Apple TV Shortcuts

Effortlessly Controlling Your Apple TV with a Shortcut

In today’s guide, I’ll show you how to set up a seamless shortcut to control your Apple TV. This shortcut will power on your Apple TV, launch a chosen app, integrate a HomeKit scene for added convenience, and finally display the Apple TV Remote on the device running the shortcut. Ready to get started? Let’s dive in!

Step 1: Wake Up Your Apple TV

The first thing we need to do is create a very simple shortcut to wake up your Apple TV. Here’s how:

1. Open the Shortcuts app on your iOS or iPadOS device.

2. Create a new shortcut and give it a name that suits its purpose, such as “Wake Apple TV.”

3. In the action search bar, search for “Wake Apple TV” and select it.

4. Choose your Apple TV from the list by tapping on the Apple TV variable.

Putting Your Apple TV to sleep.

1. Open the Shortcuts app on your iOS or iPad device.

2. Create a new shortcut and give it a name that suits its purpose, such as “Apple TV Sleep.

3. In the action search bar, search for “Sleep Apple TV” and select it.

4. Choose your Apple TV from the list by tapping on the Apple TV variable.

With these steps completed, your are already equipped to wake up and sleep your Apple TV. But that’s just the beginning!

Step 2: Configuring the Menu for App Selection

Now, we’ll add a menu that allows you to choose which app to open. The Choose from Menu action is perfect for this task as it provides flexibility and structure within the shortcut.

Setting Up the Menu:

1. Add the Wake TV action as done before.

2. Search for “Choose from Menu” and add it to your shortcut.

3. You’ll see a section where you can edit the prompt displayed when running the shortcut. Customise this prompt to say something like “What would you like to watch?”

4. By default, you’ll see two items named One and Two. Rename these items to match the apps you want, e.g., Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, YouTube, etc.

5. Notice that each menu item has a corresponding marker. These markers will help us specify what actions to take based on the app selected.

Customising Each Menu Item:

1. Rename each item to match your desired apps. For example, rename One to Netflix and Two to Disney+.

2. Add more items by tapping Add New Item or copying an existing one using the copy-and-paste feature:

• Press and hold the action until the contextual menu appears, then select Copy.

• Go to the new menu marker, press and hold, and choose Paste Below to add a duplicate.

Continue this until all of your desired app names are set into menu items.

Step 4: Launching the App on Apple TV

Now that we have our menu we’ll set the shortcut to open the chosen app on your Apple TV.

Configuring the App Launch:

1. Search for “Open App on Apple TV” and drag it below the marker where you added your HomeKit scene (or directly below the app marker if not using a scene).

2. Choose your Apple TV from the list by tapping the Apple TV variable.

3. Select the TV variable and choose the specific app you wish to launch (e.g., Netflix).

Repeat this process for each app listed in your menu. Copying and pasting actions will help speed up the process when configuring multiple apps.

Step 5: Adding the Apple TV Remote Control

To finish off the shortcut, we’ll add an action that displays the Apple TV Remote on your device once the chosen app has launched. While your Apple TV may already come with a physical remote, having the digital version on hand can be extremely convenient.

Adding the Remote Control:

1. Search for “Show remote control for” and add it as the final action in your shortcut.

2. Choose your Apple TV from the list.

Helpful tip: The Apple TV Remote is built into the iOS and iPadOS Control Centre, so this action will trigger that integration.

Congratulations! You’ve now completed the setup for your shortcut. Here’s how to test it:

1. Run the shortcut directly from the Shortcuts app.

2. A menu will appear with the prompt you set (e.g., “What would you like to watch?”).

3. Select an option from the menu. If the option includes a HomeKit scene, it will activate before the app launches on your Apple TV. The final step will display the Apple TV Remote on your device.

Using Siri for Hands-Free Control

If you prefer voice commands, Siri has you covered:

• Simply say, “Hey Siri, [name of your shortcut].”

• Siri will read out the menu options, prompting you to choose an app verbally. For example, Siri might say, “What would you like to watch?” followed by, “Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video.”

Once you respond with your choice, Siri will handle the rest, launching the app on your Apple TV and displaying the remote on your device.

Customisation Tips and Troubleshooting

Here are a few additional tips to enhance and troubleshoot your shortcut:

• Add more menu options: If you want more app choices, simply repeat the steps outlined above. Just keep in mind that too many items can make the menu less user-friendly.

• Test different HomeKit scenes: Create custom scenes for different moods, like Movie Night with dimmed lights and Game Time with bright lights.

• Adjust shortcut prompts: Personalise the prompt messages to make them more fun or tailored to your household, such as “Ready for some movie magic?”

• Adding a HomeKit Scene:

  Under the Netflix marker, search for “Control Home” and add it.

  Tap Scenes and Accessories, then select your desired scene, such as one named Chill, to dim the lights or adjust settings.

  Once you’ve selected your scene, tap Done to confirm.

Common Issues and Fixes:

• App Not Opening: Ensure that the app is installed on your Apple TV and is accessible via the Shortcuts app.

• HomeKit Scene Not Working: Double-check that your HomeKit accessories are configured correctly in the Home app and that you have the necessary permissions.

• Remote Control Not Displaying: Verify that the Apple TV Remote is enabled in the Control Centre on your device by going to Settings > Control Centre and adding it if needed.

Final Thoughts

Creating a shortcut for your Apple TV is a quick and easy way to streamline your home entertainment experience. Whether you’re preparing for a movie marathon or just want to launch YouTube with minimal effort, this shortcut has you covered. With a little bit of customisation, you can expand on this shortcut to control more aspects of your home and make your routines smarter and more efficient.

So, go ahead and give it a try. With Siri and the Shortcuts app, your Apple TV control is only a voice command or a tap away. Happy watching!