Table of contents:
- Visit a web page
- Activate alarms
- Translate in Safari thanks to Google
- Convert a video to GIF
- Calculate tip
- Find nearby gas stations
- Send the time it will take to reach your contact
- Activate Wi-Fi and mobile data in specific areas
- Check the lyrics of the song
- Calculate how many days until a date
- Copy the IP
- Check your mobile updates
- Bonus: how to add shortcuts to the home screen
Do you want to get the most out of your iPhone? One of the best ways is to use shortcuts, a new function that came with iOS 12 and that allows us to add extras to our device, both iPhone and iPad. And things Siri can't run by default. Shortcuts are shortcuts that we can create in a totally personalized way, or even download from third-party creators. From asking Siri to send a default message to a contact, to creating a QR code to share our Wi-Fi network with our friends. I show you the 12 best shortcuts you can have on your iPhone or iPad with iOS 13.
The shortcuts app is not installed by default, so you will need to download it from the App Store. It is free and the developer is Apple, since it is an official app. You can download it here.
Warning : for some of these shortcuts it is necessary to have the option for untrusted shortcuts activated, since many of these shortcuts are created by third parties. To activate this option, it will be necessary to go to Settings> Shortcuts> Allow unreliable shortcuts. In order to activate this option, you must execute at least one shortcut. Head to the shortcuts app and run one. For example, the first one that I show in the list, since it is the simplest.
index of contents
Visit a web page
One of the simplest shortcuts, and the one that will help us activate the option of unreliable shortcuts. We can create an option to visit a specific web page with the command we want. For example, we can ask Siri "I want to read the latest on mobiles" and go directly to Tuexpertomovil.com. To do this, we go to the shortcuts app and click on the '+' button that appears in the upper area. Click on the icon with the three dots and select the name of the shortcut. In my case I will put "I want to read the latest mobile news." Once the name is written, click on Ok. Then, we click on 'Add action' and click on the 'internet' icon. In the Safari section click on 'Open URL addresses'. Finally, we write the link and click on next.
Now every time we say the command, Siri will open that web page. We can also access the shortcut from the application itself or through the widgets.
Activate alarms
Another simple shortcut, asking Siri to activate an alarm. One of my hobbies is to activate the alarm for the next day every night. Although I get up at the same time every day, I like to make sure that I have activated the alarm. I have created a shortcut that can be very interesting and that allows me to activate the alarms with a voice command, without having to open the clock application. To do this, we create a shortcut in the application and in the option 'Activate or deactivate alarm' we select a time. For example: 6:45. If we put more alarms we can select another time by pressing the plus button. Once added, make sure which option you want to put: activate or deactivate. Then tap on next and select the name of the shortcut. In my case I have set "Activate my alarms", so I can say"Hey Siri, activate my alarms" and Siri activates them.
Click on accept and the shortcut will be added.
Translate in Safari thanks to Google
We go with the most complex and useful shortcuts. In this case we are talking about shortcuts created by users or developers, but which are trusted. Even so, Apple does not detect them as such and we will have to activate the aforementioned option. This shortcut allows us to translate web pages in Safari thanks to Google. An option that is not available in the iPhone browser. Click on this link from your iPhone or iPad to download the shortcut. Then, click on the button that says 'Get shortcut'. A new window will open where we can see all the process it does. Do not modify any option except the name of the shortcut, since you can select what you want it to put. For example, "Translate the page." Next, go down and click on the option that says 'Add unreliable shortcut'
Once added, go to the page you want to translate. Next, click on the share option and click on 'Translate page via Google'. It will automatically open a new tab with the page we are visiting and the possibility of translating it into any language through the Google translator.
Convert a video to GIF
Do you want to convert a video into a GIF file? There is a shortcut to this. Just add it to the application and click on the shortcut. The most recent videos will appear. Select one and wait for it to become a GIF file. Then you can share it or save it in your gallery. As simple as that. Download it here.
Calculate tip
This shortcut allows us to calculate the tip we want to leave in a restaurant. It does this by adding a percentage to the final price of the account. For example, 12, 15, 18, or 20 percent. We can download the shortcut from here and we will only have to click on 'Add unreliable shortcut'. The negative point is that this shortcut comes in English. However, it is easy to understand. By pressing the shortcut from the application we select what the total of the account has been. Click on 'Ok' and it will allow us to choose the percentage of tip we want to leave. Then we will see the cost of the tip and how much it will be.
Find nearby gas stations
It allows us to search for nearby gas stations based on our location. Again, in English, but there is not much to configure. Just add the shortcut, click on and allow it to use the location. Next, it will show us a list of the gas stations closest to our location. If we select one, it will take us to Maps and show us the route. As simple as that. You can download it here.
Send the time it will take to reach your contact
In this case, we do have to configure some other option. With this direct access we can tell you how long it will take to reach our contact. Download the shortcut and add it to the app. Then, in the 'Contacts' section, select 'Several' so that you can choose more than one. Next, rename the command you want to say (don't change what's in parentheses). You must also agree to the use of the location.
Now ask siri to send your journey. The list with all the contacts will appear. When you select, you will see that the messages app opens with the text that says the exact time it will take to arrive based on your location. Very useful to tell your friend or a family member that you are there in 5 minutes quickly, without having to calculate the remaining time.
Activate Wi-Fi and mobile data in specific areas
A simple shortcut: to be able to activate the Wifi and deactivate the mobile data or vice versa. This extension is in Spanish, so we will only have to add it to Shortcuts. Next, click on the icon and select if you want to deactivate Wi-Fi and activate mobile data or vice versa. A message will appear when complete. You can also ask Siri by saying 'Hey Siri, Wi-Fi and mobile data'. The options will appear in the wizard. You can download it here.
Check the lyrics of the song
This shortcut shows us the lyrics of the song we are listening to. Download it here and add it to Shortcuts. Then change the name in 'On Run' and select the one you prefer. For example, 'Find the lyrics of the song'. Ask Siri. The first time it will ask you to access the music library, accept to search for the song. It will then Google the song name and lyrics.
Calculate how many days until a date
Do you want to know how many days until Christmas or another day marked on your calendar? There is a shortcut that allows us to know the days that are missing between two dates. For example, from November 10 to November 25. Download and add this shortcut. Change the title to one in Spanish. Next we will put the current date and the one we want to mark to know how many days are left. A notice will appear with the number of days. We can also ask Siri.
Copy the IP
If you want to know what the current IP is, this shortcut is the most useful. Download it and add it to the app and apply the permissions. It will immediately tell you what your IP is and it will copy it to the clipboard so that you can save it in notes or send it to a friend.
Check your mobile updates
A simple and fast way to check for updates on your iPhone or iPad. We just have to click on the shortcut and it will tell us if there is an update available to download. As in the other shortcuts, we can ask Siri to answer us, without having to enter the system settings. You can download the shortcut here.
Bonus: how to add shortcuts to the home screen
You can add any of these shortcuts on the home screen, as if it were any other app. So you can have a direct access to these shortcuts and run them faster. How? First, go to the Shortcuts app and hold the widget you want to add to the home screen. Next, click on the button that says 'Details' and click on the option 'Add to home screen'. Done, it will now appear in Home. You can remove the shortcut as if it were another application.
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