How to Edit Shortcuts on iPhone: Customize, Organize & Personalize

Tired of repeating the same actions on your iPhone daily? Whether it’s sending the same message, opening a favorite playlist, or toggling settings, the Shortcuts app is Apple’s way of letting you automate all of that. But here’s the real power: editing and customizing those shortcuts so they fit exactly how you work.

If you’ve already created a few shortcuts or downloaded some from the gallery, it’s time to go one step further. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to edit, organize, and make your shortcuts feel truly yours. If you’re just starting out with Shortcuts, we recommend checking our beginner’s guide to using the Shortcuts app first.

Personalize How iPhone Shortcuts Look

Customizing how your shortcuts appear makes them easier to recognize and faster to tap—especially if you use widgets or Home Screen icons.

Rename Shortcuts

1. Open the Shortcuts app and tap the three dots for the shortcut you want to rename.
2. Tap the arrow icon next to the shortcut name at the top.
3. Tap Rename.
4. Type the new name and tap Done.
   

Change Icons and Colors

1. Open the Shortcuts app and tap the three dots for the shortcut whose icon you want to customize.
2. Tap the icon next to the name.
3. Choose a new color by tapping a color swatch.
4. Pick a new icon (glyph) that better represents the shortcut.
5. Tap Done to save your changes.
   

Set a Custom Photo for Home Screen

1. Tap the three dots on the shortcut you want to add to the Home Screen.
2. Tap the share icon at the bottom.
3. Choose Add to Home Screen.
4. Select the Image option, then choose the image you want.
5. Once done, tap Add to place it on your Home Screen.
   

Want more ideas? Explore some of the best Siri Shortcuts to see how others are styling theirs.

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How to View and Organize Shortcuts on iPhone

You can long-press a shortcut to manually change its position, but that’s about it. The only true way to organize shortcuts in the app is by using folders.

1. Open the Shortcuts app and tap Shortcuts in the top-left corner.
2. Tap the + icon to create a new folder.
3. Give your folder a name and choose an icon (glyph) to visually identify it.
4. Tap Add to create the folder.
   
5. To move existing shortcuts into folders, tap Select, choose the ones you want to move, and tap Move.
6. Pick the destination folder from the list or tap + to make a new one.
   

How to Edit a Shortcut on Your iPhone

Editing a shortcut means you’re reshaping its workflow. Whether you’re simplifying it or adding more functionality, here’s how it works:

1. Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone.
2. Find the shortcut you want to change and tap the three dots (•••) to open it.
3. To add new actions into a shortcut, tap the + button at the bottom. Use the search bar to find what you want your shortcut to do, such as opening an app, sending a message, or getting your location, then tap it to add.
   
4. To remove a step, just tap the delete (X) button on that action.
5. Some actions need extra input called variables. For example, you might need to type a message, pick an app, or make it ask you every time you run the shortcut.
6. To change an existing variable, tap on it and choose a new option from the list.
7. To add a new variable, tap an empty field and pick from the suggestions.
8. You can also use the output from a previous step as input for the next one. This is often suggested automatically.
   

How to Test Your Edited Shortcut

After editing, tap the play icon (>) at the bottom to test. This runs the shortcut in real time so you can see if it works as expected.

If it breaks or doesn’t behave right, double-check the order of actions or look for missing inputs. If shortcuts aren’t running at all, see our troubleshooting guide.

Tips for Editing Shortcuts Efficiently

Once you get the hang of it, here are some ways to level up:

• Use If Statements: Add conditions to make shortcuts smarter. Example: If Wi-Fi is off, turn it on before proceeding.
• Add Menu Prompts: Let a shortcut ask you what to do instead of making a new shortcut for each use case.
• Organize into Folders: Create folders by task type (e.g., Travel, Productivity, Home) so your list doesn’t get cluttered.

When Should You Edit a Shortcut?

You don’t always need to build from scratch. Editing is useful when:

• Your routine has changed (e.g., new wake-up time).
• You’ve switched to a new app.
• You’re traveling and want a location-based change.
• You want to expand a one-step shortcut into a multi-step flow.

Editing lets you evolve your automation as your life changes.

Wrapping Up: Make Your Shortcuts Work for You

Shortcuts are one of the most underrated iPhone features. They save time, reduce effort, and once customized, feel like magic. Editing them is where the real magic begins.

So try it—take a shortcut you already use, tweak it to suit your day better, and enjoy the feeling of a phone that works your way.

Related articles worth reading:

• 7 Genius Things You Can Do with Apple Intelligence in the Shortcuts App
• How to use the Shortcuts app on your Mac
• How to Use Accessibility Shortcut on iPhone and iPad