The Shortcuts app on the iPhone is a powerful automation engine that can trigger complex actions based on time, location, or app activity. If you want to automatically notify your family or partner that you have left the office and are heading home, you can configure a location-based Personal Automation to send a pre-written text message the moment you leave your workplace perimeter.
How to Set Up a Location-Based Automation
Location triggers require your iPhone to have constant access to GPS, so ensure Location Services are enabled before proceeding.
- Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone.
- Tap the Automation tab at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap the + icon in the top right corner to create a new automation.
- Select Leave from the list of trigger options.
- Tap Choose next to Location, search for your workplace address, and adjust the radius slider to define how far away you must travel before the trigger fires. Tap Done.
- Ensure the time setting is appropriate (e.g., set to Any Time or restrict it to Time Range if you only want this to run between 5 PM and 7 PM).
- Select Run Immediately so the iPhone does not ask for permission before sending the text, and ensure Notify When Run is toggled off. Tap Next.
How to Configure the Text Message Action
Now that the trigger is defined, you must assign the action to execute.
- Tap the New Blank Automation button.
- Tap Add Action.
- Search for Send Message and tap the corresponding action with the green Messages icon.
- Tap the faded Message variable in the action block and type your automated text (e.g., “Leaving work now!”).
- Tap the faded Recipients variable and select the contact you wish to notify.
- Tap Done in the top right corner to save the entire automation.
Your iPhone is now actively monitoring your location via geofencing. As soon as you break the perimeter you established, the message will instantly send via SMS or iMessage in the background.