This Week's Sponsor:

FastMinder

A Simple, Lightweight, and Clutter-Free Intermittent Fasting Tracking Experience


The Full List of Automation Triggers in Shortcuts for iOS 13

On last week’s episode of Adapt I shared that automation for running shortcuts was one of my top two feature requests for iOS 13. And despite the Shortcuts app not receiving much stage time during the WWDC keynote, Apple has officially granted my wish in a big way.

The Shortcuts app in iOS 13 has a new Automation tab, in which you can configure shortcuts that automatically run based on a wide variety of triggers. Currently, certain automation actions require sending a notification first when the trigger is activated, and that alert contains the option to run the shortcut; other actions, however, include a toggle that determines whether the automation runs automatically in the background, or if you’d prefer an alert instead.

Here is the full list of current automation triggers in iOS 13 beta 1:

Events

  • Time of Day: You can set up automation that runs at the exact time you choose, down to the minute. There’s also an option for sunrise or sunset. And in all these cases, automation can be configured to run only on the days you choose.
  • Alarm: Trigger automation when a particular alarm goes off, or when an alarm is snoozed, or stopped.
  • Apple Watch Workout: Configure the start or end of a certain workout type to trigger automation.

Travel

  • Arrive: Run automation when arriving at a particular location, either at any time or within a specific time range.
  • Leave: Run automation when leaving a particular location, either at any time or within a specific time range.
  • Before I Leave: Based on when Shortcuts predicts you will leave for either home or work, trigger automation either at the predicted time, or 5, 10, 15, 30, or 60 minutes beforehand.
  • CarPlay: Connecting to or disconnecting from CarPlay can activate automation.

Settings

  • Airplane Mode: When enabled or disabled.
  • Wi-Fi: When connecting to a specific network.
  • Bluetooth: When connecting to a specific device.
  • Do Not Disturb: When enabled or disabled.
  • Low Power Mode: When enabled or disabled.
  • NFC: Triggered when tapping a specific NFC tag you pre-configure.
  • Open App: Triggered when you open a particular app.

This isn’t a final list of automation triggers, as some could be added, removed, or tweaked leading up to the public release of iOS 13 in the fall. But if nothing changes before then, this is a very exciting list that opens up a world of new possibilities for the Shortcuts app. It’s going to be a fun fall.


You can also follow all of our WWDC coverage through our WWDC 2019 hub, or subscribe to the dedicated WWDC 2019 RSS feed.

Our WWDC coverage is brought to you exclusively by:

Things: where ideas take shape – one step at a time.

Unlock More with Club MacStories

Founded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.

In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.

The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.

Choose the Club plan that’s right for you:

  • Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with app collections, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, a Club-only podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;
  • Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus exclusive content like Federico’s Automation Academy and John’s Macintosh Desktop Experience, a powerful web app for searching and exploring over 6 years of content and creating custom RSS feeds of Club content, an active Discord community, and a rotating collection of discounts, and more;
  • Club Premier: Everything in from our other plans and AppStories+, an extended version of our flagship podcast that’s delivered early, ad-free, and in high-bitrate audio.