If you can get a task done with a quick click or two, there’s no need to dig deep into settings or jump between apps. Of course, you’ll need to spend some time creating the shortcut first. But once you’re done, performing certain tasks becomes a piece of cake. It’s this aspect that made Siri Shortcuts such a handy asset in iOS, and it’s now made its way to Macs with the release of macOS Monterey. If you’d rather have time-saving hacks, read on to learn how to create shortcuts in macOS Monterey on Mac.
Create Shortcuts in macOS 12 Monterey on Mac (June 2021)
First, let’s see how shortcuts work on macOS 12 Monterey, because they’ll make your job a little easier! Next, we’ll explain how to create, customize, and delete shortcuts in macOS Monterey. 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 popular apps on iPhone and iPad. It not only opened up a ton of amazing customization options, but 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 tried shortcuts on iOS before, chances are you’ll find the process pretty seamless on macOS. After all, creating a shortcut and using it to perform an assigned task is similar on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Additionally, all of your shortcuts are automatically synced between macOS and iOS/iPadOS so you can keep full control of your hacks across all devices.
Coming back to jailbreaking, Shortcuts has proven to be a solid weapon in Apple’s arsenal to fight against jailbreaking. The Cupertino giant has figured out that the best way to decimate jailbreak is to offer an equally exciting gateway to users. Rather than blocking loopholes that jailbreakers never miss an opportunity to exploit, Apple decided to give users a super powerful automation tool.
After tasting the benefits of jailbreaking an iPhone and trying various hacks provided by Apple Shortcuts, I have to say that the ongoing battle between Apple and jailbreakers is fascinating. After all, it’s an end user like me who reaps all the benefits!
Can you add untrusted shortcuts to your Mac in macOS Monterey?
Yes you can. While I like to use handy 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 make sure a shortcut is secure before adding it to your library. The best way to do this is to ensure that a large number of users have recommended the shortcut.
How to Create Shortcuts in macOS Monterey
- To get started, run the Shortcuts app on your Mac. As usual, you can use Spotlight to quickly open the Shortcuts app if it’s not available in the Dock.
2. After opening the app, click on the “+” button in the upper right corner to create a new shortcut on your Mac.
3. Next, search for stocks using the search bar at the top right and drag shortcut options from the sidebar in the left window to create a custom shortcut. Here you can mix and match the available options to create complex custom shortcuts on macOS 12 Monterey.
4. Next, click on the Shortcut name and type an appropriate name, describing the task you will perform using this shortcut.
5. Now, customize appearance of your shortcut. Click on the shortcut photo and choose from several different objects and symbols to give it a custom look.
6. Once you have perfectly customized your macOS shortcut, click on the button close button in 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 Shortcut to 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 ever opening the Shortcuts app. It’s pretty neat, isn’t it? To enable this feature, follow the steps below:
- Open the Shortcuts app on your Mac.
2. Now go to the “ All Shortcuts” in the left sidebar. Then, double click on the shortcut you want to see in the macOS menu bar.
3. Next, click the three horizontal lines the settings icon in the upper right corner of the screen.
4. Next, make sure the Details tab is selected. After that, check the box next to the “Keep in menu bar” option.
5. That’s it. From now on, this shortcut will show up in 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 a quick action on your Mac. For those unaware, Quick Action (available in macOS Mojave or later) lets you create workflows that work in the Services menu, Finder Preview pane, and MacBook Pro Touch Bar.
- On your Mac running macOS 12 Monterey, launch the Shortcuts app.
2. Now click on the All Shortcuts option in the left sidebar, then double click on the shortcut you want to edit.
3. Next, click the three horizontal lines the settings icon in the upper right corner of the screen.
4. Make sure the Details tab is selected, then check the box next to ” Use as a quick action“. After that, customize your hotkey to be used as a quick action. In particular, you also have the option of add keyboard shortcut to access shortcut on Mac.
Show Mac Shortcut in Share Sheet Apple Watch and iPhone/iPad
Once you’ve created a shortcut on your Mac, you can choose to show it in the Share Sheet on your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch.
- Open the Shortcuts app on your Mac and navigate to All Shortcuts -> double click on the shortcut you want to change -> settings icon of three horizontal lines -> Details.
2. Now check the boxes next to “ Show in share sheet ” and ” View on Apple Watch to make your 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 shortcuts library doesn’t get cluttered.
- Launch the Shortcuts app on your Mac.
2. Now under “All Shortcuts” tab, right-click or Control-click shortcut you want to delete.
3. Next, click on “ To delete” in the context menu to remove 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 all there is to it! I guess you can now create a variety of shortcuts on your Mac running macOS 12 Monterey. As I mentioned above, shortcuts open the door to a ton of customization. So the more you dig and explore the possibilities, the more cool shortcuts you can create to simplify your daily tasks. By the way, what do you have to say about the introduction of shortcuts in macOS Monterey? Be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
