Settings Actions
for Apple Shortcuts
Take full control of your iPhone with 29 Settings actions for Shortcuts. Auto-enable Do Not Disturb at bedtime, switch to Low Power Mode when your battery drops, and create custom device profiles for work, home, and driving. Stop manually toggling settings-automate your entire device based on time, location, and context.
Actions with Details (29)
Set Zoom
Settings
Zoom magnifies the entire screen. Zoom can also be enabled under Accessibility in Settings.
Set Live Captions
Settings
Enable or disable Live Captions.
Set Background Sounds Volume
Settings
Sets the volume for background sounds.
Set VoiceOver
Settings
VoiceOver speaks items on the screen. VoiceOver can also be enabled under Accessibility in Settings.
Set Reduce Motion
Settings
Reduce the motion of the user interface, including the parallax effect of icons. Reduce Motion can also be enabled under Accessibility in Settings.
Set Sticky Keys
Settings
Enable or disable Sticky Keys, making it easier to press keyboard modifier keys.
Set Closed Captions+SDH
Settings
Use closed captions for the deaf and hard of hearing. Closed captions can also be enabled under Accessibility in Settings.
Set Accessibility Keyboard
Settings
Enable or disable the Accessibility Keyboard, allowing typing by clicking on the screen.
Set Live Speech
Settings
Enable or disable Live Speech.
Set Slow Keys
Settings
Enable or disable Slow Keys, allowing the keyboard to avoid recognizing rapid key presses.
Set Audio Descriptions
Settings
Automatically play audio descriptions. Audio Descriptions can also be enabled under Accessibility in Settings.
Set Background Sounds Timer Interval
Settings
Sets the timer interval for background sounds. Background sounds mask unwanted environmental noise and can be used when media is playing. Background sounds can also be enabled under Accessibility in Settings.
Set Increase Contrast
Settings
Increase color contrast between app foreground and background colors. Increase Contrast can also be enabled under Accessibility in Settings.
Change Background Sound
Settings
Change the background sound that will play when background sounds is turned on. Background sounds mask unwanted environmental noise. Background sounds can also be enabled under Accessibility in Settings.
Set Voice Control
Settings
Voice Control allows you to use your voice to control your iOS device. Voice Control can also be enabled under Accessibility in Settings.
Set Mouse Keys
Settings
Enable or disable Mouse Keys, allowing the movement of the mouse cursor using the keyboard.
Set Hover Text
Settings
Enable or disable Hover Text.
Set Reduce Transparency
Settings
Improve contrast by reducing transparency and blurs on some backgrounds to increase legibility. Reduce Transparency can also be enabled under Accessibility in Settings.
Set Classic Invert
Settings
Reverses the colors of the display. Classic Invert can also be enabled under Accessibility in Settings.
Set Full Keyboard Access
Settings
Enable or disable Full Keyboard Access, allowing use of the device with only a keyboard.
Set Hover Typing
Settings
Enable or disable Hover Typing.
Set Alternate Pointer Actions
Settings
Enable or disable Alternate Pointer Actions, allowing the use of switches or gesture to trigger mouse actions such as clicks.
Set Switch Control
Settings
Switch Control highlights items on the screen to control through an adaptive accessory. Switch Control can also be enabled under Accessibility in Settings.
Set Motion Cues
Settings
Enable or disable Motion Cues.
Set Mono Audio
Settings
Mono Audio enables the left and right speakers to play the same content. Mono Audio can also be enabled under Accessibility in Settings.
Set Smart Invert
Settings
Reverses the colors of the display except for images, media and some apps that use dark color styles. Smart Invert can also be enabled under Accessibility in Settings.
Set Color Filters
Settings
Enable or disable Color Filters, allowing the display's colors to be adjusted as desired.
Set Head Pointer
Settings
Enable or disable Head Pointer, allowing movement of the mouse cursor using your head.
Toggle Background Sounds
Settings
Enable or disable Background Sounds.
What You Can Automate with Settings
- Automatically adjust Wi-Fi, brightness, and Focus mode when you arrive home or at the office
- Create a bedtime routine that enables Do Not Disturb, Night Shift, and lowers brightness at 10 PM
- Auto-enable Low Power Mode when your battery drops below 20% to extend your charge
- Build accessibility profiles: large text and high contrast for reading, VoiceOver for driving
- One-tap shortcuts to toggle your most-used settings: "Movie Mode", "Silent Mode", "Battery Saver"
- Smart profiles: "Work Mode" sets brightness, volume, and Focus; "Gym Mode" enables Bluetooth and music app
Frequently Asked Questions
What iPhone settings can I automate with Shortcuts?
The 29 Settings actions let you control Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Airplane Mode, Cellular Data, Low Power Mode, screen brightness, volume, rotation lock, Do Not Disturb, Focus modes, Dark/Light mode appearance, Night Shift, True Tone, accessibility features (VoiceOver, Zoom, text size), and more. You can also read current values (battery level, volume, network status) to make intelligent decisions. Each action gives you programmatic control over your device without digging through the Settings app.
How do I create custom mode shortcuts like "Work Mode" or "Sleep Mode"?
Build a shortcut that changes multiple settings in sequence. For example, "Work Mode": enable Wi-Fi, set brightness to 75%, enable Work Focus, switch to Light mode, set volume to 50%. "Sleep Mode": enable Airplane Mode, activate Do Not Disturb, enable Night Shift, set brightness to 10%, start Sleep Focus. "Driving Mode": enable Bluetooth, maximize volume, activate Driving Focus, disable rotation lock. Add these to your home screen or widget for instant one-tap activation.
Can I trigger settings to change automatically based on location or time?
Yes! Go to the Automation tab in Shortcuts and create triggers: "Time of Day" (enable Do Not Disturb at 10 PM), "When I Arrive" at a location (turn on Wi-Fi when you get home), "When I Leave" (enable Low Power Mode when leaving work), "Battery Level" (enable Low Power at 20%), "Connect to CarPlay" (enable Driving Focus). iOS will prompt you when the trigger fires-some automations can run without confirmation if you disable "Ask Before Running".
Why do some settings require me to tap confirm?
For security, iOS requires confirmation for sensitive connectivity settings like Wi-Fi, Cellular Data, Bluetooth, and Airplane Mode. This prevents malicious shortcuts from silently disconnecting you or running up data charges. Settings like brightness, volume, appearance, Focus modes, and Low Power Mode typically don't require confirmation and can run fully automatically. It's a privacy trade-off-slight inconvenience for important protection.
How can I create smart automations that check settings first?
Use "Get" actions to read current values, then use "If" conditions to decide what to do. Examples: "If battery level < 20%, enable Low Power Mode", "If volume > 50%, set volume to 30%", "If connected to home Wi-Fi, turn off cellular data", "If brightness < 30%, set brightness to 50%". This creates intelligent, context-aware automations that only change settings when needed, instead of blindly toggling every time.
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