More than 10,000 people search every month for how to use Siri shortcuts, and in 2026 the answer changed in a big way. Siri shortcuts let you bundle several actions into a single command you trigger by voice, a tap, or an automatic rule, and the free Shortcuts app on iPhone, iPad, and Mac is where you build them. The basics are still simple, but WWDC 2026 added a layer that lets you describe an automation in plain English and have Apple Intelligence assemble it for you.
This guide walks you through everything in order, from creating your first shortcut and running it with your voice to setting up automations and using the new AI Shortcuts feature. You will also get a quick fix list for when a shortcut stops working, plus a worked example or two you can copy in minutes. Whether you are on an iPhone or a Mac, you will know exactly how to use Siri shortcuts by the end.
The Key Takeaways
- A Siri shortcut is a set of actions grouped into one task you trigger by voice, tap, widget, or automation.
- You build shortcuts in the free Shortcuts app, and they sync across every device on the same iCloud account.
- To run one by voice, just say “Hey Siri” followed by the shortcut’s exact name.
- AI Shortcuts, new at WWDC 2026, build an automation from a plain-English description using Apple Intelligence.
- Siri now runs on a custom 1.2-trillion-parameter Gemini model, so it understands more natural requests across apps.
What Are Siri Shortcuts?
A Siri shortcut is a set of actions grouped into a single task you can trigger by voice, tap, or automation. You build shortcuts in the free Shortcuts app on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, then run them by saying “Hey Siri” plus the shortcut’s name. Shortcuts sync across all devices signed into the same iCloud account, so a shortcut you make on your iPhone shows up on your Mac automatically.
Each shortcut is made of actions, the individual steps that do the work. One action might open Messages, the next might insert a pre-written text, and a third might play a playlist. String them together and a single command handles a whole routine. The app ships with a Gallery of ready-made shortcuts you can add with one tap, which is the fastest way to see what is possible before you build your own.
Shortcuts are completely free and built into iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, so there is nothing to download or pay for. If you have ever wondered whether Siri is now a real AI assistant rather than a simple voice command tool, the short answer is that it crossed that line in 2026, and our explainer on whether Siri is actually AI covers exactly what changed.
How to Create Your First Siri Shortcut
Creating a shortcut takes about a minute. The example below builds a simple “Text Home” shortcut that messages a saved contact, but the same steps apply to anything you want to automate, and Apple’s official Shortcuts guide documents every action if you want to go deeper.
- Open the Shortcuts app and tap the plus (+) button in the top corner to start a new shortcut.
- Tap Add Action and search for the first step you want, for example “Send Message.”
- Fill in the details, such as the message text and the recipient, by tapping the highlighted fields.
- Add more actions if you want the shortcut to do several things in a row, and they will run top to bottom.
- Tap the shortcut’s name at the top to rename it to something you can say out loud, like “Text Home.”
- Tap Done to save it. The name you chose is now the phrase you say to Siri to run it.
That last point is the key one. In the Shortcuts app, the shortcut’s name is its Siri command, so pick something short and natural that you will actually remember. You can edit any shortcut later by tapping it, and you can reorder, add, or delete actions at any time without starting over.
How to Run a Shortcut with Siri and Other Methods
Voice is the headline method, but it is far from the only one. To run a shortcut by voice, activate Siri by saying “Hey Siri” or pressing the side button, then say the exact name, for example “Water Eject.” Siri runs every action in sequence. The table below shows the main ways to trigger a shortcut and when each one makes sense.
| Method | How to trigger | Best for | Device |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voice | Say “Hey Siri” + shortcut name | Hands-free, quick tasks | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Watch |
| Home Screen icon | Tap an icon you added to the Home Screen | Daily-use shortcuts | iPhone, iPad |
| Widget | Tap from the Shortcuts widget | Grouping several shortcuts | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Keyboard shortcut | Assign a key combo in the app | Fast desk workflows | Mac |
| Back Tap | Double or triple tap the back of the phone | Instant access | iPhone |
| Action button | Press the Action button | One go-to shortcut | iPhone |
| Automation | Runs on a trigger like time or location | Hands-off routines | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
Most people start with voice and the Home Screen, then graduate to automations once they see how much time the routine saves. You can mix methods freely, so the same shortcut might have a Home Screen icon, a voice phrase, and a Back Tap trigger all at once.
AI Shortcuts: How WWDC 2026 Changed the Game
The biggest update to shortcuts in years arrived at WWDC 2026. Apple introduced AI Shortcuts, headlined by a feature called Describe a Shortcut that replaces the blank canvas with a plain-text prompt field. Instead of dragging action blocks, you type a request like “Text my partner my ETA when I leave work,” and Apple Intelligence assembles the whole workflow, pulling a stored address, calculating the arrival time in Maps, and sending the alert through Messages.
What makes the approach so useful is transparency. The generated shortcut lands inside the same editor that has always been there, with every action visible and every setting accessible, rather than hiding behind a chat box. You can review what Apple Intelligence built, tweak any step, and run it, which means beginners get a working automation and power users keep full control. TechCrunch demoed the plain-English builder on day one of the conference.
