Your iPhone isn’t slow — it’s just making you do too much work yourself. Most of that effort comes from habits you’ve never bothered to question. Shortcuts work best when they take those habits off your plate, handling the work in the background before it turns into daily friction.
Here are six iPhone shortcuts that consistently save time by doing the small things for you, every single day.
1. Morning routine that sets up your day in one tap
This shortcut bundles the handful of things you usually do right after waking up into a single action. Instead of toggling Focus modes, checking the weather, opening your calendar, and starting audio one by one, it runs them all at once, so you start the day informed and oriented without bouncing between apps.
For example, one tap (or an automatic trigger when you stop your alarm) can turn off Do Not Disturb, read out the day’s forecast and upcoming meetings, then start your morning playlist or news brief. It’s a small change, but it removes a surprisingly clumsy part of the morning that others have accepted as normal.
2. A Pomodoro timer that runs without micromanaging
One tap starts a full Pomodoro flow instead of just a timer. It kicks off a work session, enables the right Focus mode, and indicates when it’s time to step away, without nagging you or forcing you to babysit the clock.
For example, you tap the shortcut once before starting a task and get 25 minutes of uninterrupted work with notifications silenced. When the session ends, it automatically cues a short break, then resets for the next round, letting you stay in the flow instead of managing the system meant to help you concentrate.
3. Document scanner that skips third-party apps entirely
Some people still reach for a separate scanning app when they need a quick PDF, even though the iPhone can already handle the job. This setup uses the camera to capture a document, automatically crops and cleans it up, then saves a finished PDF straight to Files without going through another app or subscription screen.
You can scan a receipt, form, or signed page in a few seconds and have it saved to the right folder before you even leave the table. No exporting, no watermark surprises, and no digging through a third-party app later to find it.
4. Smart app launcher that opens what you need, when you need it
Instead of treating your home screen like a filing cabinet, this shortcut uses context to bring the right apps forward automatically. Based on factors like time of day, location, or Focus mode, it opens a small set of apps that match what you’re likely trying to do, cutting out the pause of hunting for the right icon.
When your phone detects you’ve arrived at your work location, it can automatically open Slack, your calendar, and your task list at the same time. When you get in the car, Maps and your podcast app can launch together instead. Nothing about how you use your phone changes; the unnecessary steps just disappear.
5. Low Power Mode that switches on automatically
Battery saving usually kicks in only after your phone is already struggling, which is why this automation works so well. It uses your Wi-Fi connection as a simple signal: when you leave Wi-Fi, Low Power Mode turns on; when you reconnect, it switches back off. No manual toggles, no reminders.
Say you head out the door in the morning and your phone drops off home Wi-Fi. Low Power Mode turns on automatically while you’re out using Maps, Messages, and cellular data. When you get back home or connect to the office Wi-Fi, everything returns to normal without you having to touch a thing.
6. A photo sorter that saves you from endless scrolling
Your camera roll fills up faster than you realize, and some of it isn’t photos you actually care about. This shortcut automatically sorts screenshots, receipts, and downloads into separate folders, keeping your main photo library focused on real moments rather than clutter.
Take a few screenshots during the day or snap a quick photo of a receipt, and they’re moved out of your camera roll without any extra effort. When you open Photos later, you’re not wading through throwaway images just to find something you really meant to keep.
Making your iPhone work harder so you don’t have to
The iPhone is already powerful enough to handle far more routine work than most people let it. Shortcuts are one of the few features where a small amount of setup actually changes how the device behaves day to day. Once they’re in place, the value is offloading the repetitive tasks you never needed to manage manually.
At first, the time saved barely registers: a skipped tap here, a task you didn’t have to think about there. But as the day goes on, those small efficiencies stack up, and your phone starts giving time back instead of taking it.
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