iOS 27 fundamentally reimagines how users create and manage automations, moving the Shortcuts app from a tool for technical users to one accessible to anyone. The most significant change is natural language shortcut creation users on iPhone 15 Pro and newer can now describe what they want a shortcut to do, and Apple Intelligence automatically assembles it.
Create Shortcuts by Describing What You Want
iOS 27 fundamentally reimagines how users create and manage automations, moving the Shortcuts app from a tool for technical users to one that’s accessible to almost anyone. The biggest change is natural language shortcut creation. Users on supported Apple Intelligence devices can simply describe what they want a shortcut to do, and the system automatically builds it.
The process is straightforward. Open the Shortcuts app and tap the prompt asking, “What do you want your shortcut to do?” Type a description, and Apple Intelligence assembles and installs the shortcut without requiring any manual configuration. Apple demonstrated the feature with a shortcut that automatically sends your estimated arrival time to a contact whenever you leave home. The system calculates your ETA based on your location and creates the entire automation automatically.
Automations Get Restructured From the Ground Up
The biggest change goes beyond the redesigned interface. In iOS 27, every automation is now stored as a shortcut with one or more triggers at the beginning. This lets users assign multiple triggers to the same shortcut, such as running it when they arrive home or connect to a specific Wi-Fi network. Because automations are now regular shortcuts, they also sync through iCloud more consistently across devices.
Existing automations were automatically converted to the new format when users upgraded to iOS 27 beta 1. While the migration preserved most workflows, some people with large automation libraries needed to reorganize their shortcuts after the conversion.
New Reminders Actions and Interface Updates
The Shortcuts app gained deeper integration with Reminders through new actions that let users automate list management. These include Create Group, Create List, Create Section, Delete Groups, Delete Lists, and Delete Sections. A new “Get What’s On Screen” option also provides additional context for automation workflows involving the Reminders app.
iOS 27 also enables landscape mode in the Shortcuts app, alongside Apple Music, Podcasts, Fitness, Health, Reminders, Home, and other built-in apps. The addition improves usability on larger devices and helps prepare the interface for future foldable form factors.
Apple Intelligence in iOS 27: Requirements and Timeline
Natural language shortcut creation requires Apple Intelligence, which is available on iPhone 15 Pro and later, iPad mini with A17 Pro, iPad models with M1 or later, MacBook Neo with A18 Pro, Macs with M1 or later, and Apple Vision Pro. That means many users with older iPhones won’t have access to the feature that most directly addresses the Shortcuts app’s historical learning curve.
iOS 27 is currently available in developer beta, with a public beta expected in July and a general release anticipated around September 2026. The update represents one of the biggest changes to the Shortcuts app since Apple acquired Workflow, making automation creation significantly more approachable through Apple Intelligence.
