App Automations 101 - Shortcuts for Rotation Lock, Auto-Mute, and Focus Modes!

Automate apps on your iPhone with easy, like auto-turn off rotation lock, mute apps like Instagram on open, auto Focus Mode, and more! I walk through creating each automation step by step, and they only require 1 action.

📺 Videos Mentioned

Shortcuts 101 - 7 Easy Shortcuts

13 Easy YouTube Shortcuts!

Top 10 Home Automations

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🎧 My Podcasts:

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
00:24 Auto Rotation Lock
03:37 Mute Apps Automatically
04:45 Auto Focus Mode
06:49 Guided Access Automation
08:01 Watch Workout Automation

My Gear:

[JohnGonzalezFL]

Stephen, thanks for such great pointers! Following one of your videos, I created a “Worship” focus mode that activates as soon as I get to church and turns off when I leave. No more embarrassing noises during that one quite point during church services!

[delv]

Love this video. I consider myself fairly iPhone savvy but had no idea I could set up automations like this. Removing the orientation lock in photos and turning the volume to 0% when opening instagram are game changers, I’ve always wished this would happen automatically but had no clue it was even a possibility. I also set the remove orientation lock for YouTube to be able to see videos full screen just by turning my phone. Thanks again for sharing!

[thejtray]

Shortcuts have really opened my world in iOS. I would love more videos like this. I have added a few of the automations you suggested. Thanks and keep them coming.

[rashedalpha]

Watching your videos on iphone shortcuts made my iPhone’s 15 pro ultra instinct unleashes 🤩🔥🔥 .. Thanks Stephen for these guides 🙏🏻

[saverioyoung]

Great video man 😎
Thanks for the info

[zabdielscoon]

This is actually really cool. It’s exciting to have these straightforward ways to achieve so much. More please!

[faradaycool]

Great work, Steph. Keep em' comin'. Thanks from Singapore

[anthonydsouza]

Great video of the shortcuts Stephen. I wanted to know if it’s possible to create a shortcut for call forwarding for a secondary phone number. My cellular provider needs a code to be put before the number where calls will be forwarded to activate this function.

[vigiltgi]

This is incredible dude! Thank you for showing us automations. I've been really wanting auto rotate and rotate lock for years and I never thought it was possible

[DriesGrobler]

The orientation lock automation for Photos is the best thing ever!!

[ilias.k]

For apps that you want to do the same thing, like Orientation or Volume you don't need to have separate automations... At the search you can select any App, like Photos, Blackmagic, Hailide and it will work for each one of them.
So you can "group" some of the automations based on the action and not to fill up with many "small" automations.

[ryansyahputera]

Can you make automation to set orientation when playing videos in safari? Just when playing video, not when open safari

[TheHockey]

Can you do one that has my HomePod greeting me in the morning and tells me the weather when my alarm goes off

[HughD]

Stephen, I find myself watching your channel more and more because you are doing a great job of explaining things. Keep up the good work. I predict your channel will continue to grow.

[charliew]

Stephen, I'm addicted to your channel 😄 I'm curious, is that possible to create automation whenever my iphone connected to car Bluetooth, I want to be able listen to music and open Google Assistant app for Google map navigation? Thank you so much.

[ywiryjy]

How I can automate auto disable my alarms and sleep mode auto when I wake up before them? It’s annoying to disable sleep mode or alarm manually every morning

[luluh]

hi Stephen, how if deleted the shortcuts apps on iphone but still working the automation, if i open the apps like facebook or messenger in a seconds it will turn to the camera & alarm timer what should i do? pls can you help?

[ShurororoMaster]

Great content. Many thanks.

Is there a way to stop muting instagram or other apps if I have a bluetooth connection on?

[fatihmandac]

Hi Stephen, how can I turn off banner pop-ups when the phone is turned sideways as an automation for iPhone shortcuts? For example, I opened a video on YouTube and click to full screen. I don't want to take notification banners. Like this 🤔

[achu]

Hi Stephen, your videos are amazing. I have a question and please let me know if it's possible. I want to set a automation based on two conditions.
Example : when my car play is disconnected and when I'm at my work location I want a particular focus mode to be activated. Is this doable through the shortcuts app?