What you can do with Spotify and Apple Shortcuts

Apple Shortcuts lets you build a workflow that opens a Spotify playlist, starts playback, or sends a playlist link to someone else — all from a single tap on your phone or Mac. You cannot create or edit playlists through Shortcuts itself, but you can trigger actions on playlists you already own or follow. The connection runs through Spotify's public API, which means Spotify has to be installed on your device and you have to be signed in.

The most common use is a one-tap shortcut that opens your workout playlist, your focus playlist, or a shared playlist you send to friends regularly. You can also build shortcuts that run on a schedule — for example, a shortcut that opens a specific playlist every morning at 7 a.m. when you wake up.

Key Takeaways

  • You need the Spotify app installed and logged in on the device where you run the shortcut; Spotify Web Player does not work with Shortcuts.
  • The easiest method is to open your playlist in Spotify, tap Share, choose Shortcuts, and let the app build the shortcut for you automatically.
  • If you build a shortcut manually, you will need the Spotify URI for your playlist, which you can find by right-clicking the playlist in Spotify desktop and selecting Copy Spotify URI.
  • Shortcuts that open playlists work on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, but the steps differ slightly between iOS and macOS.

The fastest way: using Spotify's built-in Shortcuts option

Open Spotify on your iPhone or iPad and find the playlist you want to add to Shortcuts. Tap the three dots next to the playlist name, then scroll down and tap Share. You will see a row of sharing options; one of them is Shortcuts (it looks like a purple square with a shortcut symbol).

Tap Shortcuts. Spotify will ask you to name the shortcut — you can call it "Workout Playlist" or "Focus Music" or anything else that makes sense to you. Tap Add Shortcut. The shortcut is now saved in your Shortcuts app and will open that specific playlist in Spotify when you run it.

This method works only on iPhone and iPad. On Mac, you will need to build the shortcut manually (see the next section).

Building a shortcut manually on iPhone or iPad

Open the Shortcuts app and tap the plus icon to create a new shortcut. Tap Add Action. In the search box, type "Spotify" — you should see actions like Play Playlist, Play Track, and Search Spotify. Tap Play Playlist.

A field will appear asking you to choose a playlist. Tap the field and search for the playlist by name. Select the one you want. The action is now set up. Tap Done to save the shortcut, and give it a name.

If the Spotify action does not appear, you may need to add the Spotify app to Shortcuts first. Go to the Shortcuts app settings, tap App Library, search for Spotify, and toggle it on.

Building a shortcut manually on Mac

Open the Shortcuts app on your Mac and click the plus icon to create a new shortcut. Click Add Action. Search for "Open URL" and select it. You will need to paste a Spotify URI into the URL field.

To find the URI for your playlist, open Spotify on your Mac desktop, right-click the playlist name, and select Copy Spotify URI. Paste this into the URL field in your shortcut. The URI will look something like spotify:playlist:37i9dQZF1DX2sUQwD7tbML. Click Done and save the shortcut with a name.

When you run this shortcut, it will open Spotify and load the playlist. If Spotify is not already running, it will launch first.

Adding a shortcut to your home screen or dock

Once your shortcut is saved, you can add it to your home screen (iPhone or iPad) or your dock (Mac) so you can tap or click it without opening the Shortcuts app first.

On iPhone or iPad, open the shortcut, tap the three dots in the top right, and select Add to Home Screen. Choose an icon and color, then tap Add. The shortcut now appears as an app icon on your home screen.

On Mac, open the shortcut, click the three dots in the top right, and select Pin to Dock. The shortcut will appear in your dock next to your other apps.

Troubleshooting common problems

If your shortcut does not open the playlist, first check that the Spotify app is installed and you are signed in. Shortcuts cannot control Spotify Web Player or a Spotify account you are not logged into on that device.

If you built the shortcut manually and it does not work, the Spotify URI may have changed or been entered incorrectly. Copy the URI again directly from Spotify and paste it into the shortcut. If you are on Mac and used an Open URL action, make sure you pasted the full URI including the spotify:playlist: prefix.

If the Spotify action does not appear in the Shortcuts app on iPhone or iPad, restart both the Shortcuts app and Spotify, then try again. Sometimes the connection between the two apps needs to be refreshed.

What you cannot do with Spotify and Shortcuts

Shortcuts cannot create new playlists, add or remove songs from existing playlists, or change playlist settings like privacy or description. You also cannot use Shortcuts to log into Spotify or switch between accounts — you have to be signed in before the shortcut runs.

If you want to automate playlist creation or management, you would need to use Spotify's full API with a third-party tool like Zapier or IFTTT, which is beyond what Shortcuts can do on its own.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I create a shortcut that plays a specific song instead of a whole playlist?

Yes. Use the same steps as above, but search for and select Play Track instead of Play Playlist. Search for the song by title or artist, and the shortcut will play it when you run it.

Will the shortcut work if I am not connected to the internet?

No. Spotify requires an internet connection to stream music or load playlists. The shortcut will open Spotify and try to load the playlist, but playback will fail if you are offline.

Can I share a shortcut I made with someone else?

Yes. Open the shortcut, tap the three dots, and select Share. You can send the shortcut link via message, email, or any other app. The person who receives it can tap the link to add it to their own Shortcuts app, but they will need Spotify installed and their own account to use it.

What if I delete the playlist from Spotify after I create the shortcut?

The shortcut will fail when you try to run it because the playlist no longer exists. You will need to create a new shortcut pointing to a different playlist, or recreate the deleted playlist and update the shortcut to point to it.

Can I set a shortcut to run automatically at a certain time?

Yes, but only on iPhone and iPad. Open the shortcut, tap the three dots, select Automation, and choose Create Personal Automation. Set the time or trigger you want, and the shortcut will run automatically. On Mac, this feature is not available in the Shortcuts app.