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    2 min read 6 stepsApril 2, 2026Verified April 2026

    Mac Shortcuts (Automator) for Beginners

    Automate repetitive tasks on your Mac with simple shortcuts that save time.

    At a Glance

    Category
    Mac Guides
    Difficulty
    Intermediate
    Read Time
    2 min read
    Steps
    6
    Topics covered
    mac
    shortcuts
    automation
    productivity
    workflow

    In this guide (6 steps):

    1. 1.What are Shortcuts?
    2. 2.Open the Shortcuts app
    3. 3.Download pre-made shortcuts
    4. 4.Create a simple shortcut
    5. 5.Run shortcuts
    6. 6.Practical examples
    1

    What are Shortcuts?

    ~15s
    Shortcuts (formerly Automator) lets you create automated workflows. Instead of doing the same steps manually, build a shortcut that does it in one click or voice command.
    2

    Open the Shortcuts app

    ~15s
    Find Shortcuts in your Applications folder or Spotlight. Browse the Gallery for pre-made shortcuts you can add with one click. Categories include Productivity, Web, and Media.
    3

    Download pre-made shortcuts

    ~15s
    The Gallery has hundreds of ready-to-use shortcuts: resize images, create PDFs from images, split bills, convert units, summarize text, and more. Add to your library.
    4

    Create a simple shortcut

    ~15s
    Click +. Drag actions from the right panel into the workflow. Example: "Get contents of clipboard" > "Make PDF" > "Save File." This converts any copied text to a PDF.
    5

    Run shortcuts

    ~15s
    Click the shortcut in the app. Add it to your menu bar for quick access. Assign a keyboard shortcut. Ask Siri to run it by name. Add it to the Share menu for context-specific automation.
    6

    Practical examples

    ~15s
    Batch resize photos for email. Convert HEIC photos to JPEG. Combine images into a PDF. Get your daily schedule summary. Water reminder every hour. Meeting prep: open specific apps and websites.

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    mac
    shortcuts
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    Official Resources

    Apple SupportHow-To Geek — MacApple Support YouTube

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    Mac Shortcuts (Automator) for Beginners — Step-by-Step Guide | TekSure