spotify song or playlist as alarm shortcut automation

apple shortcuts are such a useful tool but the explanations of how to utilize them is so complicated for absolutely no reason!

if you have been trying to find a work-around using shortcuts and automations in order to have spotify start playing a song or playlist at a specific time every day(morning) and ran into the issue of automation process not working unless your iphone is unlocked…. this is the best solution i have found:

go to shortcuts > tap ‘+’ to create a new one

search in actions > play/pause > select the action (should have red square icon) > make sure it states ‘play/pause on iPhone’ after selection > check the ‘i’ in the circle at the bottom and click to ‘privacy’ and make sure ‘allow running when locked’ is enabled and then click done > click done again.

go to automation (at the bottom) choose new automation > select ‘time of day’ > choose time you want > select ‘run immediately’ > click next > from ‘my shortcuts’ choose the play/pause shortcut you just created.

THEN

before you go to bed! open spotify, select the song or playlist you want started in the morning at the time you selected for automation, click play, then click pause - then lock your phone and go to bed!

you should see spotify on your lock screen because it’s open but it’s not currently playing/not in use. when the automation occurs in the morning it will start playing

phone is still locked, no 3rd party app! if you’re afraid you won’t remember to set up spotify at the end of the night to play in the morning, try the regular alarm system as a reminder to set it up 🙃 or make another automation that opens or prompts you to open spotify at the end of the night