Alex Ruben
How To Add a Torch Shortcut to Your iPhone Home Screen
If you’re tired of digging through menus or the Control Center to turn on your flashlight, making a shortcut is kinda the way to go. Adding a torch icon directly to the home screen gives you instant access without fuss. Here’s a rough breakdown — no fancy talk, just what worked.
Step 1: Open the Shortcuts App
First, find and launch the Shortcuts app on your iPhone. If it’s not there, it’s easy enough to grab from the App Store. Sometimes it’s buried in folders, so look around.
Step 2: Create a New Shortcut
Once you’ve got the app open, tap the plus (+) icon at the top right corner — that’s how you start a new shortcut. No rocket science here. Sometimes the interface is a bit snappy, so don’t get frustrated if it takes a second.
Step 3: Search for Flashlight Action
In the search bar at the bottom, type “Flashlight.” Your goal is to find the action called Set Flashlight. Once it shows up, tap on it (usually with a little blue torch icon beside it). This is the step where it either works or sometimes bugs out — on some setups, it’s a little hit or miss initially.
Step 4: Configure the Shortcut
After choosing Set Flashlight, tap the arrow icon (→) at the bottom of the screen to tweak the details. Here, you can toggle the flashlight on or off, depending on what you want the shortcut to do. Not sure why, but sometimes selecting “On” only keeps the light on while the shortcut is active — which is fine for quick taps.
Step 5: Add to Home Screen
Scroll down within this configuration page till you see Add to Home Screen. Tap that, then you get a chance to rename the icon or choose a different image if you want. Because of course, iOS has to make everything slightly harder than it needs to be. After that, hit Add. Bingo, a new icon appears on the home screen, ready to blast your flashlight in an instant.
Step 6: Done — Test It Out
Tap the new icon — if everything went right, your flashlight should turn on immediately. If it doesn’t, double-check permissions or redo the process. Sometimes, a reboot helps with shortcuts not behaving right off the bat. Also, bear in mind that having the flashlight on via shortcut doesn’t automatically turn it off — you might need a second shortcut for that unless you set it to toggle.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
Here are a couple of things that might trip you up or make the process smoother:
- Ensure your iPhone is updated to the latest iOS version — especially if the Set Flashlight action isn’t appearing or bugs out. Commands tend to get added in newer updates.
- Permissions matter. The Shortcuts app has to be given access to control your hardware — check in Settings > Privacy & Security > Shortcuts (sometimes nested). If it’s not enabled, nothing will happen.
- If the shortcut refuses to run sometimes, try running it once from the app first, then re-add it to home screen. Or, restart your phone — weird but sometimes necessary.
- In some cases, toggling the flashlight using the shortcut might turn it off if it’s already on; it’s a toggle, after all. So, set the action to “Turn On” specifically if that’s what you want.
Conclusion
Adding a torch shortcut on your iPhone isn’t perfect — sometimes the automation needs a nudge, or permissions get in the way. But overall, it’s a quick way to get your brightest tool right on your home screen for those emergency moments or late-night searches. Just make sure to test it out after setup, or you’ll be left scratching your head.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change the icon of the torch shortcut?
Yeah, during the setup, you can choose a different icon or rename it — customization is pretty flexible. Just tap the icon on the add to Home Screen step and pick what you like.
What if I can’t find the Shortcuts app?
If it’s missing, grab it from the App Store. Sometimes it gets hidden or deleted accidentally — no big deal.
Is there any way to have the flashlight turn on automatically at a certain time?
Yep, you can set up an automation within Shortcuts to do just that — create a new automation, pick the time or trigger, then choose the Set Flashlight action to turn on.
Summary
- Made a shortcut with Set Flashlight
- Added it to home screen for quick access
- Sometimes permissions or updates cause hiccups — restart if needed
Fingers crossed this helps somebody get their flashlight shortcut working without a hassle. Good luck!