How to Use Apple Shortcuts to Automate Your Morning Routine

What is the Apple Shortcuts App?

The Shortcuts app is a powerful automation tool built directly into iOS and iPadOS. It allows you to combine multiple steps across different applications and trigger them all with a single tap or a Siri voice command. Instead of manually checking the weather, opening your calendar, and starting a playlist every morning, a single Shortcut can perform all these actions instantly.

Why You Should Automate Your Morning

Mornings are often rushed. By automating repetitive digital tasks, you reduce screen time and start your day more efficiently. The true power of the Shortcuts app lies in its ability to interact deeply with both native Apple apps and third-party software, creating highly personalised workflows that adapt to your specific daily requirements.

How to Build a Morning Routine Shortcut

Follow these steps to create a simple, effective morning routine that reads your first calendar event, checks the weather, and plays your favourite morning playlist.

1. Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone. If you have uninstalled it, you can download it again for free from the App Store.
2. Tap the + (plus) icon in the top-right corner to create a new Shortcut.
3. Tap the default name at the top (usually “New Shortcut”) and select Rename. Call it “Good Morning”.
4. Tap Add Action. This is where you will begin building the sequence.

Step 1: Check the Weather

First, we want Siri to tell us the weather conditions.

1. In the search bar, type Weather.
2. Select Get Current Weather.
3. Now, search for Speak Text and add it to the sequence.
4. Tap the word “Text” in the new action, and select Weather Conditions from the variable bar above the keyboard.

Step 2: Read Your Calendar

Next, let’s find out what your first meeting is.

1. Search for Calendar and select Get Upcoming Events. Set it to fetch 1 event.
2. Search for Speak Text again.
3. Tap “Text” and type: “Your first event today is “. Then, select the Upcoming Events variable.

Step 3: Play Music

Finally, start your morning playlist.

1. Search for Music and select Play Music.
2. Tap the faint “Music” text within the action box.
3. Browse your Apple Music library and select your preferred morning playlist or radio station.

How to Trigger Your Morning Routine

Now that your Shortcut is built, you need an easy way to trigger it.

• Use Siri: Simply say, “Hey Siri, Good Morning” (matching the name you gave the Shortcut). Siri will execute the actions in order.
• Add a Home Screen Widget: Long-press your Home Screen, tap the + icon, select Shortcuts, and add a widget for your new routine.
• Use Personal Automations: Tap the Automation tab at the bottom of the Shortcuts app. You can set this Shortcut to run automatically when your morning alarm goes off, or when you tap your iPhone against an NFC tag on your bedside table.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Making it too complex initially: Start with a simple 3-step routine. If you add too many actions involving third-party apps, it increases the chance of the Shortcut failing due to timeout errors.
• Ignoring privacy prompts: The first time you run the Shortcut, it will ask for permission to access your Calendar and Weather data. You must grant these permissions, or the sequence will break.

Next Steps

Once you are comfortable with this basic morning routine, explore the Gallery tab within the Shortcuts app. It contains hundreds of pre-built automations that can inspire you to create more advanced workflows tailored to your specific lifestyle.