10 Best Automation Ideas on iPhone and How to Create Them

Quick Tips

• The Automation feature in the Shortcuts app lets your iPhone automatically execute tasks based on conditions.
• You can create automation based on time, location, Focus Mode, battery level, etc.
• You can also create an automation to execute specific tasks from downloaded apps or smart devices connected to your iPhone.

What Is Automation on iPhone?

• Automation allows your iPhone to automatically perform an action (a Shortcut) when a condition is satisfied.
• You can set up your iPhone to automatically perform such actions for certain conditions – when you’re leaving/reaching a location, when the clock hits a specific time, when you open an application, etc.
• The actions can include enabling a feature from an app, turning on/off a toggle on your iPhone, or triggering a Shortcut.
• As long as your iPhone can perform an action/recognize the condition – you can create an automation by mapping the two.

How to Set Up Automation on Your iPhone

Here’s how to set up an automation on your iPhone.

Step 1: Open the Shortcuts app > go to the Automation tab > select New Automation.

Step 2: Select the Condition.

• You can go through the list of conditions that your iPhone shows you. Select a condition.
• For example, if you want to automate something as soon as the clock hits 9 AM, select the Time condition.

Step 3: Choose if you want to run the automation as soon as the condition is satisfied, or if you want to manually confirm the same one. Select Run Immediately or Run After Confirmation, respectively.

Step 4: You can also select the frequency with which you want to run the automation – whether it is Daily, Weekly, or Monthly.

Step 5: Then, tap on Next.

Step 6: You can now see the condition described on top. Now, you must pick an action your iPhone needs to perform when it satisfies the condition.

You can automate your iPhone to perform actions by executing a Shortcut:

• To automatically execute a new Shortcut when the condition is satisfied, tap on New Blank Automation to create one > Add Action > search within the vast library of scripts, shortcuts, actions, and more. You can also search for any action, script, or feature.

• You can also automatically execute Shortcuts you have already created when the condition is satisfied.

• For simpler automation, you can find presets within the tab. You can scroll down and select an app from the list. Then, pick an action from the app you want to automatically execute when the condition is satisfied.

There you go – once you create the Automation, your iPhone will act as soon as the condition is satisfied.

If you’re like us and want to learn through examples, you’ll love the next section.

10 Best Automation Ideas for iPhone

Here are some of the automation shortcuts I’ve set up on my iPhone.

1. Enable Low Power Mode When Battery Goes Below a Certain Level

I created an automation that sets the Low Power Mode on the iPhone as soon as the battery goes below a certain level.

Step 1: Open the Automation tab > select Battery Level in the list.

Step 2: Use the slider to adjust the battery level condition.

Step 3: Then, run the automation if the battery rises/equal to/falls below the set level. Tap on Next > select Set Low Power Mode under the suggestions.

2. Get Directions to a Location as Soon as You Leave One

Here’s how my iPhone automatically pulls up directions to work when I leave my home between 9:00AM and 10:00AM.

Step 1: Open the Automation tab > select Leave in the list.

Step 2: Now, add your home location in the Location section.

• You can also run the automation when you Leave the location during a specific time range or Any Time of the day. Tap on Next > select Create Blank Automation.

• Now, tap on Add Action or search for an action using the search bar.

Step 2: Search and select Open Driving Directions, select the From and To locations > select the default app. Tap on Done, and the automation will run as soon as you leave your home – and navigation will open in the selected app.

3. Enable Always On Display When You Reach Work

To prevent any distractions, I want to avoid using my iPhone at work. Therefore, the Always On Display helps keep up with notifications with a glance at the screen. However, I only want to use it when I am at work and not otherwise. So, I created an automation that enables it as soon as I reach my work location.

Step 1: Open the Automation tab > select Arrive in the list.

• Now, add your work location in the Location section. You can also run the automation when you arrive at the location during a specific time range or Any Time of the day.

• Tap on Next > select Create Blank Automation.

Step 2: Now, tap on Add Action or search for an action using the search bar.

• Search and select Always On Display > Turn > On in the action.
• Tap on Done, and Always On Display will be enabled as soon as you reach work.

Instead of manually disabling it after work, you can also create another automation to turn it off when you leave your work.

4. Auto Schedule a Message

I used to add a reminder at the end of every month, to text my colleague to send an invoice. Instead, I created an automation that automatically sends the text. Here’s how.

Step 1: Open the Automation tab > select Time of Day.

• Select the time and the frequency with which you want the automation to repeat.
• I want it every month, so I picked Monthly along with the day of the month.

Step 2: Tap on New Blank Automation > Add Action.

• Search and select Send Message > add the contents of the message > choose Contact.

• Tap on Done, and your iPhone will automatically send the text when the time conditions are met.

