If you can accomplish a task with a quick click or two, there’s no need to dig into settings or jump between apps. Of course, initially you will have to spend a little time creating the shortcut. But once you’re done with that, getting certain tasks done becomes a breeze. It is this aspect that has made Siri shortcuts such a useful asset on iOS, and it has now made its way to Macs with the launch of macOS Monterey. If you’d rather have time-saving tricks at your disposal, read on to learn how to create shortcuts in macOS Monterey on Mac.
Create Shortcuts in macOS 12 Monterey on Mac (June 2021)
First things first, let’s find out how shortcuts work in macOS 12 Monterey as they will make your task a bit easier! Then, we will explain how to create, customize, and delete shortcuts in macOS Monterey. With that said, let’s dive in.
How do shortcuts work in macOS Monterey on Mac?
Introduced in iOS 12, the Shortcuts app has become one of Apple’s most loved apps on iPhone and iPad. Not only has it opened up a ton of awesome customization options, but it has also offered ways to perform tasks that previously required jailbreak tweaks. Whether it’s downloading Twitter videos, playing YouTube PiP videos in Safari, or separating audio from videos, shortcuts have proven to be a boon for iPhone users.
If you’ve ever tried shortcuts on iOS, chances are you will find the process pretty smooth on macOS. After all, creating a shortcut and using it to perform an assigned task is similar on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Also, all your shortcuts are automatically synced between macOS and iOS / iPadOS so you can stay in full control of their attacks. on all devices.
Coming back to jailbreak, Shortcuts have proven to be a solid weapon in Apple’s arsenal to fight jailbreak. The Cupertino giant has understood that the best way to decimate the jailbreak is to offer an equally exciting gateway for users. Rather than blocking loopholes that jailbreakers never miss an opportunity to exploit, Apple decided to provide users with a super powerful automation tool.
Having tested the benefits that come with jailbreaking an iPhone and trying various tricks that Apple’s shortcuts offer, I must say that the ongoing battle between Apple and jailbreakers is fascinating. After all, it is an end user like me who is reaping all the benefits!
Can you add untrusted shortcuts to your Mac in macOS Monterey?
If you can. While I like to use useful shortcuts available in the official shortcut library, I’m a bit more interested in trying out the ones that exist in the wild. Many of them are designed by independent creators and open up great possibilities.
Of course, you should never fail to ensure that a shortcut is secure before adding it to your library. The best way to do this is to make sure that a large number of users have recommended the shortcut.
How to create shortcuts in macOS Monterey
- To begin, start the application shortcutson your Mac. As usual, you can use Spotlight to quickly open the Direct Access application if it is not available in the Dock.
- After opening the application, click the “+” buttonin the upper right corner to create a new shortcut on your Mac.
- Next, search for actions with the search bar in the upper right and drag the shortcut options from the sidebarto the window on the left side to create a custom shortcut. Here, you can mix and match the available options to create complex custom shortcuts in macOS 12 Monterey.
- Next, click the Shortcut Nameand enter a suitable name that describes the task that you will perform with this shortcut.
- Now, customize the appearanceof your shortcut. Click on the shortcut photo and choose from several different objects and symbols to give it a custom look.
- Once you have perfectly customized your macOS shortcut, click the close buttonin the upper left corner to finish.
That’s it! You have now created a shortcut for your Mac. You can repeat the same steps to create more interesting shortcuts. And the best part is, you can even use Siri to use these handy shortcuts in macOS Monterey.
Add a shortcut to the macOS Monterey menu bar on Mac
For easier access, you can add a shortcut to the macOS Monterey menu bar. So if you ever need to do a certain task, you can get started right away without having to open the Shortcuts app. That’s pretty good, right? To enable this feature, follow the steps below:
- Open the Shortcuts application on your Mac.
- Now, go to the ” All Shortcuts” option on the left sidebar. Then double-click the shortcutyou want to see in the macOS menu bar.
- Next, click on the three horizontal linessettings icon in the upper right corner of the screen.
- Next, make sure the Details tab is selected. After that, check the box next to the “Keep in menu bar” option.
- That’s it. From now on, this shortcut will show up on your Mac’s menu bar. If you ever want to hide it, go back to the settings page and uncheck the “Keep in Meu Bar” box.
Use a shortcut as a quick action on Mac
Interestingly, you can also use a Siri shortcut as Quick Action on your Mac. For those of you who don’t know, Quick Action (available on macOS Mojave or later) allows you to create workflows that work in the Services menu, the view pane Finder preview and MacBook Pro Touch Bar.
- On your Mac with macOS 12 Monterey, launch the Shortcuts application.
- Now, click the All Shortcutsoption on the left sidebar and then double click the shortcutyou want to edit.
- Next, click on the three horizontal linessettings icon in the upper right corner of the screen.
- Make sure the Details tab is selected and then check the box next to ” Use as quick action“. After that, customize your shortcut to use it as Quick Action. In particular, you also have the option to add a keyboard shortcut to access the shortcut on Mac.
Show a Mac shortcut on Apple Watch and iPhone / iPad Share Sheet
Once you’ve created a shortcut on your Mac, you can choose to display it on the sharing sheet on your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch.
- Open the Shortcuts app on your Mac and go to All Shortcuts-> double click the shortcut you want to edit -> three horizontal lines settings icon -> Details.
- Now, check the boxes next to “ Show on share sheet“ AND ” Show on Apple Watch” to make the macOS 12 Monterey shortcut available on your iPhone and Apple Watch.
Delete a shortcut in macOS Monterey
If you no longer want to keep a shortcut, you can delete it to make sure your shortcut library doesn’t get cluttered.
- Launch the Shortcuts application on your Mac.
- Now, in the “All Shortcuts” tab, right-click or Control-click the shortcutyou want to delete.
- Then click ” Delete” in the pop-up menu to get rid of the shortcut. That’s it. You will no longer have access to this shortcut.
Use shortcuts in macOS Monterey to work faster
Well that’s it! I guess you can now create a variety of shortcuts on your Mac running macOS 12 Monterey. As I mentioned earlier, the shortcuts open the door for a ton of customization. So the deeper you dig and explore the possibilities, the more cool shortcuts you can make to simplify your daily tasks. By the way, what do you have to say about introducing shortcuts in macOS Monterey? Be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.