What are iPhone Shortcuts automations?

Shortcuts automations are automated workflows on iPhone that trigger based on events like plugging in a charger, arriving at a location, tapping an NFC tag, or reaching a specific time of day. They run in the background and can perform actions like playing sounds, sending messages, adjusting settings, and more.

Do Shortcuts automations drain battery?

Shortcuts automations have negligible battery impact. They only run when triggered by a specific event, not continuously in the background. Even automations that run frequently (like time-based ones) use minimal resources.

Why does my automation ask before running?

By default, personal automations require confirmation before running. To make them run automatically, open the automation in Shortcuts, and toggle off 'Ask Before Running'. Some trigger types (like Message-based triggers) always require confirmation for privacy reasons.

Can Shortcuts automations run when my phone is locked?

Yes, most automations can run when your phone is locked, including charger-connected, time-based, and location-based triggers. However, some actions (like opening an app) require the phone to be unlocked.

What triggers are available for Shortcuts automations?

Available triggers include: Charger (connected/disconnected), Time of Day, Location (arrive/leave), NFC Tag, App (open/close), Airplane Mode, Do Not Disturb, Low Power Mode, Battery Level, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and more. Apple adds new triggers with major iOS updates.

How to Set Up iPhone Shortcuts Automations (Beginner Guide)

iPhone Shortcuts automations let your phone do things automatically — play a sound when you plug in, toggle settings when you arrive at work, or send a message at a specific time. This guide covers everything a beginner needs to know, from your first automation to advanced triggers.

What are Shortcuts automations?

The Shortcuts app comes pre-installed on every iPhone running iOS 13 or later. It lets you create two types of workflows:

Shortcuts — Manual workflows you run by tapping a button, using Siri, or adding a widget.
Automations — Workflows that run automatically when something specific happens (a trigger).

Automations are the powerful part. Instead of manually tapping "run," your phone detects an event — like plugging in a charger or arriving at a location — and executes a series of actions on its own.

Common examples include playing a custom sound when charging, enabling Do Not Disturb when you arrive at work, or sending a text when you leave home.

Creating your first automation

Let's walk through the basics. We'll create a simple automation that sends you a notification at a specific time each day.

Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone.
Tap the Automation tab at the bottom.
Tap the + button in the top-right corner.
Tap "Create Personal Automation".
Select "Time of Day" as your trigger.
Set your preferred time and tap Next.
Tap "Add Action" and search for "Show Notification".
Type your notification message (e.g., "Time to take a break!").
Tap Next.
Toggle off "Ask Before Running" — this is crucial, otherwise iOS will ask for permission every time instead of running automatically.
Tap Done.

That's it. Your iPhone will now show that notification at the time you set, every day, without you doing anything.

All available triggers

Triggers are the events that start your automation. iOS offers a wide range:

Trigger	What it does	Runs automatically?
Charger	When charger is connected or disconnected	Yes
Time of Day	At a specific time, daily or on certain days	Yes
Location	When you arrive at or leave a place	Yes
NFC	When you tap an NFC tag	Yes
App	When a specific app is opened or closed	Yes
Airplane Mode	When Airplane Mode is turned on or off	Yes
Wi-Fi	When you connect to or disconnect from a network	Yes
Bluetooth	When a Bluetooth device connects or disconnects	Yes
Do Not Disturb	When any Focus mode is turned on or off	Yes
Low Power Mode	When Low Power Mode is toggled	Yes
Battery Level	When battery reaches a certain percentage	Yes
Email / Message	When you receive a specific email or message	Requires confirmation

Most triggers can run fully automatically once you disable "Ask Before Running." A few sensitive ones (like email and message triggers) always require confirmation for privacy.

Charger automations (charging sounds)

The most popular use of Shortcuts automations is custom charging sounds — making your iPhone play a specific sound every time you plug it in.

There are two ways to set this up:

Manual method: Create a charger-connected automation, add a "Play Sound" action, and point it to an audio file you've saved in the Files app.
App method: Use an app like Vocalcord that handles the setup automatically and includes a library of 85+ sounds.

For the full step-by-step walkthrough of both methods, see our complete guide to changing your iPhone charging sound.

Charging sound automations are easy to set up but can be finicky with the DIY method. The most common issue is "Ask Before Running" getting re-enabled after iOS updates. See our troubleshooting guide if your charging sound stops working.

Time-based automations

Time-based automations are great for building daily routines. Some ideas:

Morning routine: At 7:00 AM, turn off Do Not Disturb, set brightness to 50%, and show a notification with your first task of the day.
Bedtime: At 10:30 PM, enable Do Not Disturb, lower brightness, and enable Night Shift.
Workout reminder: At 6:00 PM on weekdays, show a notification reminding you to hit the gym.
Weekly review: Every Sunday at 9:00 AM, open your notes app to your weekly review template.

You can set time automations to run daily, on specific days of the week, or on a specific date. Combine multiple actions in a single automation to build powerful routines.

Location-based automations

Location triggers fire when you arrive at or leave a geographic area. You pick a spot on a map and set a radius. Some useful examples:

Arrive at work: Automatically enable Do Not Disturb and connect to your work Bluetooth speaker.
Leave work: Send a text to your partner saying you're on your way home.
Arrive at gym: Open your workout playlist and start a timer.
Arrive home: Turn off Low Power Mode and enable Wi-Fi.

Location automations require location access for the Shortcuts app. Go to Settings → Shortcuts → Location and select "Always" for the most reliable triggering.

NFC tag automations

NFC (Near Field Communication) automations trigger when your iPhone taps a physical NFC tag — a small, inexpensive sticker you can buy online and place anywhere.

This is one of the most creative automation triggers. Ideas:

Desk tag: Place an NFC tag on your desk. Tapping it opens your work apps, enables Do Not Disturb, and starts a focus timer.
Nightstand tag: Tapping it sets an alarm, enables Do Not Disturb, and dims the screen.
Car tag: Stick one in your car mount. Tapping it opens Maps with your commute route and starts your driving playlist.
Gym bag tag: Tapping it opens your workout log and starts your gym playlist.

NFC tags cost a few dollars for a pack of 10. They don't need batteries and last indefinitely. Your iPhone reads them when you hold the top edge of the phone near the tag.

Tips and troubleshooting

Always disable "Ask Before Running"

This is the single most important setting. If "Ask Before Running" is on, your automation will show a notification asking for permission instead of running automatically. For most automations, you want this off.

Test after iOS updates

Major iOS updates can occasionally reset or disable automations. After updating, open the Shortcuts app and verify your automations are still enabled and working.

Grant necessary permissions

Some automations need specific permissions to work. Location automations need "Always" location access. Notification-based actions need notification permissions. If an automation isn't triggering, check Settings → Shortcuts for any missing permissions.

Keep it simple

Start with one or two automations and add more as you get comfortable. Complex automations with many actions are harder to debug if something goes wrong.

Use apps for complex setups

For specific use cases like custom charging sounds, dedicated apps handle the complexity for you. Vocalcord creates and manages charging sound automations automatically, saving you the manual setup and troubleshooting.