How to Create a Shortcut Just by Describing It in iOS 27

The Shortcuts app has always been powerful, but most people gave up after staring at a blank editor full of actions with confusing names. iOS 27 changes that: you can now type (or say) what you want to automate in everyday language, and Apple Intelligence assembles the shortcut for you. This guide shows you how to do it, what you need, and how to write requests that produce a shortcut that works on the first try.

Before you start: this guide is based on iOS 27 as released in September 2026. Apple labels some buttons with icons rather than words, and third-party guides describe the first screen as “Describe a Shortcut” or “Describe Shortcut.” What you see may vary slightly with your iOS version and language.

What “Describe a Shortcut” does

Instead of picking actions one by one, you write a sentence like “When I leave work, text Alex that I’m on my way with my ETA.” Shortcuts reads the request, chooses the actions, links them across apps and gives the shortcut a name. You can then test it, ask for changes in plain language, or switch to the classic editor to tweak it by hand.

Apple promotes the feature on its iOS 27 page with exactly that kind of example: automate daily tasks “with a simple description.” The same feature is available on iPad with iPadOS 27 and on Mac.

Which iPhones support it

Describing a shortcut uses Apple Intelligence, so your device has to support it. According to Apple’s Shortcuts User Guide, you need:

Device	Requirement
iPhone	iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, or any iPhone 16 model or later, on iOS 27 or later
iPad	iPad mini (A17 Pro) or an iPad with M1 or later, on iPadOS 27 or later
Mac	A Mac with Apple silicon

Two more conditions:

Apple Intelligence must be turned on. Check Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri (the exact menu name can vary by iOS version).
Language and limits. Apple says Apple Intelligence isn’t available in every language or region, and that usage limits may apply to features that run on Apple’s servers. English (US) is fully supported.

If your iPhone is older (for example an iPhone 14 or a standard iPhone 15), iOS 27 still runs, but you won’t see the describe option. You can still build shortcuts manually.

How to create a shortcut by describing it

Open the Shortcuts app.
Tap the Add button (the + in the top-right corner).
A new, empty shortcut opens with a text field asking what the shortcut should do. Type your request, or tap the microphone to dictate it.
Submit the request. Apple Intelligence picks the actions, puts them in order and names the shortcut.
Read the list of actions it created. Make sure each step matches what you meant, especially contacts, times and apps.
Tap the Run button (the play icon) to test it. Tap Stop if something goes wrong.

When you’re happy with it, close the editor (tap Done if you see it) and you’ll find the new shortcut in your library.

How to fix or change a shortcut with plain language

The first result won’t always be perfect. MacRumors’ iOS 27 guide calls the AI side of Shortcuts a beta that sometimes needs manual edits. You have two ways to adjust it:

Describe the change. Write something like “Also turn on Do Not Disturb” or “Only do this on weekdays.” You can repeat this as many times as you need.
Edit by hand. Switch to the classic editor to change a value, remove a step or reorder actions.

You can also open a shortcut you built years ago and ask Apple Intelligence to change it, instead of rebuilding it from scratch.

Prompts that work well

Clear, specific requests get better results. Mention the trigger (when), the actions (what) and the details (who, how much, which app). Here are ideas based on the examples Apple and reviewers have published:

Leaving work: “When I leave work, text Alex ‘On my way’ with my ETA, then play my latest podcast.”
Morning briefing: “Every morning, show my first meeting, today’s weather and the reminders due today.”
Bedtime: “At 10 p.m., turn on Do Not Disturb, set brightness to 15% and switch to Dark Mode.”
Video apps: “When I open YouTube, turn off orientation lock, and turn it back on when I close it.”
Smart home: “When a food delivery notification arrives at night, turn on the porch lights.”

Tips for better results

Use real names. Write the contact, playlist or HomeKit scene exactly as it appears on your iPhone.
One goal per shortcut. A shortcut that does three related things works; one that tries to run your whole day usually needs fixing.
Say when it should run. “Every weekday at 7 a.m.” is clearer than “in the morning.”
Test before you rely on it. Run it once by hand, especially if it sends messages to other people.

New triggers in iOS 27

Automations in iOS 27 are no longer hidden in a separate tab; triggers now live alongside regular actions. According to MacRumors, the new triggers include:

When a notification is received
When a screenshot is captured
When a keyboard is connected
When an Apple Watch workout starts

That opens up useful ideas, like “When I take a screenshot, save it to an album called Receipts” or “When my Apple Watch workout starts, turn on Do Not Disturb and play my workout playlist.”

Add AI inside your shortcuts

Describing a shortcut is about building it with AI. Separately, Shortcuts includes a Use Model action that puts Apple Intelligence inside a shortcut, for example to summarize text or rewrite it. Apple’s guide lists these model options:

Model	Where it runs	Best for
On-Device	On your iPhone, no internet needed	Quick, simple requests
Cloud	Apple’s Private Cloud Compute	More complex requests
Cloud Pro	Private Cloud Compute, with more context	Larger tasks
Extension Model	ChatGPT	When you want ChatGPT’s answer

Apple notes that the cloud models in Shortcuts have daily usage limits that can vary with demand. A good example from Apple’s guide: get the current weather and ask the model to “Write a concise, funny summary of today’s weather with emoji.”

Is it worth trying?

Yes, if you have a compatible iPhone. Describing a shortcut removes the hardest part of the Shortcuts app, which was knowing which action to use. Start with one small automation you’d actually use every day, like the “leaving work” text or the bedtime routine, test it a couple of times, and build from there. If your iPhone doesn’t support Apple Intelligence, the Gallery tab in Shortcuts still has ready-made shortcuts you can add with one tap.