5. Toggle Airplane Mode Automatically

When my work day ends, I don’t prefer receiving any communication from the office. Therefore, I created an automation on my work iPhone that automatically enables Airplane mode at the end of the day.

I created two automations: one to enable Airplane mode at 8PM every day and another to disable it when my day begins.

Step 1: Open the Automation tab > select Time of Day and select the time to enable/disable Airplane Mode.

Step 2: Next, select New Blank Automation > search Airplane Mode > select On or Off depending on the automation you are creating.

6. Enable Do Not Disturb When You Open an App

When I’m watching Netflix, I don’t wish to be interrupted by notifications. So, I created an automation that enables Do Not Disturb when I open the app and disables it when it is closed. You can map any focus mode of your choice to the automation.

Note: You can set the same for any streaming service or other apps.

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

Now, select Netflix in the app section > check the boxes for Is Opened and Is Closed. This means that the automation will run whenever you open/close the app.

Step 2: Tap on New Blank Automation > select Add Action > search for Focus.

• Tap on Turn On > select Toggle from the drop-down list > select Focus > Do Not Disturb from the drop-down list.
• Tap on Done, and DND will be toggled when you open or close the Netflix app.

Note: This shortcut toggles Do Not Disturb when you open or close Netflix – meaning it changes the state of DND when you open/close the app. Therefore, ensure Do Not Disturb is off before you open Netflix.

7. Enable Auto Rotate When You Open an App

Similarly, I enable auto-rotate every time I open Netflix, so I created an automation that ensures the orientation lock is off whenever I open Netflix.

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

Now, select Netflix in the app section and check the box for Is Opened. This means that the automation will run when you open the app.

Step 2: Tap on New Blank Automation, select Add Action, and search for Orientation Lock. Ensure it says Turn orientation lock Off. If not, tap on each button to change it.

Fun Fact: While the above example demonstrates adding one app to the automation, you can add multiple apps to an automation on your iPhone.

8. Play a Specific Playlist as Soon as You Begin a Workout on Apple Watch

My running workout is incomplete without my high-energy, upbeat Rock Playlist. So, I created an automation to play a playlist when I start a Running Workout. Yes, it works when you start a workout on the Apple Watch as well.

Step 1: Open the Automation tab and select Apple Watch Workout from the list.

• Select Running in Workout Type, and check the box to run the automation when you start the workout.

• Tap on New Blank Automation and search for Apple Music or any other supported app. Then, select the Play shortcut > playlist.

Step 2: Tap on Done, and the automation will play the selected playlist when you start the workout.

9. Enable Live Captions When You Open an App

Live Captions on the iPhone is useful for real-time transcription of audio from apps. I’ve created an automation that enables live captions as soon as I open the Google Meet app.

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

Now, select Google Meet in the app section and check the box for Is Opened. This means that the automation will run when you open the app.

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

Ensure it says Turn Live Captions On. If not, tap on each button to change it.

10. A Combo of Automation During Bedtime

The app also lets you add multiple actions for a single automation. For example, here’s my bedtime automation.

• In my Automation condition, I have selected Sleep and configured it to run when my Wind Down Begins,
• Then, I’ve set the automation to enable the following actions when my Wind Down begins:
  • Turn on Color Filters.
  • Change my music playback destination to my Bluetooth player.
  • Play a specific playlist from YouTube Music.

Also Read: Here’s how I joined the 5 AM club with the help of my iPhone.

Other Useful Automation Ideas for iPhone

1. Create Home Automation

You can also automate all the devices connected with the Home app on your iPhone. You can turn on/off a device when you leave or arrive at your home, control devices when a specific time of the day occurs – and any other conditions and actions supported by the Home app and the accessory.

2. Create Automation With NFC Tags

Whenever your iPhone detects an NFC tag, you can automate a certain action or a trigger. For example, when your iPhone detects an NFC tag on gym equipment, you can automatically start recording a workout.

Open the NFC action in the Automation tab, Scan a tag, and explore everything you can automate.

3. Create Automation With CarPlay

The moment you get inside your car, and your iPhone connects to CarPlay, you can automate various actions and features. For example, you can automatically play your favorite driving playlist when your iPhone connects to CarPlay. Further, you can also automatically pull up driving directions to a location when your iPhone connects to CarPlay.

You can check out our guide on the best Apple CarPlay Shortcuts and Automation you can use.

4. Create Apple Wallet Automation

You can also create automation when performing a transaction with Apple Pay on your iPhone. For example, as soon as you perform a transaction, you can automatically take a screenshot and add it to a specific album to log your transaction.

Open the Transactions section > select the cards that will trigger the automation when tapped. Then, browse the list of actions you can automate.