# Shortcuts
MixEffect has deep integration with Shortcuts, Apple's automation system for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS (Monterey and higher). Over 100 actions exist for you to control nearly every aspect of MixEffect and your ATEM switcher. Run your shortcuts from the Home screen, using Siri, or from the Shortcuts app.
## Automation Requirements
In order to run automations, the following must be true:
1. Automations are enabled.
2. MixEffect Pro enabled.
3. View Only Mode is disabled.
4. A switcher is currently connected (exception is the Connect to Switcher or actions that query MixEffect’s local database, such as Get My Streaming Services, Get My Switchers, etc.).
If any of these are false, an error will be displayed when trying to run the shortcut.
## Allowing Untrusted Shortcuts
If you are already using Shortcuts on your iOS devices, you can skip this section.If you have never used Shortcuts before, you will first need to configure the Shortcuts app to allow the running of untrusted shortcuts. Read and follow the [instructions in this article](https://www.imore.com/how-allow-untrusted-shortcuts-and-find-trusted-shortcuts-creators).
> **NOTE**: Apple’s [documentation](https://support.apple.com/guide/shortcuts/enable-shared-shortcuts-apdfeb05586f/ios) is lacking the fact the you first need to have run a shortcut before the Allow Untrusted Shortcuts Toggle becomes tappable
## Enabling Automations
Before you can use the shortcut actions, you first need to enable automations and shortcuts in MixEffect:
1. 1.Go to the **MixEffect Home**.
2. 2.Tap **Settings** (gear icon).
3. 3.Tap **Automations**.
4. 4.Tap **Enable Automations**.
5. 5.Tap **Enable Shortcuts**.
## Adding Pre-Made Shortcuts
MixEffect comes with several pre-made actions that you can add directly to Shortcuts and Siri:
1. 1.Go to the **MixEffect Home**.
2. 2.Tap **Settings** (gear icon).
3. 3.Tap **Automations**.
4. 4.Tap **Sample Shortcuts**.
5. 5.Tap the action you wish to add.
6. 6.Tap **Add to Siri**.
7. 7.Enter a custom phrase for the new shortcut.
8. 8.Tap **Add to Siri**.
To run one of these shortcuts, do one of the following:
1. 1.Press and hold the sleep wake button. When you hear the beep, say the name of the shortcut you created in the previous section.
2. 2.Say "Hey, Siri," followed by the name of the shortcut you created in the previous section.
## Making Custom Shortcuts
If you want to string together several MixEffect actions, you can create your own shortcut using the Shortcuts app.
### Invoking Shortcuts
Because the ATEM switcher require a constant connection between the iOS device, you will frequently run into situations where you try to run a shortcut but the device has disconnected in the time you left MixEffect to switch to the Shortcuts app. Unless you account for this with a shortcut that waits for reconnection, your shortcut may fail.Here are tips to mitigate this problem.
### MixEffect Helper and Conditional Detect
If running from the phone or if you run shortcuts outside of Split View or Slide Over, use the Open App or Open MixEffect action. Next, add an alert at the beginning of your shortcut prompting the user to wait until the switcher has connected before continuing the rest of the actions.Use the MixEffect Helper shortcut to get you started. You can call this shortcut from your own shortcuts by adding a Run Shortcut action at the top of your shortcut:
* [MixEffect Helper Shortcut](https://mixeffect.app/shortcuts/helper)
{% hint style="warning" %}
On iPadOS 26, the Open App action opens the app in a new full-screen window. If the app is already open in Multi-Window mode, the existing app is maximized to full-screen.
{% endhint %}
### Use Siri
Use Siri to run your shortcut while you are using MixEffect. Invoking Siri happens in a separate background thread which does not affect the currently running app in the foreground.
### Use Shortcuts in Split View or Slide Over on iPadOS
If Shortcuts is visible alongside MixEffect, MixEffect will not disconnect because it is still a foreground application.
