Automation can feel like magic. Having your door automatically unlock when you arrive home, or your favorite playlist start playing when you start driving is really satisfying. There are a surprising number of ways that you can trigger automations on your iPhone.

1 Triggering Automations Based on Time

One of the simplest automations you can run on your iPhone is an automation that performs a specific action at a set time. For example, you might want the Duolingo app to open at 8 am every day to remind you to do your next set of lessons.

Open the Shortcuts app and tap the “Automation” tab at the bottom of the screen. Tap the “+” (plus) icon in the top-right of the screen to create a new automation.

Select “Time of Day.” Choose “Sunset” or “Sunrise” or select “Time of Day” and set the time that you want. Select “Daily” to run the automation every day. Tap “Weekly” to select specific days of the week that the automation will run by selecting or deselecting weekdays. Tap “Monthly” to have the automation recur on the same date each month.

Select “Run Immediately” as otherwise, you will have to tap a confirmation before your app will open. Toggle “Notify When Run” off, as you’ll know the automation has run when the app opens. Tap “Next” in the top right corner. You can now select one of your previously created shortcuts, choose a preset option, or select “New Blank Automation” to create a new shortcut.

For example, you could use the “Open App” action to open a specific app every day at 8 am, or the “Set Focus” action to turn on a specific focus at the same time every day.

You can also use other time-based triggers for your automations, including “Alarm” which will trigger when your alarm goes off, is snoozed, or is stopped, or “Sleep” which can trigger automations based on when the Sleep Focus turns on or off.

2 Triggering Automations Based on Location

There’s nothing quite so magical as the first time you trigger an automation just by arriving back at your home. For example, when you get home, you could have your HomeKit-connected lights automatically turn on.

Open Shortcuts, select the “Automation” tab, and tap the “+” (plus) icon.

Select “Arrive.” Tap “Choose” next to “Location” and enter an address or tap “Current Location.” Tap “Done.”

Select “Time Range” if you only want the automation to run at specific times of day. Select “Run Immediately” and tap “Next.” You can now select a shortcut or tap “New Blank Automation” to create a new one.

For example, you could use the “Toggle Accessory or Scene” action to turn on your home lights when you arrive back home or trigger the unlock action for your smart lock whenever you get home.

You can use other location-based triggers, too. “Leave” will trigger when you leave a set location, “Before I Commute” will trigger at a set time before you usually depart for work, and “CarPlay” will trigger when CarPlay is connected or disconnected.

3 Triggering Automations When You Use Apple Pay

It’s also possible to trigger automations whenever you make a payment using Apple Pay. For example, you might want to open your budgeting app of choice whenever you use Apple Pay, so you can immediately log your transaction.

In the “Automation” tab in Shortcuts, tap the “+” (plus) icon.

Select “Transaction.” Choose the payment methods that you want to trigger the automation. Under “Category” you can select or deselect categories so that the automation only triggers for specific types of purchases. Tap “Choose” next to “Filter Merchants” to set the automation to only trigger when you make a purchase from a specific merchant.

Set the automation to “Run Immediately” and tap “Next” at the top of the screen. You can now trigger any of your shortcuts or create a new one by tapping “New Blank Automation.”

For example, you could use the “Open App” action to open your favorite budgeting app whenever you make a purchase, or the “Log Health Sample” action to add your calorific intake to the Health app whenever you buy food.

4 Triggering Automations When You Connect to Bluetooth or Wi-Fi

This is one of my favorite triggers. I have an automation that automatically plays Audible when my iPhone connects to the Bluetooth speaker in my bathroom. When I take a shower, I turn on the speaker, and my current audiobook or podcast starts playing as if by magic. I have another automation that turns off mobile data when I connect to my home Wi-Fi network to try and eke out a little more battery life.

In the Shortcuts “Automation” tab, tap the “+” (plus) icon.

Select “Wi-Fi” or “Bluetooth.” For Wi-Fi, tap “Choose” to select a network, and select “Network Joined” or “Network Left” as your trigger. For Bluetooth, tap “Choose” to select a Bluetooth device, and select “Is Connected” or “Is Disconnected” as your trigger.

Select “Run Immediately” and tap “Next.” You can now trigger any of your shortcuts or create a new one by tapping “New Blank Automation.”

