The free automations library.

Fix · it reads the date instead of the time

Tap the Current Date variable inside the text field and set its format to Time. If it says a long date out loud, the format is still on Date.

Fix · nothing happens when the alarm goes off

Automations only run on their own if you chose Run Immediately. If it is set to Run After Confirmation you get a notification you have to tap first. Open the automation and switch it to Run Immediately.

Fix · the voice is too quiet and turning the volume up does nothing

Speak Text runs on Siri's voice volume, which is a separate channel from media and ringer, so setting the Media volume does nothing to it and it stays quiet no matter what. The fix is to swap that action out. Delete Speak Text and build these three instead: Set Media volume to 100%, then Make Spoken Audio from Time, then Play Sound using that spoken audio. That routes the voice through media volume, so turning the volume up actually works. Fair warning, at 100% it is loud, so test it before you rely on it. I walk through this in the video.

Fix · a few words slip out

Depending on the car, a few seconds can play before it catches, because the phone has to finish connecting first. Building both versions keeps it as short as possible.

Fix · stray taps

Before you tap Start, circle any part of the screen with your finger to disable it, so a tap on an ad or a menu does nothing. Time Limits can end the session on its own.

Fix · it still says "Delete Photos"

This is where most people quit. Tap the blue word in the Delete action and switch it to Latest Screenshots. If it still reads "Delete Photos," the variable is not selected and your camera roll won't clear.

Fix · it is not in the share menu

Show in Share Sheet is off. Tap the i inside the shortcut and turn it on, then it appears under View More when you tap share.

Fix · stuck on step 5, the Choose from Menu part

This is the step most people name. After you add Choose from Menu, tap the grey Prompt line to label it, then tap each option row to type its name, Folder and Running note. If the options look blank, you have not typed them in yet, tap into each one and type the word.

Fix · it asks for text but no keyboard comes up

The Ask for Input step is waiting for you to type. Tap once on the input area near the bottom of the screen and the keyboard opens, then type your word and press Done. If nothing appears, scroll up and tap the input field again so it is selected.

Fix · at the share step I only see shared album

You are looking at the photo's own share options, not the shortcut. Scroll down past AirDrop and the row of apps to the list of actions, and tap the shortcut by its name. If it is not there, open the shortcut, tap the i, and turn on Show in Share Sheet.

Fix · my phone has no Delete latest screenshots option

The action itself is called Delete Photos. Add it, then tap the blue word inside it and choose Latest Screenshots as what it deletes. On older iOS it may be listed as Delete Images, the steps are the same.

Fix · why file into Notes instead of Files

Notes lets you search by the word you typed and syncs across your devices, and the whole thing stays one tap. If you would rather use Files, swap Create Note in step 6 for Save File and point it at a Screenshots folder.

Fix · it will not play on silent

Set the Media volume to 100 percent, not just the Ringtone. Media volume is what plays over the silent switch. And make sure you chose Run Immediately, or it waits for a tap on the lock screen.

Fix · it fires on the wrong texts

Pick a word you'd never text or say by accident, skip real names and everyday words like "ok." A nonsense phrase (olly-oxen-free) never goes off on its own.

Fix · how do I text it if I do not have my phone

You text your own number from any other device, or ask someone near you to text it. That incoming message is what sets it off, so your phone does not need to be in your hand.

Fix · how does it stop

It stops when you pick up and unlock the phone, and the song also ends on its own when the track finishes. If you want an off switch, add a Stop Playing action to a second automation triggered by a different word.

Fix · I have no song or music options

The action is Play Music and it pulls from the Music app, so pick a song you already have saved or downloaded. A downloaded track plays even with no signal. If the list is empty, open Music once and add or download a song first.

Fix · does it work on Android, iPhone 15, or Apple Watch

This uses the iPhone Shortcuts app, so it is iPhone only, and it works on iPhone 15 and newer. You cannot start it from an Apple Watch, but any second phone or another person can text the word.

Fix · it opens too early or on the wrong trip

Tighten the radius so the circle just covers the parking lot, and make sure the trigger is Arrive, not Leave.

Fix · I get an error on the first step on a new phone

When a shortcut moves to a new phone its link to your Reminders list gets cleared, so it cannot find the list. Open the automation, tap the list name in the Show Reminders List action, and pick your Grocery List again.

Fix · the sound stays off after I leave

Add a second automation set to Is Closed that sets the volume back up. And make sure the first one is Run Immediately, or it waits for a tap.

Fix · it did not mute

Automations only run on their own if you chose Run Immediately. If you get a notification asking you to confirm, open the automation and switch it from Run After Confirmation to Run Immediately.