Profiles Switcher Profiles Switcher › Run Shortcuts automatically
Run your Shortcuts automatically
Put a Run a Shortcut action in a profile and any of your shortcuts runs by itself when your context changes: when you arrive somewhere, plug something in, or your Mac changes time zone. Anything the Shortcuts app can do becomes part of your automatic setup.
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Which triggers can start a shortcut?
All 19 of them. Any rule that can switch a profile on can run a shortcut:
Can a shortcut wait for more than one condition?
Yes. Set the profile to All are true and it only switches on, and only runs the shortcut, when every rule matches: the office Wi-Fi and a weekday, headphones and the evening, the charger and an external display. People often solve this inside the shortcut with If blocks; a profile does it before the shortcut starts.
Ideas to start with
| When | Run a shortcut that... |
|---|---|
| You arrive home | Turn on the living room lights with a HomeKit scene |
| You join the office Wi-Fi on a weekday | Set the Work Focus and open today’s notes |
| Headphones are plugged in | Start your focus playlist |
| The projector connects | Turn on Do Not Disturb while you present |
| The battery drops below 20% | Turn on Low Power Mode and dim the screen |
| Your time zone changes | Message your family that you have landed |
| Your camera’s SD card reader is attached | Import and sort the new photos |
| Dark mode turns on | Set your smart bulbs to a warm evening color |
How to set it up
- Build the shortcut. Create it in the Shortcuts app and give it a clear name. Avoid actions that ask a question, so it can run unattended.
- Create a profile. In Profiles Switcher, add a profile and the rule or rules that should start the shortcut. Choose whether any rule or all rules must match.
- Add Run a Shortcut. Add the Run a Shortcut action and type the shortcut’s exact name. Capital letters count.
- Add other actions if you like. Built-in actions in the same profile run together with the shortcut, such as switching the sound or the wallpaper.
Shortcuts and built-in actions, side by side
You do not need a shortcut for everything. Switching the sound output and microphone, the wallpaper, the default printer, network shares, the keyboard layout and sleep are built-in actions you pick from a menu. Use shortcuts for the rest: HomeKit, Focus modes, Dark mode, brightness, media, messages and scripts. A profile can mix both, so one trigger sets up everything.
Recipes that use shortcuts: run a shortcut when you get home and a low battery warning. More in the automation recipes.
Frequently asked questions
Which Macs can run shortcuts from Profiles Switcher?
Any Mac with macOS 13 or later and the Shortcuts app, on Apple Silicon and Intel.
Does this replace Shortcuts automations in macOS 26?
Use both. Shortcuts automations run a shortcut when a single event happens. Profiles Switcher can start the same shortcuts from its own 19 triggers, such as a place, the headphone jack, a USB device or a time zone, can wait until several conditions are true, and runs built-in actions alongside.
Can one profile run several shortcuts?
Yes. Add Run a Shortcut once for each shortcut; they run with the rest of the profile’s actions.
Can I run a shell script?
Yes, through Shortcuts: add the Run Shell Script action to a shortcut, then run that shortcut from a profile.
Give your shortcuts triggers
Profiles Switcher is a menu bar app for Mac (macOS 13 or later, Apple Silicon and Intel) that switches your Mac's setup automatically. You build profiles from 19 triggers, such as the Wi-Fi network you join, a place, headphones or a display, and 18 actions, including running any of your Shortcuts. Everything runs on your Mac; it is available on the Mac App Store.
Download on the Mac App Store