Do you have an iPhone? Yes, but I bet you mostly use it for calls, WhatsApp, the camera, and scrolling social media. Your iPhone is actually a super smart robot. It has a hidden app called "Shortcuts." This app can do your boring, daily tasks for you automatically.
Today, I am going to share 4 amazing iPhone shortcuts. You will not find these easily on the internet. They are very simple to use, and they will save you a lot of time.
Let's look at the 4 shortcuts we are going to add to your phone today:
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1. Send SMS/iMessage Later (Automatically)
We all want to schedule messages on iMessage or SMS. For example, you want to send a birthday wish exactly at 12:00 AM, but you want to sleep early. The Messages app does not have a button for this. But this shortcut fixes that problem!
You just tell the shortcut what time to send the message and what to write. Then, you put your phone away. When the time comes, your iPhone will wake up, open the Messages app, and send the message for you. You do nothing!
How to Build This Auto-Message Shortcut (Step-by-Step)
Because this trick uses Apple's internal automation, you cannot just download it from a link. You have to build it yourself, but don't worry, it takes exactly 2 minutes! Just follow these easy steps:
Step 1: Create the Message Shortcut
- Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone and tap the (+) button at the top right to create a new shortcut.
- At the bottom, tap the search bar, type Send Message (look for the green icon), and tap it.
- Tap on the blue word "Message" and type your text (like "Happy Birthday!").
- Tap on the blue word "Recipient" and select your friend's contact.
- Crucial Step: Tap the small arrow (>) next to the contact name. You will see an option called "Show Compose Sheet." Turn this OFF. If you don't turn it off, the message will not send while you are sleeping!
- Tap "Done" at the top to save it.
Step 2: Make it Automatic (The Magic Part)
Now, we need to tell your iPhone when to send this message.
- Tap on the Automation tab at the bottom of the Shortcuts app.
- Tap the (+) button at the top and select Time of Day.
- Set the exact time you want the message to be sent (like 12:00 AM for a birthday).
- Under the time, select "Run Immediately." This is very important, so your phone sends it without asking for your permission.
- Tap "Next" at the top right, and select the shortcut you just created in Step 1.
- That’s it! Your auto-message is completely ready.
Important: Turn Off App Lock
If you have locked your iPhone's "Messages" app with Face ID, you must turn that lock off for one night. If the app is locked, the shortcut will fail because it cannot scan your face while you are sleeping in the dark!
Note About SMS Charges
This trick uses your normal Messages app. If your friend has an iPhone and internet, it sends automatically as a free iMessage (blue bubble). But if it sends as a normal SMS (green bubble), your mobile network might charge you. Make sure you have enough mobile balance or an SMS package!
Warning: Delete It the Next Morning!
Apple automations repeat automatically. If you set the time to "Daily," your phone will send the exact same "Happy Birthday" message every single day! To stop this, simply open the Shortcuts app the next morning, go to Automations, and delete or turn off this automation.{alertInfo}
2. Copy Text from a Photo & Delete the Photo
Do you take photos of whiteboards, books, or bills just to save the information? This makes your phone's photo gallery full of junk pictures.
When you tap this shortcut, it opens your camera. You take a photo of the document. The shortcut quickly copies all the written text from the photo and saves it in a new Apple Note. Then, it instantly deletes the photo! You get the text, and your gallery stays clean.
Add This Shortcut & Put It on Your Home Screen
You can add this magic shortcut to your iPhone right now. Just click the link below:
To make this shortcut truly useful, you need to put it on your Home Screen so it works like a normal app. It is very easy:
- Open this shortcut in your Shortcuts app.
- Tap the small (i) icon (Details button) at the very bottom of your screen.
- As you can see in the screenshot below, simply tap "Add to Home Screen."
How to Use It Every Day
Now, whenever you want to copy text from a whiteboard, book, or paper, just follow these simple steps:
- Tap the new shortcut icon on your Home Screen.
- Your camera will open automatically.
