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Create iPhone Shortcuts by Describing What You Want—or Using a Model Prompt

Use Apple Intelligence to draft an iPhone shortcut from a description, or add Use Model when you need a response generated during a run.
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On an eligible iPhone, you can ask Apple Intelligence to draft a shortcut from a plain-language description, then run and refine it in Shortcuts. If you want a model to produce content while the shortcut runs, use the separate Use Model action and connect its response to the next step.

Check iPhone and iOS support first

Apple’s iOS 27 Shortcuts guide lists Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and iPhone 16 models or later. Apple also cautions that availability varies by language and region, and usage limits may apply. Check Apple’s current Shortcuts instructions and Apple Intelligence compatibility information against your device and installed iOS version; screens and available model choices can differ.

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Create a shortcut from a description

  1. Open the Shortcuts app and tap Add.

  2. Describe the workflow you want in ordinary language. Be specific about what starts it or what information it receives, what actions it should take, any conditions, and what result you want. For example: “Make a shortcut that asks me for a topic, turns it into a short note, and shows me the result.” This is guidance for making the request clear, not a required format.

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  3. Let Shortcuts create and name the shortcut from your description. Apple Support describes the feature this way: “With Apple Intelligence, you can create a custom shortcut just by describing what you want.”

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  4. Tap Run and try it with your own inputs. Check that the actions and results match your intent, and grant any requested permissions only if they make sense for the workflow.

  5. If something is off, describe a specific change or edit the shortcut’s actions directly, then run it again.

A description used to create or change the shortcut tells Shortcuts what workflow to build. It is not necessarily a prompt that the shortcut sends to a model every time you run it.

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Choose between a generated workflow and a model step

These are two distinct ways to use Apple Intelligence with Shortcuts. Start with the choice that matches what you want to happen:

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What you need Natural-language shortcut creation Use Model action
Build the action sequence Describe the overall workflow; Shortcuts drafts and names it. Add and arrange the actions yourself, including the model step.
Use a model when the shortcut runs Not inherent to creating a shortcut from a description; add a model action if runtime model output is needed. Yes. The action sends its prompt and available inputs to the selected model and makes the response available to later actions.
Best fit You want a starting workflow without assembling every action first. You want to control where model output enters the workflow, or pass earlier action results into it.
Editing approach Refine by describing a change or editing actions directly. Arrange actions and connect inputs and outputs in the editor.
Model availability Depends on Apple Intelligence support and the device’s language and region. Depends on the models offered on that device, along with language and regional availability.

Add a prompt with Use Model

Use Use Model when a model response is part of the shortcut’s work at runtime—for example, when the shortcut should transform information gathered by earlier actions. Apple’s guide says the model step can use variables and outputs from previous actions, including content from calendars, reminders, and photos. The response can be selected or optimized for the next action.

  1. Create a shortcut in Shortcuts, then add the actions that gather or prepare the information the model needs.

  2. Add the Use Model action, select a model available on your device, and enter the instruction in its prompt field. Make the requested output clear, and include relevant earlier-action variables or results where appropriate.

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  3. If you want the shortcut to pause for an interactive exchange, turn on Follow Up.

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  4. Add a next action that uses or displays the response. For a simple check, use Show Content with the model’s Response.

  5. Run the shortcut with representative input. Confirm that the model receives the right information and that the following action handles its response as intended.

Apple’s Shortcuts release notes dated April 23, 2026 describe Use Model as connecting to Apple Intelligence models or ChatGPT and passing responses into the rest of a shortcut. The labels and choices may vary by iOS version and region.

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What the model choices mean

Apple’s current guide describes on-device processing for simpler requests, Private Cloud Compute for complex requests, and an extension model such as ChatGPT. It also distinguishes Cloud and Cloud Pro; according to that guide, those choices can be used with Broad World Knowledge. Apple’s descriptions are not a guarantee that every choice appears on every device, or that a particular request will always use the same route. Check the options shown in your own Use Model action.

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Apple describes its processing and privacy approach in its documentation. Treat those statements as Apple’s descriptions of the service, not as a promise that every model choice handles information identically. Consider what information the shortcut passes into the model before running it.

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Ask for information while the shortcut runs

A runtime prompt to the person using a shortcut is different from both the description used to create it and the prompt inside Use Model. Apple documents several ways to collect or show information during a run:

For example, a shortcut can ask for a topic, pass that value to Use Model, then show the response. The input prompt gathers the topic; the model prompt explains what to do with it.

Build or repair the shortcut manually

If natural-language creation does not produce the sequence you need, assemble or adjust it in the editor. Apple describes actions as the building blocks of shortcuts.

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  1. Create a shortcut in Shortcuts and open its editor.

  2. Add the actions the workflow requires, arrange them in order, and configure their inputs and outputs.

  3. Tap Done, then run the shortcut with your own data to check the full sequence.

For an Apple-led walkthrough of manual creation, see Create a custom shortcut on iPhone or iPad. Apple’s Use Apple Intelligence in Shortcuts guide covers model prompts, inputs, outputs, and follow-up. Runtime input and display options are described in Introduction to prompts in Shortcuts. For the iOS 27 natural-language example and availability caveats, see Apple’s iPhone guide to Apple Intelligence in Shortcuts.

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Quick Recap

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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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