This sits on top of the rebuilt Siri itself. As MacRumors reports, the new Siri runs on a custom 1.2-trillion-parameter Google Gemini model Apple licensed for a reported ~$1 billion per year, which is why Siri now handles personal context, understands what is on your screen, and chains multi-step requests across apps. For the full breakdown of what shipped, see our WWDC 2026 recap. Behind the scenes, Apple also issued a SiriKit deprecation notice, making App Intents the framework developers must use to plug their apps into the Gemini-powered Siri.
If you want to get more out of the assistant beyond shortcuts, our guide on how to use Apple Intelligence covers writing tools, image features, and the new Siri side by side.
How to Set Up Automations
A shortcut runs when you tell it to, while an automation runs by itself when a condition is met. You set these up in the Automation tab of the Shortcuts app, and the triggers include time of day, arriving at or leaving a location, connecting to a charger, opening an app, and more. This is where shortcuts stop being a party trick and start saving real time.
A classic example is a morning routine. You can set a time-of-day automation that, at 7 a.m. on weekdays, reads the weather, shows your first calendar event, and starts a news podcast, all without you touching the phone. Another favorite is a location trigger that switches your phone to silent when you arrive at the office and turns the ringer back on when you leave.
The Water Eject Shortcut
One of the most popular shortcuts is Water Eject, which plays a low-frequency tone that pushes water out of your iPhone or Apple Watch speaker after a swim or a spill. You do not have to build it from scratch. Open the Gallery tab in the Shortcuts app, search for a water eject shortcut, add it with one tap, then run it by saying “Hey Siri, Water Eject.” It is the perfect first shortcut because it shows the whole add-and-run flow in under a minute.
Once you are comfortable, the next step is a curated set of ideas. Our roundup of the top AI shortcuts and automations for your Mac and our list of iOS AI shortcuts worth trying give you ready-made workflows to copy.
Using Siri Shortcuts on Mac
Everything above works on a Mac, and the Mac adds one trigger you will not find on iPhone. Inside the Shortcuts app on macOS you can assign a keyboard shortcut to any shortcut, so a single key combination fires the whole routine while you work. Open the Shortcuts app, select a shortcut, open its details in the sidebar, and set the key combo there.
Because shortcuts sync through iCloud, the ones you build on your iPhone are already waiting on your Mac, and vice versa. That makes the Mac a great place to design more complex shortcuts on a bigger screen, then run them by voice on whatever device is closest. On macOS 27, the same AI Shortcuts builder is available, so you can describe a workflow on your Mac just as you would on an iPhone.
Siri Shortcut Not Working? Quick Fixes
When a shortcut refuses to run, the cause is usually small. The most common issue is the name, since Siri runs a shortcut by its exact name, so a phrase that is too long, too similar to another command, or hard to pronounce will trip it up. Rename it to something short and distinct and the voice trigger becomes far more reliable.
If a shortcut does not appear on another device, the fix is almost always iCloud sync. Make sure every device is signed into the same Apple Account and that Shortcuts is enabled in your iCloud settings, then give it a minute to sync. For a shortcut that opens but fails partway, open it and check whether an action needs a permission you have not granted yet, such as access to Messages, Photos, or Location. Granting that permission once usually clears the error for good. Finally, confirm Siri is switched on in Settings, because a disabled “Hey Siri” stops every voice trigger at once.
Beyond Siri: Running Multiple AI Models in One App
Siri shortcuts are brilliant for automating your device, but they are not a replacement for a full AI chat assistant when you want to write, research, or code. If that is what you need, Fello AI brings Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Groka DeepSeek together in one native Mac and iOS app, so you can switch models for a single task without juggling separate subscriptions.
It runs at $9.99 per month for access to multiple leading models under one price, which pairs neatly with Siri shortcuts handling the on-device automation. You let Siri run the routines and let a multi-model app handle the heavy thinking.
Závěr
Siri shortcuts turn repetitive taps into a single command, and in 2026 they are easier to build than ever thanks to AI Shortcuts and the new Gemini-powered Siri. Start with one shortcut from the Gallery, like Water Eject, learn to run it by voice, then build a morning automation once you see how much time it saves. From there, browse our curated shortcut lists and add the ones that fit your day.
FAQ
How do I use Siri shortcuts on iPhone?
Open the free Shortcuts app, tap the plus button to create a shortcut, add one or more actions, then name it. To run it, say “Hey Siri” followed by that name, or tap it from the app, a widget, or a Home Screen icon.
Are Siri shortcuts free?
Yes. The Shortcuts app is built into iOS, iPadOS, and macOS at no cost, and the Gallery of ready-made shortcuts is free to use as well.
What is the difference between a shortcut and an automation?
A shortcut runs when you trigger it by voice or tap, while an automation runs on its own when a condition is met, such as a time of day, a location, or connecting to a charger.
What are AI Shortcuts on iOS 27
AI Shortcuts, introduced at WWDC 2026, let you describe an automation in plain English while Apple Intelligence assembles the actions. You type what you want, review the editable shortcut it builds, and run it.
Why is my Siri shortcut not working?
The usual causes are an awkward shortcut name, missing iCloud sync across devices, an action that needs a permission you have not granted, or Siri being turned off. Check those four and most shortcuts run again.
