Apple made Shortcuts a universal app that works across all Apple devices, including your Mac. If you already have the macOS Monterey software update, here's how you can start using the Shortcuts app from your Mac.

Shortcuts on macOS Monterey

After you first update your Mac to Monterey, you'll see that you now have the Shortcuts app installed by default. You can find the app in Launchpad or you can open it by doing a Spotlight search.

As you'll be able to tell, the Shortcuts app on Mac works pretty much the same way it does on your iPhone. That means you can easily create new shortcuts, just as you would on your iPhone or iPad.

Related: How to Make a Shortcut on Your iPhone

You can also edit any Shortcut you already have, even if you didn't create it on your Mac. What's cool is that once you edit a shortcut on your Mac, it'll be updated on all your other Apple devices too. Just keep in mind that you'll need to be logged in using the same Apple ID account for this to happen.

How to Run and Edit Your Shortcuts

Apple didn't do a great job teaching us how to use the Shortcuts app on Mac, so testing or editing your Shortcuts can be confusing at first.

If you want to run a shortcut from the app, you'll need to hover your mouse over the shortcut you want and click on the play button that appears in the top-right corner.

You'll notice that shortcuts don't have a button for you to edit them, as they do on your iPhone. Instead, what you need to do on your Mac is double-click the shortcut you want to edit. This will open the shortcut in a new window, where you'll be able to edit anything you want.

How to Add a Shortcut to Your Menu Bar

As of right now, the Shortcuts app on Mac is a bit limited. What we mean by that is that you can't add a shortcut to your desktop or the Dock. However, one of the quickest ways to use your shortcuts is to pin them to the menu bar.

Here's what you need to do for that: ​​

  1. Open the Shortcuts app.
  2. Double-click the shortcut you want to edit.
  3. Click on the Shortcut Details button at the top of the right-hand menu.
  4. Check the Pin in Menu Bar option.
Pin a Shortcut on Mac

You'll see that the Shortcuts icon appears on your menu bar. Once you click it, you'll see a list of all the shortcuts you selected to have show in your menu bar.

How to Open a Shortcut With a Keyboard Shortcut

Another cool way to use your shortcuts is by adding a keyboard shortcut. This will let you trigger a shortcut with any keyboard combination, if it doesn't already exist. For instance, you can't use Cmd + Q since your Mac already uses that keyboard shortcut to close apps.

If you want to do this, follow these steps:

  1. Open Shortcuts.
  2. Double-click the shortcut you want to edit.
  3. Click the Shortcut Details button at the top of the right-hand menu.
  4. Click Add Keyboard Shortcut.
  5. Press the keyboard combination you want to use.
Add a keyboard Shortcut to a Shortcut Mac

How to Show Your Shortcuts on Your Apple Watch

By now, you should know that any shortcut you create on your Mac will automatically appear on your other Apple devices, but you can make it so it appears on your Apple Watch too. Here's how.​​​​​​​

  1. Open the Shortcuts app.
  2. Double-click the shortcut you want to add to your Apple Watch.
  3. Click Shortcut Details at the top of the right-hand menu.
  4. Click Show on Apple Watch.
Show Shortcut on Apple Watch Mac

There's one thing you need to know about this. While it's true that your Apple Watch can run shortcuts, it can't run all the shortcuts your Mac or iPhone can.

If your Apple Watch can't run a shortcut, you'll see a small message below the Show on Apple Watch option that tells you which actions on the shortcut aren't supported by your Apple Watch. Even if you do see the shortcut on your Apple Watch, if you try to run it, it just won't work. ​​​​​​​

How to Run Shortcuts With Siri

Not a lot of us use Siri on a Mac, but it does work well enough. Moreover, it can help you run your shortcuts without having to click on anything. ​​​​​​​

Related: Great Siri Shortcuts to Improve Your Health and Well-Being

All you need to do is open Siri in any way you want—click the Siri icon on your menu bar, press and hold Cmd + Space, or just say "Hey Siri" if you've enabled it—and then ask Siri to run a shortcut. Siri will ask you which one, and you'll need to say the name of the shortcut.

Take Your Mac Shortcuts to the Next Level

Now that you know the basics of the Shortcuts app on Mac, it's your turn. Go out there and create the best shortcuts you can. After you made your favorite shortcuts, you might want to consider automating them.