Macro or Shortcut for Settings?

Question

Level 1

9 points

Macro or Shortcut for Settings?

Is there a way to program the iphone so that you can perform multiple functions with one or two clicks?

When I'm at home, I always turn Bluetooth and Cellular Data off and WiFi on. When I'm away from home (such as in the car) I turn WiFi off, and Bluetooth and Cellular Data on.

It would be nice to be able to have an icon, or a macro, or any other capability to turn Wifi off and Bluetooth/Cell Data on (and vice-versa), with one or two clicks. Is there a way to do that on the iPhone, or am I just dreaming?

iPhone 4, iOS 5.0.1

Posted on Mar 6, 2012 12:13 PM

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Answer 1

Ingo2711

Level 10

80,307 points

Mar 6, 2012 12:15 PM in response to SteveLasher

No, that is not supported by Apple at this time. But you can let Apple know about your wishes here:

Apple - iPhone - Feedback

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Answer 2

SteveLasher Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 6, 2012 12:36 PM in response to Ingo2711

Thanks, Ingo. I continue to be amazed at how limited the iPhone is. Such a simple thing...

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Answer 3

Ingo2711

Level 10

80,307 points

Mar 7, 2012 4:44 AM in response to SteveLasher

You're welcome🙂

On the other hand, nothing is changed without you wanting it, and no 3rd party apps can affect your internal

iOS settings.

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Answer 4

SteveLasher Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 7, 2012 5:33 AM in response to Ingo2711

I understand Apple not wanting 3rd party app programmers fiddling with the OS. I'm talking about Apple doing it. Give users a macro-type functionality, or something similar. Of the hundreds, or perhaps thousands, of programmers working for Apple, it would take a single one of them maybe half an hour to develop and test that type of function. It's embarrassingly simple. Plus it would give the iPhone so much more potential. The fact that a) users have not demanded something like this and b) Apple did not do something so elementary in the first place is a real head scratcher.

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Answer 5

wjosten

Level 10

95,369 points

Mar 7, 2012 5:38 AM in response to SteveLasher

Here ya go:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/icon-project-home-screen-icon/id434277910?mt=8

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Answer 6

Mar 7, 2012 5:41 AM in response to SteveLasher

You can create custom home screen icons for quick access.

Go to brdrck.me/settings on your device and there are several to choose from. There is also an app on the app store (official) that will let you create them.

There is a list of the commands on the interweb that do work.

Here's a test for you, open safari and type prefs:root=WIFI into it and see what happens.

The website creates shortcuts using options like the one in the above test

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Answer 7

Mar 7, 2012 5:53 AM in response to SteveLasher

I realize this isn't an answer to your question but it may save you a bit of hassle. If you're at home, the phone is going to default to WiFi so there's no particular need to turn cellular data off. If you're not using BT, it really doesn't use much battery, either.

Best of luck.

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Answer 8

SteveLasher Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 7, 2012 7:02 AM in response to IdrisSeabright

Meg,

Actually no. I understand that this is how the iPhone is ~supposed~ to work, but I have documented that at least in my case it does in fact use 3g even when I have WiFi on. I have gone around and around with Apple on this but in the end I have found it easier to just turn off cell data than to continue to provide Apple with my network and 3G traffic data. That's not the purpose of my question.

And if I keep bluetooth + WiFi on, my battery will run out by the end of the day most days (not every day, but about 50-60% of the time). If I turn bluetooth/WiFi off when not needed, it will last all day. Believe me, I don't do this just to exercise my fingers (LOL!).

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Answer 9

Mar 7, 2012 7:20 AM in response to SteveLasher

iPhones will switch to 3G if they go to sleep, even if there is WiFi available. Sorry your phone doesn't work the way it's supposed to. With WiFi and BT on, my phone still rarely goes below 30% by the end of the day. Wish I had better suggestions for you.

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Answer 10

Mar 7, 2012 7:40 AM in response to SteveLasher

Did you try the link I gave you SteveLasher?

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Answer 11

SteveLasher Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 7, 2012 7:24 PM in response to norman_bates

wjosten and norman_bates

THANK YOU for the links to the icon project app and the brdrck.me site. This is EXACTLY the type of info I was looking for. It looks like both of these only allow quick access to a single settings screen, where I have to still set the values manually. It's a start, but it'd really be nice to have the icon not only set the value automatically, but also set multiple values. For example, set WiFi=off, CellData=on, Bluetooth=on all in one icon.

(btw, how many times can I click "this helped me" in a thread - I owe norman_bates one)

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Answer 12

Mar 7, 2012 7:28 PM in response to SteveLasher

I haven't experiment with this method myself but I've heard that it will no longer work under iOS 5.1. You may want to check on that before you upgrade.

Best of luck.

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Answer 13

SteveLasher Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 8, 2012 4:59 AM in response to IdrisSeabright

Thanks Meg for the heads up. I'm running 5.0.1 right now, but of the 4 times I've upgraded this iPhone, it's crashed 3 times, so I won't be doing any more upgrades. But that's certainly helpful to know.

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Answer 14

Mar 8, 2012 5:06 AM in response to SteveLasher

SteveLasher I can confirm that Apple have now removed this functionality in 5.1 😟

If you have no plan to update to 5.1 here is a list of the Preferrence shortcuts

About — prefs:root=General&path=About

Accessibility — prefs:root=General&path=ACCESSIBILITY

Airplane Mode On — prefs:root=AIRPLANE_MODE

Auto-Lock — prefs:root=General&path=AUTOLOCK

Brightness — prefs:root=Brightness

Bluetooth — prefs:root=General&path=Bluetooth

Date & Time — prefs:root=General&path=DATE_AND_TIME

FaceTime — prefs:root=FACETIME

General — prefs:root=General

Keyboard — prefs:root=General&path=Keyboard

iCloud — prefs:root=CASTLE

iCloud Storage & Backup — prefs:root=CASTLE&path=STORAGE_AND_BACKUP

International — prefs:root=General&path=INTERNATIONAL

Location Services — prefs:root=LOCATION_SERVICES

Music — prefs:root=MUSIC

Music Equalizer — prefs:root=MUSIC&path=EQ

Music Volume Limit — prefs:root=MUSIC&path=VolumeLimit

Network — prefs:root=General&path=Network

Nike + iPod — prefs:root=NIKE_PLUS_IPOD

Notes — prefs:root=NOTES

Notification — prefs:root=NOTIFICATIONS_ID

Phone — prefs:root=Phone

Photos — prefs:root=Photos

Profile — prefs:root=General&path=ManagedConfigurationList

Reset — prefs:root=General&path=Reset

Safari — prefs:root=Safari

Siri — prefs:root=General&path=Assistant

Sounds — prefs:root=Sounds

Software Update — prefs:root=General&path=SOFTWARE_UPDATE_LINK

Store — prefs:root=STORE

Twitter — prefs:root=TWITTER

Usage — prefs:root=General&path=USAGE

VPN — prefs:root=General&path=Network/VPN

Wallpaper — prefs:root=Wallpaper

Wi-Fi — prefs:root=WIFI

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Answer 15

Dec 13, 2012 7:12 AM in response to SteveLasher

For Bluetooth, there's an app called Bluetooth Chatting that allows you to turn on/off by simply tapping on the icon app. It costs $0.99, but it's worth. As for a wi-fi shortcut, I haven't found one yet.

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