- Take a picture of the text and tap "Use Photo" at the bottom right.
- You are done!
The text will automatically save as a new file in your Apple Notes app. You can do this every time you need to save some text quickly, and remember, those junk pictures will never go to your photo gallery!
Why This Shortcut Is a Game-Changer for Students!
If you are a student, this shortcut is going to be your new best friend. When you are making an assignment and need some important lines from a thick book, what do you usually do? You take a picture and then try to type or copy the words slowly. It takes so much time!
With this shortcut, you just point your camera at the book page and snap! The exact words are automatically saved in a brand new file in your Notes app, complete with the exact time and date. You can simply open your notes, copy that text, and paste it straight into your assignment. No more typing long paragraphs, and no more book photos filling up your gallery!
3. The 5% Battery Lifesaver (Emergency Text)
Imagine you are outside at night. Your phone battery drops to 5%. It is about to turn off, and you cannot text your family to tell them where you are. This shortcut is a true lifesaver for emergencies.
How to Build This Shortcut
- Open the Shortcuts app and tap the (+) button.
- Search for "Get Current Location" and add it. (Tap the blue arrow and set Precision to "Best.").
- Search for "Get Maps URL" and add it right below the first step.
- Search for "Send Message" and add it.
- In the message box, type your text (e.g., "My battery is 5%. Here is my location: ") and then tap the blue "Maps URL" variable from the top of your keyboard.
- Choose your emergency contact and turn OFF "Show Compose Sheet."
How to Set Up the Automation (The Most Important Part):
To make this work automatically without you touching the phone, follow these steps:
- In the Shortcuts app, tap the Automation tab at the bottom.
- Tap the (+) button and search for "Battery Level."
- Move the slider to 5% and select "Falls Below 5%."
- Crucial: Select "Run Immediately" so the phone sends the text without asking you.
- Tap Next and select the "Emergency Ping" shortcut you just made.
You don't have to press any buttons. The exact second your iPhone battery hits 5%, this shortcut automatically finds your location on the map. Then, it sends a text message with your location to your brother, friend, or parents, saying, "My iPhone battery is dying; here is my last location."
Also Read: 5 Useful iPhone Shortcuts You Need in 2026
4. Talk and Save Notes Instantly
Sometimes you get a great idea, but opening the Notes app and typing it takes too much time. By the time you start typing, you forget the idea.
Why is this better than a normal voice note?
Unlike regular voice memos, this shortcut converts your voice into text instantly. It saves your thoughts directly into your Notes app with the exact date and time. No more listening back to long recordings!
You put this shortcut as a big button on your home screen. When an idea comes to your mind, just tap the button once and start talking. It will listen to your voice, change it into text, and save it in your Notes app with today's date. No typing needed!
How to Build This Shortcut (The Pro Way)
1. Open the Shortcuts app and tap the (+) button.
2. Search for "Dictate Text" and add it.
- Tip: Tap the blue arrow. Under Language, you can choose any language you want (Note: Currently, Urdu (Pakistan) is not available, so most users prefer English).
- Pro Setting: Change "Stop Listening" from "After Pause" to "On Tap." This is a game-changer! Now, the shortcut won't stop if you take a break to think; it will only stop when you manually tap the screen.
3. Search for "Create Note" and add it below.
4. In the "Name" section of the note, delete all text and select the "Current Date" variable. This ensures every idea is saved with its own date and time stamp.
5. Tap Done and name it "Quick Idea."
Real-Life Use Case
You can even use this to record a meeting or a long lecture! Since we set it to "Stop Listening: On Tap," you can leave your phone on the table, and it will keep transcribing everything into text until you tell it to stop. Later, you can just copy-paste that text into your assignments or blog posts!
Final Words
Your iPhone can do magic if you use the right shortcuts. Take two minutes to add these 4 links to your phone, and see how easy your life becomes.
- Which shortcut did you like the most? Tell me in the comments below! And save this blog, because I will bring more secret iPhone tricks for you very soon.
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iPhone Shortcuts