Clock Actions
for Apple Shortcuts
Take control of time with 17 Clock actions for Shortcuts. Create instant timers for cooking or workouts, build a Pomodoro productivity system, set smart alarms based on your calendar, and track time on tasks. Stop manually setting timers-automate your entire time management.
Actions with Details (17)
Find Alarms
Clock
Search for alarms in the Clock app that match the given criteria.
Get Time for City
Clock
Provides time for specified city
Resume Timer
Clock
Resumes the Timer in the Clock app.
Toggle Alarm
Clock
Enables or disables an Alarm in the Clock app.
Cancel Timer
Clock
Cancels the Timer in the Clock app.
Opens Alarm
Clock
Opens the given alarm in the Clock app.
Open Tab
Clock
Opens the given tab in the Clock app.
Reset Stopwatch
Clock
Resets the Stopwatch in the Clock app.
Delete Alarms
Clock
Deletes one or more alarms in the Clock app.
Stop the Stopwatch
Clock
Stops the Stopwatch in the Clock app.
Add City
Clock
Adds the specified city to the Clock app.
Start Stopwatch
Clock
Starts the Stopwatch in the Clock app.
Pause Timer
Clock
Pauses the Timer in the Clock app.
Add Alarm
Clock
Creates an Alarm in the Clock app.
Lap Stopwatch
Clock
Laps the Stopwatch in the Clock app.
Remove City
Clock
Removes the specified city from the Clock app.
Get Current Timer
Clock
Returns the total duration or remaining time of the current Timer in the Clock app.
What You Can Automate with Clock
- One-tap timer shortcuts: "5 Min Timer", "Pomodoro (25 min)", "Workout Timer (45 min)" right from your home screen
- Build a full Pomodoro system with 25-minute focus sessions, 5-minute breaks, and session tracking
- Smart alarms that adjust based on your calendar: wake up 1 hour before your first meeting
- Time tracking: start a stopwatch when you begin a task, stop and log the duration automatically
- Countdown timers for events: "Days until vacation", "Hours until deadline", displayed as notifications
- Context-based alarms: different wake-up times for weekdays vs. weekends, work days vs. vacation
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I create custom timer shortcuts?
Use the 17 Clock actions to start timers, create alarms, run stopwatches, and work with time data. Create shortcuts that start timers for specific durations ("Start Timer" action set to 300 seconds for 5 minutes), set alarms for specific times, track elapsed time with stopwatches, and display current time in any format or timezone. Add these shortcuts to your home screen, widgets, or invoke with Siri for instant access. Perfect for cooking, workouts, focus sessions, or any timed activity.
How do I build a Pomodoro timer with Shortcuts?
Create a shortcut that starts a 25-minute timer, displays a "Focus time!" notification, then waits for completion. When the timer ends, show a "Break time!" notification and ask if you want a 5-minute break or another Pomodoro. Use a "Repeat" loop with a number variable to track how many Pomodoros you've completed. Log completed sessions to Notes with timestamps for productivity tracking. Add to your home screen as "Start Pomodoro" for instant focus sessions.
Can I create smart alarms based on my calendar?
Yes! Create a nightly automation (10 PM) that uses "Find Calendar Events" for tomorrow, gets the earliest meeting time, subtracts your wake-up buffer (1-2 hours for shower, breakfast, commute), then "Create Alarm" for that calculated time. This automatically adjusts your alarm based on your schedule-sleep in on light days, wake earlier before big meetings. You can also create weekend-aware alarms that only set on weekdays.
What's the best way to track time spent on tasks?
Build two shortcuts: "Start Task" asks for task name, records current time with "Current Date", saves to a variable or global file. "Stop Task" calculates elapsed time (current time minus start time), formats as "2 hours 34 minutes", then logs to Notes with format: "{{task name}}: {{duration}} - {{date}}". This creates a simple time tracking system without third-party apps. Perfect for billable hours, productivity analysis, or understanding where your time goes.
Can I create timer presets for common activities?
Absolutely! Create dedicated timer shortcuts for every activity: "Pasta Timer" (10 min), "Workout Timer" (45 min), "Power Nap" (20 min), "Meditation" (15 min), "Laundry" (60 min). Each shortcut starts the timer, optionally shows a notification with instructions, and you can add them all to your home screen for instant access. Way faster than opening Clock app, tapping Timer, scrolling to the duration, and starting.
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