For iPhone. The latest version of iOS has the new shortcut feature that includes an automation section. When setting up an automation, it comes time to select the action. There are some actions present for some of the apps, but not precisely the ones I need. How do I add an action for an app that’s similar to the ones that seem to have been set up arbitrarily by the iOS algorithms?
iPhone 5c, iOS 10
Hello Piedmont Jim,
Thanks for reaching out to the Apple Support Communities. From your message I see you're looking for some information on how to create a more advanced shortcut than the ones which you've found up to this point.
If this is correct, I think you'll find the information you're looking for in the "Advanced shortcuts" section of the Shortcuts User Guide. To locate this section select the Table of Contents at the top and you'll find Advanced Shortcuts at the bottom.
You can also leave suggestions and feedback over on the Feedback website: Product Feedback - Apple.
Cheers!
Thanks, brenden dv,
I'm not looking to create a more advanced shortcut, but to add more available actions to the actions list. For example, I have a Philips Hue hub and the Hue app for my phone to be able to control the lights connected to the hub. Out of all the lights that I have, there are only a couple of actions listed, both to turn particular lights off. I'd like to create an action to turn on or off lights that aren't listed in the actions, and there doesn't seem to be a way to do that.
I'm not sure how the actions got there to begin with. Siri doesn't seem to know either. "Siri, create an action," doesn't seem to be something she knows. I suspect that this feature doesn't exist and that something in iOS arbitrarily creates them, which makes creating shortcuts and automatons not terrifically useful at the moment. Perhaps the thing for me to do is to utilize the feedback link you've provided.
I appreciate your response.
Hi Piedmont Jim,
Thanks for the additional information. I found a list of the Home automation triggers in the Shortcuts app. Perhaps these are the actions you're referring to? The Feedback link is an awesome way to leave suggestions, I've used it myself. Also, I happen to have some Philips Hue bulbs, so I think I understand what you're wanting to do. You can create a scene to have the bulbs do certain things, through the Home app.
For instance, when we leave the house we like to have certain rooms turned on a specific color, and some off. We even have others turning on at a different time. To do this, first, I added the Hue bulbs to the Home app (as accessories), and assigned them to the different rooms I have set up. Next, I followed the steps in this article to create a scene: Create and use scenes in Home on iPhone. To run the scene, I can either select it from the Home app, or ask Siri to run it. Like the automations in Shortcuts, you can also set up Automations in the Home app: Create home automations with the Home app.
I hope this information is helpful!
Enjoy the day!
How do you create an action to be automated?
