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To get started with Shortcuts on a MacBook, open the Shortcuts app and either customize an example from its Gallery or create a shortcut, add actions, and run it to test. A shortcut is a sequence of steps that performs a task with apps, content, or internet services. Start small, then choose a convenient way to launch it.
Choose a starting point: Gallery or a blank shortcut
| Approach | Best when | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Gallery | You want to explore a working example or find one close to your task. | Apple’s curated shortcuts can be added to your collection and customized. Apple’s Shortcuts User Guide for Mac explains the Gallery. |
| New shortcut | You have a specific task in mind or want to learn how actions fit together. | You name the shortcut, add actions in the editor, and run it to test. Apple’s custom-shortcut guide walks through this process. |
For a first attempt, choose the Gallery if an example is close to what you need; inspecting and adapting it can be easier than planning every step yourself. Start from scratch if no example fits. Apple describes a shortcut as “a quick way to get one or more tasks done with your apps.”
Build and test a first shortcut
- Open Shortcuts. Find and launch the Shortcuts app on your Mac.
- Browse the Gallery or create a shortcut. To make one yourself, click the add button. You can also Control-click the Shortcuts app in the Dock and choose New Shortcut.
- Name it. Use a short name that will be easy to recognize when you run it later.
- Add actions. Choose an action category, add an action to the editor, and repeat for each step in the workflow. An action is one part of a task; actions can work with apps and content on Apple devices, as well as internet content or services.
- Run it. Close the editor and click the shortcut’s Run button to check what it does. If you are still editing and make a mistake, Apple documents Undo and Redo and lets you remove an action.
Keep the first workflow short enough that you can tell whether each step worked. For example, you might make a small workflow that passes text between apps; Apple’s Mac overview also gives examples such as getting directions to a Calendar event and generating expense reports. These are examples of possible tasks, not requirements for a first shortcut. See Apple’s introduction to Shortcuts on Mac for more examples.
Pick a way to run the shortcut
Running from the Shortcuts app is the simplest way to start. Once the workflow works, Apple documents several other launch points, including Siri, Finder-related options, the Dock, the menu bar or Control Centre, keyboard shortcuts, and the command line. Which options appear can depend on your macOS version and setup.
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- Dock: Add a shortcut for convenient access without opening the editor.
- Menu bar or Control Centre: Use these options when available on your Mac.
- Keyboard shortcut: Assign a key combination if you want to launch it directly.
- Siri or command line: Use these when they suit your workflow.
Apple’s page for running shortcuts while working on a Mac is labeled for macOS 26 and describes Finder, Dock, Control Centre, Touch Bar, keyboard, and other entry points. Labels and availability can change across macOS versions. See Apple’s instructions for running a shortcut while working on your Mac.
Use selected content from another app
If the shortcut should act on something you select in another app—such as text or a file—configure it to receive that input. Open the shortcut’s Details and enable Show in Share Sheet or Use as Quick Action, depending on how you want to access it. The source app must provide content of a type the shortcut can accept. The first time you use a Share Sheet extension, you may need to allow it in System Settings.
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Use shortcuts on other Apple devices
Apple says iCloud Sync can make shortcuts created on a Mac available to run from iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch. This depends on iCloud Sync and the relevant visibility settings. Do not assume every action will behave identically on every device: an app, service, or type of content may not be available on all devices or in all countries and regions. Apple also notes that not all apps, services, or content shown in its guidance are available in every country or region.
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Apple’s current Shortcuts guide landing page identifies macOS 27, while its instructions for running shortcuts from other Mac contexts are labeled macOS 26. The basic flow—create or add a shortcut, add actions, and test it—is the useful starting point; interface labels and available launch locations may vary by version. Apple Intelligence is not required to create or use a shortcut.
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