Use the Shortcuts App to Share Almost Anything on iPhone, iPad, and Mac

Use the Shortcuts App to Share Almost Anything on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

The â€œsharing is caringâ€ mantra seems to have been taken to a whole new level in recent years thanks to the myriad of ways to share things on our devices. From photos and videos to songs and albums, to your location and availability, you can share anything from your computer or mobile device.

If you are someone who shares often, you can make this process easier than ever. With the Shortcuts app for Mac (new in macOS Monterey), iPhone, and iPad, you can share anything; we’ll show you how to do it.

Using the Shortcuts App for Mac, iPhone and iPad

Before we look at how to use shortcuts to quickly share objects, please review this information.

All of the shortcuts listed below are available in the Shortcuts app gallery. Keep in mind that this means they were created by other users.

To view the workflows and applications involved in automation before adding them, select the three dots on the shortcut in the gallery. The label editor will open for viewing.

To start using the label, select “Add Label” in the gallery. The shortcut will then be available in the All Shortcuts section of the Shortcuts app so you can launch it.

When you launch shortcuts for the first time, you may be asked to allow access to desired applications. You can select Allow once, Allow always, or Don’t allow.

New shortcuts you add to the Shortcuts app for Mac sync with the app on your iPhone and iPad. This allows you to use them on other Apple devices. You can also create your own shortcuts, use the app on Apple Watch, add shortcuts to the menu bar on Mac, and customize the widget on iPhone and iPad.

Share Your Maps Location in Messages

If you get lost or want to be met by a friend, you can share a link to your current location in messages using the Apple Maps app.

Launch the Share Location shortcut and a URL with embedded GPS coordinates will appear in a new conversation in Messages. Just enter a recipient, edit the message if you like, and send it.

When your recipient receives a message, they simply select the link to open it in the Maps app. From there they can get directions to your location.

Combine and Share Screenshots

Whether you’re capturing something on Snapchat before it changes, or something weird on the screen, you can easily combine screenshots and share them.

Launch the “Merge Screenshots and Share” shortcut and select the number of screenshots you want to add.

The shortcut captures your last X screenshots, combines them into one image, and provides you with that image, which you can share as you wish.

Text Your Last Image

Perhaps you want to share not screenshots, but the last photo you took. Without opening the Photos app, you can easily share the most recent photo.

Launch text latest image and the latest photo will appear in a text message, ready to be addressed and sent.

If you prefer email over text, you can also use the Email Latest Image shortcut.

Share a Portrait Photo

Do you like using portrait mode to take photos? You can quickly share one of these masterpieces with a shortcut that displays images from the Portrait album.

Launch “Share Portrait Photo” and select the image you want to share. Send it any way you like: text message, email, Facebook, or any other way on your exchange list.

Create and Share an Animated GIF

If you and your friends like to share GIFs with each other, then you will love this shortcut. You can automatically generate an animated GIF and share it instantly.

Launch Share Animated GIF and the shortcut will display the options from your Animated Album in Photos. Choose the one you want to turn into a GIF and then share it via mail or messages (also notes or reminders).

Message the Current Song

Have you ever heard a song on the radio or even a TV commercial that you know someone will like? With this shortcut, you can make a Shazam song and send a link to it in Apple Music in messages.

Launch Message This Song and then watch as Shazam listens to the song and inserts a link to it in a text message. Complete the message, add a recipient, and send the text.

Share a Picture of Your Most Played Songs

Maybe you have a friend, colleague, or classmate who is interested in your musical tastes. You can share an image of your most popular songs with a shortcut that collects album art.

Launch the “Share Most Popular Songs” shortcut. You’ll see an image containing the cover, with options to post to Twitter or Facebook, as well as a text message or email.

Share Your Availability

What time are you free on Tuesday? Do you have time to meet on Thursday? You can quickly answer questions like this by reporting your availability.

Launch the Share Availability shortcut, select the date you want to share, and then send it via mail or messages (also notes or reminders).

Your recipient will see the date with your available time.

Zip and Email Files

Sharing files is essential when working together. With a shortcut, you can compress a collection of files and email them to a colleague or project team.

What’s great about this shortcut is that, once added, it’s available in the iOS Shared Sheet, as well as the Finder, Quick Actions, and Services menu on a Mac. To use it, select the files you want, navigate to one of the listed locations, and select “Archive and Email”.

A new email message window will appear with an attached zipped file ready to be filled in and sent.

If you want to stick to that motto mentioned at the beginning, then these shortcuts will help you share what you like quickly and easily.