Which run an action means
Most actions have a Run field. Left empty, the action works on the run you started most recently, paused or not. A run planned for later does not count. Fill the field in when you have several going.
Starting and moving
| Action | Does |
|---|---|
| Start Routine | Starts a routine, with a name or description if you give one |
| Plan a Run | Makes a run for a moment ahead, which begins by itself |
| Start the Planned Run | Begins a planned run now |
| Do It Again | Starts the routine a run was of again, from the first step |
| Next Step | Moves to the next step. If the step is not finished, it says why and stays |
| Repeat | Goes round the step you are on again: its actions run and its timer starts over. Not on a paused run |
| Put the Step Off | Moves the step later, or last |
| Decide Later | Sends the step to the end of the run and puts a question about it in In hand |
| Pause the Run, Resume the Run | Pauses the run where it stands, or picks it up again |
| Come Back To It | Puts the run down for some minutes, then brings it back |
| Not Any More | Brings a put-down run back now |
| Stop | Ends the run. Everything it recorded is kept |
| Control Routine | Any of these for a routine's going run, chosen from a list |
The step's own buttons
| Action | Does |
|---|---|
| Do the One Thing | What the Action button does |
| Run a Step's Action | Opens a link or shortcut the step is waiting on |
| Do What a Step Is Holding | Does an action the step holds until somebody asks |
Asking and writing down
| Action | Does |
|---|---|
| Current Step | Says what the run is on and how far through it is |
| What's Coming | Says what is going, what is coming, and what you put down |
| Show What Is In Hand | Shows the In hand panel over the screen |
| Write It Down | Keeps a note on a run, at its step |
| Tag | Puts a tag on a run or a routine, or takes one off |
| Set Value, Get Value | Writes or reads a value on a run, a step or a routine |
| Open Routine Run | Opens the app at a screen or a run |
The actions that write and change routines are on Siri and the Shortcuts app.
Every action here works on iOS 26. Needs iOS 27. A Shortcuts automation that starts when a notification arrives, which is how the bridge runs a step's shortcuts by itself. See Answers in the background.
When it goes wrong
"Nothing is running." No run is going, or the only one is planned for later.
It moved the wrong run. The empty field took the newest. Choose the run in the action.