite web|title=Apple snaps up Workflow, an iOS automation app for power users [Updated]|url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/2017/03/apple-snaps-up-workflow-an-ios-automation-app-for-power-users/|website=Ars Technica|date=23 March 2017|publisher=Conde Nast|access-date=25 March 2017}}</ref>

Shortcuts are activated manually through the app, shortcut widgets, the share sheet, and Siri. They can also be automated to trigger after an event, such as the time of day, leaving a set location, or opening an app.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Create a new personal automation|url=https://support.apple.com/en-au/guide/shortcuts/apdfbdbd7123/4.0/ios/14.0|access-date=2020-12-17|website=Apple Support|language=en}}</ref>

Shortcuts was originally created by DeskConnect, Inc. (Ari Weinstein, Conrad Kramer, Veeral Patel, and Nick Frey) for MHacks Winter 2014 competition and was awarded first place for Best iOS App.<ref name="devpost">{{cite web|title=Workflow|date=21 March 2014|url=https://devpost.com/software/workflow|access-date=28 April 2017|archive-date=11 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011135658/http://devpost.com/software/workflow|url-status=live}}</ref>

==History== Workflow originally began as a project at The University of Michigan's MHacks.

In 2015, Workflow received an Apple Design Award for its integration with iOS accessibility features such as VoiceOver.<ref name="tc-ada15">{{cite web|title=Fantastical 2, Workflow, Robinhood Among Winners At Apple Design Awards|url=https://techcrunch.com/2015/06/08/fantastical-2-workflow-robinhood-among-winners-at-apple-design-awards/|website=TechCrunch|date=9 June 2015|publisher=AOL|access-date=25 March 2017|archive-date=17 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517100430/https://techcrunch.com/2015/06/08/fantastical-2-workflow-robinhood-among-winners-at-apple-design-awards/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On March 22, 2017, Apple acquired Workflow for an undisclosed amount. Following the purchase, the software was made available for free. An accompanying update also changed some of the service providers used within the app to those owned or preferred by Apple, such as Apple Maps and Microsoft Translator, and closed submissions of workflows to Gallery.<ref name="verge-workflowacquired">{{cite web |last=Bohn |first=Dieter |date=22 March 2017 |title=Apple bought the best utility app for the iPhone, Workflow |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/3/22/15030462/apple-acquires-workflow-iphone-utility |access-date=25 March 2017 |website=The Verge |publisher=Vox Media |archive-date=17 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180917215339/https://www.theverge.com/2017/3/22/15030462/apple-acquires-workflow-iphone-utility |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ars-workflowacquired" />

On September 17, 2018, the Workflow app became the Shortcuts app, which runs shortcuts with Siri, along with iOS 12. The app was announced on June 4, 2018, at WWDC 2018.

On September 19, 2019, with the public launch of iOS 13, the Shortcuts app became a default app installed on all iOS 13 devices.

On June 7, 2021, at WWDC 2021, a desktop version of the Shortcuts app was announced for macOS.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Clark|first=Mitchell|date=2021-06-07|title=macOS Monterey lets you run Shortcuts and share files between Macs and iPads|url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/6/7/22458628/apple-macos-12-monterey-features-updates-wwdc-2021|access-date=2021-06-08|website=The Verge|language=en|archive-date=2021-06-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607183330/https://www.theverge.com/2021/6/7/22458628/apple-macos-12-monterey-features-updates-wwdc-2021|url-status=live}}</ref>

On September 12, 2022, Apple launched an update to the Shortcuts app as a part of iOS 16. This update included the ability to integrate Siri voice assistant with Shortcuts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=iOS 16: Apple Latest iPhone Software, Available Now |url=https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/ios-16/ |access-date=2023-02-08 |website=MacRumors |language=en |archive-date=2023-08-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230817221458/https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/ios-16/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==URL scheme==  Shortcuts also supports a URL scheme. This works as follows:<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/shortcuts/apd9c112ca23/ios|title=Shortcuts User Guide: Open or search the Shortcuts Gallery using a URL scheme on iPhone or iPad|access-date=2023-02-07}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/shortcuts/apda283236d7/ios|title=Shortcuts User Guide: Open and create a shortcut using a URL scheme on iPhone or iPad|access-date=2023-02-07}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/shortcuts/apd624386f42/ios|title=Shortcuts User Guide: Run a shortcut using a URL scheme on iPhone or iPad|access-date=2023-02-07|archive-date=2023-02-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207171437/https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/shortcuts/apd624386f42/ios|url-status=live}}</ref> * <code>shortcuts://</code> Opens the Shortcuts app. * <code>shortcuts://gallery</code> Opens the Gallery with Shortcuts that have been premade by Apple. *<code>shortcuts://gallery/search?query=''[search words]''</code> Searches the gallery for the search word. URL encoding is required to use multiple search words. *<code>shortcuts://create-shortcut</code> Creates a new shortcut and opens that shortcut in the editor. *<code>shortcuts://open-shortcut?name=''[name]''</code> Opens the shortcut in the editor that has the specified name. URL encoding is required. *<code>shortcuts://run-shortcut?name=''[name]''&input=''[see note]''&text=''[see note]''</code> Executes a shortcut, optionally including an input.

Note: The parameters "input" and "text" are optional. If you pass "clipboard" to input, the clipboard is passed as input. If you pass "text" to input, the parameter "text" is retrieved and the text stored there is passed as input. There, URL encoding is required.

== See also == * AppleScript * Automator

== References == {{reflist|30em}}

== External links == * [http://workflow.is Workflow] Website & Documentation

Category:Automation software Category:Apple Inc. acquisitions Category:IOS software Category:MacOS Category:IOS-based software made by Apple Inc.