Whether you’re adding a new task, jotting down quick notes, or logging an expense, you want to do it fast.
You don’t want your mind to start procrastinating on it. Even if you don’t, you can still easily lose an idea due to the sheer volume of information that bombards our brains today.
Fortunately, most apps these days come with shortcuts and widgets. At the very least, you can use the Shortcuts app to quickly launch the apps you need.
This article compiles the best triggers and locations on your iPhone where you can use these shortcuts and widgets.
Lock Screen controls
Back Tap gestures
Control Center controls
Today View widgets
1. Lock Screen controls
Since iOS 18, iPhone users can finally customize the default flashlight and camera controls on their lock screen.
To start editing your lock screen, long press on your lock screen and then click on “Customize.” You can remove existing controls by clicking the minus icon next to them and then tap on the empty control to search for a new one.
2. Back Tap gestures
Did you know that you can control a setting or run a shortcut when you double tap on the back of your iPhone?
To do this, first navigate to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap. Then, select either Double Tap or Triple Tap to assign a setting or a shortcut to it.
3. Control Center controls
Control Center today is not limited to system settings, you can also add controls from third-party apps and run shortcuts.
First, swipe down from the top of the screen to access the Control Center. Then, long press on an empty space to enter editing mode. To add a new control, tap on the button. You can search for a control provided by your apps or use the Shortcut control.
4. Today View widgets
The Today View is the page you access by swiping right from the first page of your home screen or the lock screen.
Its accessibility makes it an ideal location for displaying essential information you need from your apps.
On top of that, apps today can have widgets that execute actions, like how the Shortcuts app provides widgets to display your selected shortcuts that can be run on tap.
You can edit the Today view by long pressing an empty area on the home screen until the apps jiggle. Then, you can tap on the edit button to add a new widget.
Conclusion
By utilizing all these trigger points and locations, you may find that you need to open apps or switch between them less frequently.
You can reach Today View and Control Center directly from the lock screen. Or swipe down the lock screen or Control Center anytime on the home screen or within an app.
Overall, this makes capturing on your iPhone more frictionless.