What Is the Purpose of the iOS 12 Shortcuts App?

Introduced in iOS 12, the Shortcuts app is Apple’s built-in automation tool designed to streamline repetitive daily tasks on iPhone and iPad. By allowing users to combine multiple actions across different applications into a single tap or voice command, the app significantly speeds up device navigation and productivity. This article explains the origin, core functionality, and primary benefits of the Shortcuts app.

Origins and Evolution

Apple introduced the Shortcuts app following its 2017 acquisition of Workflow, a popular third-party automation tool. In iOS 12, Apple rebuilt and deeply integrated Workflow’s capabilities into the iOS ecosystem, replacing the original app while retaining its visual, block-based programming logic.

Streamlining Multi-Step Workflows

The fundamental purpose of Shortcuts is to eliminate repetitive manual steps. Without Shortcuts, completing a task often requires opening multiple apps in sequence—such as checking the weather, calculating a commute time in Maps, and texting an ETA to a contact. With the Shortcuts app, a user can combine these separate actions into a single routine that executes automatically from start to finish.

Deep Siri Integration

Shortcuts significantly expanded the capabilities of Apple’s voice assistant. Prior to iOS 12, Siri was limited to predefined system commands. With the Shortcuts app, users can assign custom voice phrases to trigger specific automations. Saying a phrase like "Heading Home" can prompt Siri to load driving directions, adjust smart home thermostats, and begin playing a favorite podcast simultaneously.

Cross-App and Third-Party Support

The app acts as a bridge between native Apple features and third-party software. Developers can expose specific actions from their apps via the Siri Shortcuts API, allowing users to incorporate specialized functions—such as logging water intake in a health tracker or starting a timer in a third-party app—directly into custom workflows.

Intelligent Suggestions

Beyond manual automations, iOS 12 introduced algorithmic shortcut suggestions. The operating system learns daily user habits and proactively suggests relevant shortcuts on the Lock Screen, in Spotlight search, and within the Siri settings menu, helping users perform routine actions at the right time without prior setup.