Hidden iOS Shortcuts You Can Create to Automate Tasks

1. Why iOS Automation & Hidden Shortcuts Matter

You probably already use the Shortcuts app occasionally to toggle Do Not Disturb, open your favorite playlist, or launch multiple apps at once. That’s great, but there’s a sweet middle ground between simple, obvious shortcuts and full-blown jailbreaking hacks. That’s where hidden shortcuts live, not spotlighted in Apple’s gallery, but once you build them, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without them.

Why do these matter?

• Time saved — small nuisances add up, and automation eats those little tasks for breakfast.
• Friction removed — fewer taps, fewer decisions.
• Deeper personalization — you make your iPhone feel yours, not just “another iPhone.”

In this guide, I’ll walk you through seven hidden-but-doable automations you likely haven’t tried. No jailbreaking required. Then, if you like pushing boundaries, I’ll introduce Nugget iOS, a tool for unlocking system-level tweaks. Use it carefully, but the possibilities are compelling.

2. Lesser-Known iOS Shortcuts You Can Create

These ideas run from beginner to intermediate. I’ve kept them fairly safe, reliable, and designed to work without going into risky territory.

2.1 Auto-silence unknown callers at night

What it does: Between, say, 10 pm and 7 am, if someone calls you from a number not in your contacts, the call is automatically silenced (no ringtone, no vibration). Calls from people you already know still ring through.

Why it’s useful: No more late-night disturbances from spam or unknown numbers, yet you won’t miss anything from family, friends, or your emergency contact. It’s about reducing noise without losing what matters.

How to set it up:

1. Open Shortcuts → Automation → Create Personal Automation.
2. Select Time of Day, set it at 10:00 PM (or whatever your “night” starts), and choose “Daily.”
3. Tap Add Action → Set Focus → choose or create a Focus that’s your “Night Silence” (or just tie it to Do Not Disturb).
4. Within that Focus, configure Allowed Notifications to permit calls from Contacts Only (or a specific group).
5. Next, add a Wait action until 7:00 AM.
6. Then Set Focus to turn it off (or restore your default Focus).

Pro Tip: Add exceptions in Allowed Notifications, e.g., your spouse, parent, or emergency contacts. That way, even during “silence,” critical calls slip through.

Warning: If someone unknown calls in a real emergency, you might not hear it. Be careful with the hours you choose.

2.2 Convert the latest screenshot to PDF and share

What it does: The moment you take a screenshot, the automation captures that screenshot, turns it into a PDF, and then shows a share sheet so you can send it or save it.

Why it’s useful: Whenever you need to forward a whiteboard sketch, document, receipt, or anything visual, one tap, and you’ve packaged it nicely. Instead of hunting, converting, and then sharing, this flow does it automatically.

Steps:

1. In Shortcuts → Automation → Create Personal Automation, choose Screenshot as the trigger.
2. Add Get Latest Screenshots, limit to 1.
3. Use Make PDF on that image.
4. Add Share → this brings up the share sheet (AirDrop, Mail, Slack, etc.).
5. Optionally: append a Save File action — e.g., save into iCloud Drive under a folder “Screenshots as PDF.”

Use case: You snap a receipt. Immediately, it becomes a tidy PDF, ready to send to your accountant or stash in storage. No mess.

2.3 Send ETA on arriving home automatically

What it does: When you leave work (or any chosen location), this automation computes your ETA to home and sends it via Messages (or another app) to a contact automatically.

Why it’s useful: You don’t have to remember to say “Hey, I’m leaving now” or “ETA: 30 min”, your phone does it for you. Great when you’re busy or distracted.

How to build it:

1. Go to Shortcuts → Automation → When Leaving, pick the location (e.g., your office).
2. Optionally: add a Time or If condition so it only triggers during your commute hours (e.g., after 4 pm).
3. Add Get Travel Time → set your Home address, choose your travel mode (driving, walking, transit).
4. Use a Text action, something like: “Hey, I just left work. I’ll reach home in about [Travel Time].”Insert the Travel Time result.
5. Add Send Message, pick who should get the ETA.

Pro Tip: If transit is sometimes your mode, you can build a fallback logic: if transit time is empty/unavailable, default to driving estimate.

2.4 Batch rename recent photos

What it does: Scans your most recent photos (within, say, the last day), then renames them sequentially (Photo_1, Photo_2, etc.). Optionally moves them to a folder or album.

Why you’d do this: When organizing event photos or cleaning a messy camera roll, renaming in batches helps group, sort, or import to other systems.

