How to Create Shortcuts in macOS Monterey on Mac

If you can accomplish a task with a quick click or two, there’s no need to dig deep into settings or switch between apps. Of course, you will have to spend some time initially to create the shortcut. But once you’re done with that, performing certain tasks becomes a breeze. It is this aspect that has made Siri Shortcuts a super useful presence on iOS, and now it has made its way to Macs with the release of macOS Monterey. If you’d rather have time-saving hacks at your disposal, read on to learn how to create shortcuts in macOS Monterey on Mac.

Create Shortcuts in macOS 12 Monterey on Mac (June 2021)

First, let’s understand how shortcuts work in macOS 12 Monterey as they will make your job a little easier! Next, we’ll explain how to create, customize, and delete shortcuts in macOS Monterey. Having said that, let’s dive in.

How Shortcuts Work in macOS Monterey on Mac

Introduced in iOS 12, the Shortcuts app has become one of the most loved Apple apps on iPhone and iPad. Not only did it open up a bunch of great customization options, but it also offered ways to perform tasks that previously required jailbreak tweaks. Whether it’s downloading Twitter videos, playing YouTube PiP videos in Safari, or splitting videos from videos, Shortcuts have been a boon for iPhone users.

If you’ve tried the shortcuts on iOS, chances are pretty good that you’ll find the process pretty smooth on macOS. After all, creating a shortcut and using it to perform an assigned task is similar on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Also, all your shortcuts are automatically synced between macOS and iOS/ iPadOS so you can have complete control of your hacks across devices.

Coming back to jailbreak, Shortcuts has proven to be a solid weapon in Apple’s arsenal to combat jailbreak. The Cupertino giant realized that the best way to destroy jailbreak is to offer users an equally exciting gateway. Instead of blocking loopholes that jailbreakers never miss a chance to exploit, Apple has decided to offer users a super powerful automation tool.

After tasting the joys of jailbreaking an iPhone and trying the various tricks Apple Shortcuts provide, I must say that the ongoing battle between Apple and jailbreakers is fascinating. After all, it’s an end user like me who gets all the benefits!

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Can You Add Untrusted Shortcuts to Your Mac in macOS Monterey?

Yes you can. While I like to use the handy shortcuts found in the official shortcuts library, I’m a little more interested in trying those found in the wild. Many are designed by independent creators and unlock great possibilities.

Of course, you should never neglect to make sure that a shortcut is safe before adding it to your library. The best way to do this is to make sure a lot of users recommend the shortcut.

How to Create Shortcuts in macOS Monterey

  1. To start, Shortcuts app on your Mac. As usual, you can use Spotlight to quickly open the Shortcuts app if it’s not in the Dock.

Launch the Shortcuts app

2. After opening the app, Click the “+” button Click on the upper right corner to create a new Shortcut on your Mac.

Click the plus button - Create Shortcuts on Mac in macOS Monterey

3. Next, search for actions using the search bar at the top right and drag shortcut options from sidebar Here you can mix and match the available options to create complex custom shortcuts in macOS 12 Monterey.

Drag the shortcut

Create a shortcut - Create Shortcuts on Mac in macOS Monterey

4. Next, click on shortcut name and type a suitable name describing the task you will perform using this Shortcut.

Name your shortcut

5. Now, customize view your shortcut. Click on the shortcut photo and choose from several different objects and symbols to give it a personalized look.

Design your shortcut - Create Shortcuts in macOS Monterey on Mac

6. After you customize your macOS shortcut perfectly, close button In the upper left corner to finish.

Close the window

This much! You have now created a shortcut for your Mac. You can repeat the same steps to create more exciting shortcuts. And the best part is that you can even use Siri to use these handy shortcuts on macOS Monterey.

Adding a Shortcut to the macOS Monterey Menu Bar on Mac

You can add a shortcut to the macOS Monterey menu bar for easier access. So, if you need to perform a certain task, you can get started right away without ever opening the Shortcuts app. This is beautiful, isn’t it? To enable this feature, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Shortcuts app on your Mac.

2. Now, “All Shortcuts” option from the left sidebar. At that time, double click the shortcut what you want to see in the macOS menu bar.

All Shortcuts

3. Next, click on three horizontal lines the settings icon in the upper right corner of the screen.

three horizontal lines

4. Then make sure the Details tab is selected. After that, check the box next to it. “Keep in Menu Bar” option.

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Keep a shortcut in the menu bar

5. That’s it. From now on, this shortcut will show in the menu bar on your Mac. If you want to hide it, go back to the settings page and uncheck the “Keep in Meu Bar” box.

Shortcut in the menu bar

Use Shortcut as Quick Action on Mac

Interestingly, you can also use a Siri shortcut as a Quick Action on your Mac. For those unaware, Quick Action (available in macOS Mojave or later) lets you create workflows that run in the Services menu, the Finder Preview pane, and the MacBook Pro Touch Bar.

  1. On your Mac running macOS 12 Monterey, launch the Shortcuts app.

2. Now, click on All Shortcuts option in the left sidebar and then double click the shortcut you want to edit.

All Shortcuts

3. Next, click on three horizontal lines the settings icon in the upper right corner of the screen.

three horizontal lines settings - Create Shortcuts in macOS Monterey

4. Make sure the Details tab is selected, and then check the box next to “.Use as Quick Action“. After that, customize your shortcut to use as a Quick Action. Specifically, you also have the option to: Add a keyboard shortcut to access Shortcut on Mac.

Use Shortcut as Quick Action on Mac

How to Show Mac Shortcut on Apple Watch and iPhone/iPad Share Sheet

After you create a shortcut on your Mac, you can choose to show it on the share sheet on your iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch.

  1. Open the Shortcuts app on your Mac and All Shortcuts -> double click the shortcut you want to edit -> three horizontal line settings icon -> Details.

Click the Details tab

2. Now, check the boxes next to “.Show on Share Sheet” and “Show on Apple Watch” To make your macOS 12 Monterey shortcut available on your iPhone and Apple Watch.

Show a shortcut on iPhone and Apple Watch

Delete Shortcut in macOS Monterey

If you don’t want to keep a shortcut anymore, you can delete it to keep your shortcut library clutter-free.

  1. Launch the Shortcuts app on your Mac.

2. Now, under “All Shortcuts” tab, right-click or Control-click the shortcut you want to delete.

All Shortcuts

3. Then, “Erase” in the drop-down menu to get rid of the shortcut. This much. You will no longer have access to this shortcut.

delete a shortcut - Create Shortcuts in macOS Monterey

Use Shortcuts in macOS Monterey to Get the Job done Faster

Well, that’s all! I think you can now create various shortcuts on your Mac running macOS 12 Monterey. As I mentioned above, shortcuts open the door for a ton of customization. Therefore, the more you research and explore the possibilities, the more wonderful shortcuts you can make to simplify your daily tasks. By the way, what would you like to say about bringing shortcuts to macOS Monterey? Be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Moyens Staff
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