How Can You Remove Shortcut Notifications on iPhone? Simple Tips to Fix Those Annoying Alerts

Trying to Stop iPhone Shortcuts Notifications? What Really Works and What Doesn’t

Notifications from the Shortcuts app can be disruptive, especially if they pop up all the time. Apple doesn’t provide a direct way to turn off these notifications for Shortcuts, so solutions require a few extra steps. Here’s how to manage and minimize these alerts using straightforward methods.

Why the Shortcuts App Keeps Sending Notifications

The Shortcuts app helps you automate steps on your iPhone, like opening an app at a certain time, sending messages automatically, or adjusting settings based on location. Sometimes, when a shortcut runs—especially if it’s time or location-based—it sends a notification to your lock screen or notification center. Unlike other apps, Shortcuts does not have a dedicated notifications toggle in the iPhone settings. This can make the alerts difficult to control.

Simple Steps to Reduce Shortcuts Notifications

There are three main ways to manage notifications from the Shortcuts app:

Solution 1: Turn Off Notifications Using Screen Time

1. Open Settings (the app with a gear icon).
2. Tap on ‘Screen Time.’
3. Choose ‘See All Activity’ or ‘See All App & Website Activity’ to get a list of recent app activity.
4. Scroll to the ‘Notifications’ section and find ‘Shortcuts.’
5. Use ‘Show More’ if you don’t see Shortcuts at first.
6. Tap on ‘Shortcuts’ and then turn off ‘Allow Notifications.’

This works if the Shortcuts app has sent several notifications recently; otherwise, it may not show up in the list. If not, try checking last week’s activity.

Solution 2: Turn Off Notify When Run for Automations

1. Open the Shortcuts app.
2. Tap ‘Automation’ at the bottom.
3. Select the automation you want to edit.
4. Look for the switch labeled ‘Notify When Run.’
5. Turn this switch off.
6. Repeat for each automation you’ve set up.

This stops notifications each time these automations run. However, it does not stop notifications for Shortcuts that have location-based triggers or for regular shortcuts run manually.

Solution 3: Location-Based Trigger Limitation

If you use shortcuts that start based on your location (like arriving or leaving a place), Apple requires a notification for privacy reasons and won’t let you turn it off. This is designed to keep you aware of apps accessing your location and running tasks automatically.

Quick Checklist

• For general Shortcuts notifications: Use the Screen Time settings.
• For automation-specific notifications: Edit each automation and disable the ‘Notify When Run’ option.
• For location-based automations: These notifications cannot be turned off because of privacy and security rules.

Helpful Reminders

• If Shortcuts doesn’t appear in Screen Time or in the notification list, it’s likely because it hasn’t sent enough notifications recently.
• You need to turn off notifications for each automation separately. There’s no global switch.
• Notifications tied to location triggers cannot be silenced.

Troubleshooting Tips

• After turning off notifications, restart your iPhone to make sure settings take effect.
• For new automations, remember to toggle off ‘Notify When Run’ while setting them up to avoid future alerts.
• If you adjust your automations and still get alerts, check if they use a location-based trigger, which cannot be silenced.

What to Expect Next

Following these steps should ease most Shortcuts notification frustrations. While some limitations exist—especially with location-based automations—most users will see a big improvement in daily use.

If these steps don’t fix all your notification issues, consider reviewing your automations to see if any can be simplified or removed. This approach keeps your phone experience happy and less interrupted.