Steps:

1. Create a regular Shortcut (not automation).
2. Add Find Photos → filter by “Date Taken in Last 1 Day” (or your preferred window).
3. Add Sort Photos (by date or time, ascending).
4. Use Repeat with Each on that list of photos.
5. Inside the loop:
   • Build a name: e.g. “Photo_” + (Repeat Index) + .jpg
   • Use Save File (or “Save to Album”) with that name/location.
6. When the loop completes, optionally show a Notification: “Renamed 12 photos.”

Caution: Changing file names and moving them can break links in other apps (if they expect original paths or metadata). Always try with a small batch first.

2.5 Auto-reduce brightness/hue in the evening for eye comfort

What it does: At or near sunset, this shortcut lowers screen brightness and triggers warmer display settings (Night Shift / True Tone) to ease eye strain. Then, in the morning, it restores normal settings.

Why useful: The default Night Shift is great, but if you want more control (brighter or dimmer, hue shift, etc.), this gives you finer granularity.

How to set it up:

• Evening automation:
  1. Automation → Time of Day → set to “At Sunset” (or offset like “30 min before”).
  2. Add Set Brightness — e.g., to 30–40%.
  3. Add Set Night Shift (turn on).
  4. If available: Set Display Mode or hue shift toggles (depends on your iOS build).
• Morning reverse automation:
  1. Trigger at sunrise (or “Sunrise + offset”).
  2. Set the Brightness back to your default.
  3. Set Night Shift off (if you turned it on).

Pro Tip: Don’t shade the brightness too low; keep usability in mind. Adjust offsets until it’s comfortable.

2.6 Speak incoming messages when driving

What it does: When your phone is in driving mode (or connected to CarPlay), this automation reads (speaks) incoming messages aloud, letting you keep your eyes on the road.

Why it’s useful: You don’t need to glance at your screen; essential heads-up messages are spoken. Maintain focus and still get updates.

Steps:

1. Automation → Trigger = CarPlay Connects (or “When Driving” Focus).
2. Add Get Latest Messages, filtered by app “Messages.”
3. Use: If only proceed if the message is nonempty or from particular contacts.
4. Add Speak Text, e.g., “Message from [Name]: [Message content]”.
5. Optionally: use “Pause” or limit frequency so it doesn’t gun off for every text simultaneously.

Caution: Multiple messages arriving in quick succession can become annoying or confusing. Limit it to favorites or when connected to the car Bluetooth.

2.7 Clean up old voice memos beyond a certain age

What it does: Finds voice memos older than a given threshold (say 30 or 90 days), and either prompts you to delete or automatically deletes them (or archives them).

Why it’s useful: Voice memos pile up quietly. This gives you housekeeping on autopilot so your storage doesn’t balloon.

How to do it:

1. Create a Shortcut (manual or scheduled, though background scheduling has limits).
2. Add Find Files, targeting the Voice Memos folder (if accessible). Filter by “Date Created is before Now minus 30 days” (or whatever threshold).
3. Repeat with each found file: prompt “Delete?” (or skip prompt and delete automatically).
4. Or: move it to an “Archive / Old Voice Memos” folder first for backup before permanent deletion.

Pro Tip: If you’re nervous, start by prompting deletion rather than auto-delete. Once confident, flip the switch.

3. Unlocking Hidden iOS Features with Nugget iOS

Up to this point, everything uses official APIs and features. But if you’re curious to go deeper to expose system-level tweaks hidden under Apple’s hood — that’s where Nugget iOS comes in. It’s more advanced, risk-bearing, but the rewards can be transformational.

What is Nugget iOS?

• Definition & background: Nugget is a command-line customization utility created by LeminLimez. It leverages exploits like SparseRestore to patch system files (e.g. MobileGestalt.plist) that govern flags and configuration keys.
• Why it exists: So users can enable hidden capabilities, e.g., bringing Dynamic Island to devices without it, forcing Always-On Display, customizing icons or status bar flags, etc.
• Compatibility: Works on iOS 17 and beyond (sometimes into early iOS 18 builds), depending on whether exploits are patched.
• Risk & legality: Because it edits system internals using vulnerabilities, there’s real risk (bricking, instability). Apple may see it as unauthorized. Use with full backups and caution.

How Nugget Works (overview)

1. A Shortcut (or community-shared flow) extracts your device’s MobileGestalt data the system identity/flags file.
2. You transfer that to your computer (macOS, Windows, or Linux), install Nugget (often a Python-based CLI), feed it the file, and select which tweaks/flags to enable.
3. Nugget iOS alters the file/template, then pushes it back (via exploit) into your device’s system.
4. Reboot the device. The new flags take effect your iPhone behaves differently (if everything went well).

