Open your most-used apps with one shortcut
Your phone can already put maps, banking, transport and shopping apps within a thumb’s reach. The real gain comes from turning separate taps into a dependable action. Creating a custom shortcut to open your most-used apps gives you one place to begin a repeated task, such as opening directions before checking a train service or launching a supermarket and wallet for your next shop.
The method varies slightly by platform. iPhone owners can build a sequence in Apple’s Shortcuts app, while Android users can use routines built into Samsung devices or a compatible automation app. Whichever route you choose, the best shortcut is narrow, predictable and easy to trigger. The following process covers design, setup and testing for everyday use in Australia.
Start with the tasks you repeat
Begin by opening your recent apps and noting which ones you use every day. In Australia, many people repeatedly check Google Maps, Uber, Opal or Myki, Woolworths or Coles, a bank, Chemist Warehouse, Spotify, Airbnb and a messaging service. Grouping apps by task is more useful than grouping them simply because they are popular.
Keep sensitive apps out of long, unattended sequences. Banking, password managers and emergency calling should generally remain independent because they may require Face ID, a fingerprint, a passcode or another confirmation. A shortcut should remove repetitive navigation without removing an important security check.
Define one clear outcome for each routine. A commuting shortcut might open Maps and then your local transport app, while a shopping shortcut could open your supermarket, loyalty card and payment wallet. Give it a name you will recognise immediately, such as “Plan my commute” or “Start shopping”.
Build the shortcut on an iPhone
Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone and tap the plus button to create a new shortcut. Tap “Add Action”, search for “Apps”, select “Open App” and choose the first app you want. Repeat the process for any additional app in a specific sequence, then give the shortcut a short name.
For a single-purpose shortcut, one Open App action is usually enough. If you add several actions, test the sequence on your own device because switching behaviour can vary between iOS versions. Useful supporting actions include asking for a destination, searching for a term, sharing a location or showing a confirmation before the final app opens.
Add the finished shortcut to your Home Screen through the share sheet and choose “Add to Home Screen”. It will then behave like a regular app icon. You can also run it through Siri with a phrase such as “Start shopping”, find it in Spotlight, or assign it to the Action Button on supported iPhones.
Avoid putting passcodes, account numbers or sensitive travel information directly into a shortcut. Store the necessary details in the relevant app and allow the operating system to request authentication. Test the routine with the apps you use, then adjust any delay needed for loading or location access.
Configure automation on Android
Samsung phones offer a capable built-in tool called Modes and Routines. Create a routine, choose a trigger such as time, location or a connected device, and then add actions including opening an app. Samsung also lets you place routine shortcuts on the Home Screen, Lock Screen or quick settings panel, making them reachable without opening an app.
Other Android phones provide different levels of automation. Pixel users can create Home Screen shortcuts for apps and websites, while power users may use Tasker, Automate or a similar tool for more complex conditions. Menu names differ between manufacturers, so look for “Routines”, “Modes”, “Automation” or “Shortcuts” in Settings.
On-device processing can make routines quicker and limit the information they send to remote services. The edge computing resources explain how processing closer to the user supports responsive services and stronger privacy. This matters when a routine needs to work with unreliable reception, so avoid making an essential action depend entirely on a cloud-based response.
Test it against an Australian day
Transport is a good first test. In Sydney, a commuter may open Google Maps and Opal; in Melbourne, the equivalent routine might use Transit and Myki. A time or location trigger can prepare the shortcut around a regular trip, but it should not rely on a fixed platform number or route because service disruptions and timetable changes are common.
Shopping routines should suit how Australians actually shop. A shortcut for “arvo” errands could open Woolworths or Coles, the relevant supermarket app and Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. Australians commonly use “arvo” for the afternoon, so a friendly shortcut name such as “Start my arvo shop” may be easier to trigger by voice than a technical label.
Check the result across different mobile networks and locations. A routine that works on Optus or Telstra in a major city may behave differently on TPG or another network in regional Australia, particularly when reception is weak. Daylight saving also changes commute times in some states, so a fixed schedule should account for local daylight-saving adjustments rather than assuming every Australian city follows the same clock.
The same design principles apply in workplaces, where staff frequently move between communication, rostering, payment and customer systems. NSC’s ICT integration services demonstrate how mobile devices, retail systems and custom applications can be connected around practical business tasks, with permissions and reliable operation built into the workflow.
Put your shortcut to work
Begin with one routine that saves several taps each day. Create it, add the icon to your Home Screen and test it in the situation where you expect to use it. Once the first action becomes dependable, you can create another for a different task rather than adding complexity to the original.
Reliable setup is just as important as the automation itself. NSC’s authorised mobile shop network covers devices, plans, contracts, upgrades, setup and troubleshooting, with that customer-support approach outlined on the NSC company site. Choose a trusted provider or knowledgeable local support service if the device configuration becomes confusing.
Create one useful shortcut today, place it where you can reach it, and run it on your next trip, shop or work routine.