You can then use actions such as “Read Book” to play your current Audible audiobook, or “Set Mobile Data” to toggle Mobile Data off when you connect to your home Wi-Fi network.

5 Triggering Automations Using an AirTag or Other NFC Tag

You can also use NFC tags to trigger automations. This includes NFC stickers that you can buy and stick around your home, but also works with AirTags if you own any.

I have an AirTag on my car keys, so I created an automation that plays my driving playlist when I scan my AirTag. When I get in the car and start the engine, I tap my iPhone against the AirTag dangling from my keys, and my music starts playing.

In the Shortcuts “Automation” tab, tap “+” (plus) in the top right corner.

Select “NFC.” Tap “Scan” and hold your iPhone against the NFC tag or AirTag until it’s recognized. Give the tag or AirTag a name.

Select “Run Immediately” and tap “Done.” You can now select one of your shortcuts, select a preset option, or create a new one by tapping “New Blank Automation.”

For example, you can use the “Play Music” action to play your favorite playlist when you scan your AirTag, or the “Log Health Sample” action to log each glass of water you drink every time you scan an NFC sticker on your desk.

6 Triggering Automations When Opening an App

I usually keep my volume turned down the majority of the time, but it means that every time I want to do another lesson in Duolingo, I have to turn the volume back up again. I created a quick automation that sets my volume to 50% whenever I open the Duolingo app.

In the Shortcuts “Automation” tab, tap the “+” (plus) icon.

Select “App.” Tap “Choose” and select the app you want to trigger your automation. Select “Is Opened” or “Is Closed” as your trigger.

Choose “Run Immediately” and tap “Next.” You can now trigger one of your shortcuts or create a new one by selecting “New Blank Automation.”

For example, you can use the “Set Volume” action to turn up the volume when you open Duolingo, or the “Set Focus” action to turn on the Do Not Disturb focus when you open Netflix. You can also use the “Airplane Mode” trigger to start an automation when Airplane Mode is enabled or disabled.

7 Triggering Automations By Battery Level or Charger

Your battery level can also be used as a trigger for automations. For example, you can trigger an automation to turn on Low Power Mode when your battery level falls below 50%.

Tap the “+” (plus) icon in the “Automation” tab of the Shortcuts app.

Select “Battery Level.” Use the slider to select the battery you want to use as the trigger, and choose “Equals [Battery Level],” “Rises Above [Battery Level]” or “Falls Below [Battery Level]” as your trigger.

Select “Run Immediately” and tap “Next.” You can now select a shortcut or create a new one by tapping “New Blank Automation.”

For example, you can use the “Set Low Power Mode” action to turn on Low Power Mode when the battery level falls below 50%, or the “Set Brightness” action to dim the screen when your battery falls below 10%.

As well as the “Battery Level” trigger, you can also use the “Charging” trigger, which will fire an automation when your iPhone is connected to or disconnected from your charger. For example, you can use the “Toggle Accessory or Scene” action to turn off your bedroom lights when you plug your iPhone in to charge overnight.

There’s also a “Low Power Mode” trigger. You can use this to run an automation when Low Power Mode is turned on or off. You might want to use the “Play Sound” action to give you an audible alert when your iPhone goes into Low Power Mode.

8 Triggering Automations By Focus Mode

It’s also possible to use Focus modes as the triggers for your automations. When my iPhone detects that I’m driving and the Driving Focus turns on, my iPhone automatically starts my podcast app.

Open Shortcuts, select the “Automation” tab, and tap the “+” (plus) icon.

Select the Focus mode that you want to use as your trigger. Choose “When Turning On” or “When Turning Off.”

Select “Run Immediately” and tap “Next.” You can now select a shortcut or create a new one by tapping “New Blank Automation.”

For example, you could use the “Play Podcast” action to start your podcast when the Driving Focus turns on, or the “Set Silent Mode” action to mute your iPhone when the “Work” Focus is activated.

iPhone automations can unlock a new level of productivity. I still get a small thrill of delight every time my audiobook starts to play whenever I turn on my Bluetooth speaker, without needing to touch my iPhone at all.

There are plenty of different triggers to use, so it’s worth playing around to see how you can make your life that little bit easier by automating common tasks.