Using Conditionals in iPhone Shortcuts: Automate Smarter on iOS

Apple’s Shortcuts app has revolutionised the way iPhone users can automate daily tasks. One of its most powerful features is the ability to use conditionals, which allow shortcuts to respond differently based on specific criteria. Available starting with iOS 13, conditionals in Shortcuts can make your automations smarter, more dynamic, and personalised.

What Are Conditionals in Shortcuts?

Conditionals are logical statements—”if this, then that”—that help you define different paths your shortcut can take based on certain conditions. In the Shortcuts app, this is done through the “If” action.

A typical conditional block looks like:

• If [Condition]
  • [Do something]
• Otherwise
  • [Do something else]

You can add multiple levels of logic to adapt your shortcut’s behaviour based on user input, system state, or contextual information.

Where You Can Find It

The Shortcuts app comes pre-installed on all iPhones running iOS 13 or later. The “If” action and conditionals are available under the Scripting category when building a shortcut.

Types of Conditions You Can Use

Shortcuts conditionals support a wide variety of conditions:

• Device Conditions: Battery level, Do Not Disturb, Low Power Mode, Wi-Fi connection
• Date & Time: Time of day, day of the week, date comparisons
• Location: Current location, travel time to a place
• Input Values: Text, numbers, booleans, variables
• System State: Whether a Bluetooth device is connected, whether you’re charging, etc.

Practical Examples

Here are a few ways you can use conditionals in your iPhone Shortcuts:

1. Battery-Based Automation

If battery level is less than 20%
    Turn on Low Power Mode
    Send a reminder to charge
Otherwise
    Show battery level

2. Location-Aware Shortcut

If current location is Home
    Set thermostat to 72°F
    Turn on living room lights
Otherwise
    Set thermostat to 65°F

3. Time-Based Routine

If time is after 10:00 PM
    Turn on Do Not Disturb
    Set alarm for 7:00 AM
Otherwise
    Show calendar for the day

4. Custom User Input

Ask for input: "What's your mood?"
If input is "Happy"
    Play upbeat playlist
Otherwise if input is "Sad"
    Play chill playlist
Otherwise
    Show inspirational quote

Bonus: “Choose from Menu” for More Complex Decisions

The “Choose from Menu” action lets you create a switch-style branching logic:

Choose from Menu:
    - Morning
        Show weather
        Make coffee
    - Evening
        Turn off lights
        Set sleep focus
    - Weekend
        Plan fun activity

Final Thoughts

The addition of conditionals makes Shortcuts on iPhone more than just automation—it becomes true logic-based scripting. Whether you’re creating personal routines, optimising productivity, or just having fun, mastering conditionals is a great step toward building smarter workflows.

If you’re on iOS 13 or later, open the Shortcuts app and start experimenting. You’ll be amazed at how powerful your iPhone can be with just a few “if” statements.