Be warned: if something goes wrong, your device might misbehave. Always keep the original MobileGestalt file for rollback.

Examples of What Nugget Enables

Here are a few of the exciting tweaks people report using Nugget:

Feature	What it does
Dynamic Island on non-Island devices	Enables the Dynamic Island UI even on devices without native support
Always-On Display (AOD)	Unlock settings Apple hides under certain models/regions
Change device model name	The “Model Name” in Settings can be altered (useful for compatibility, aesthetics)
Expose hidden settings (Pencil, Action Button, etc.)	E.g., enable shutter sound toggle, disable forced restrictions tied to country rules
Bypass regional restrictions	E.g. enable shutter sound toggle, disable forced restrictions tied to country rules

These features are tantalizing, but not all tweaks may be stable or battery-friendly on older hardware.

How to Use Nugget iOS — Step-by-Step Example (Enable Dynamic Island)

Warning: This is advanced. Only proceed if comfortable with system files, CLI tools, and backups.

1. Back up your iPhone (encrypted local backup + iCloud).
2. Download Nugget from its trusted source (GitHub / release page). Match it to your iOS version.
3. On your iPhone, run/import a Shortcut that extracts MobileGestalt.plist. Share that file to your computer.
4. On your computer: install Python 3.8+, set up required packages (e.g. pymobiledevice3 or similar).
5. Place the plist file in the expected folder, and run nugget CLI, choose the “Enable Dynamic Island” template.
6. Apply the patch. Then push changes, reboot your iPhone.
7. After a restart, check if the Dynamic Island UI shows. If glitches arise, you may need to revert or disable the tweak.

If Nugget offers a “restore default” or “remove patch” mode, always keep that accessible.

4. Tips, Cautions, & Best Practices

• Always back up before touching system-level tweaks. Use both iCloud and local encrypted backups.
• Enable one tweak at a time. Don’t flood your system with changes; isolate which one causes issues, if any.
• Know your iOS version. Patches might work in iOS 17.0 but fail in 17.3 or 18.0.
• Watch battery & performance. Tweaks like AOD or fancy animations can drain older devices.
• Rules/warranties: Because Nugget is not official, Apple may consider it a violation of terms. Use at your own risk.
• Shortcuts automation limits: Some automations cannot run fully in the background (e.g., those requiring user confirmation). Test carefully.

5. FAQ

Q1: Do I need a jailbreak to use these shortcuts or Nugget?

• For all the shortcuts above: no jailbreak needed, they use only built-in Shortcuts features.
• For Nugget: it’s often not a full jailbreak; it uses exploits and patches under the hood. But it’s riskier and not Apple-approved.

Q2: Do these automations work when the phone is locked or asleep?

• Some triggers work in the background (time-based, screenshot, location). Others may require unlocking or confirmation.
• Nugget tweaks persist across reboots until Apple patches or you explicitly undo them.

Q3: Is Nugget allowed / safe?

• It’s a gray area. Because it uses vulnerabilities to patch system files, there is a real risk. Use backups, proceed feature by feature, and don’t push too far.
• Later iOS updates may patch the very exploits Nugget relies on.

Q4: Can I revert Nugget changes?

• Yes, if you kept the original MobileGestalt file, or if Nugget provides a “restore” option. But reboots or forced updates may complicate reversion.
• Always retain your patched file and a record of what you changed.

Q5: Will automating tasks or doing tweaks drain battery or slow performance?

• The shortcut-level automations have lightweight negligible impact.
• Deep system tweaks like Always-On Display, extra animations, or UI changes may tax older devices. Monitor and adjust as needed.

Call to Action & Internal Linking Suggestions

If this guide resonated with you, here are a few next steps:

• Try one of those shortcuts right now, start simple (like screenshot → PDF).
• Read my “Top Shortcuts to Boost Productivity on iPhone” article (link).
• Explore “iOS 18 Hidden Features You Probably Didn’t Know” (link).
• If you try a Nugget tweak, come back and tell me how it went. I love hearing real-world feedback and helping troubleshoot.

I hope this reworked guide helps you unlock more of your iPhone, both in the everyday magic of shortcuts and the deeper, thrilling territory of system tweaks. If you build any of these automations or test a Nugget feature, drop me a line. I’m eager to hear your experience.