Apple includes a decent variety of actions for its own apps in Shortcuts, but there are many things still missing. To fill that gap, there are URL schemes and deep links you can use to build custom workflows and automations. They aren’t very easy to find—unless you’re reading this.
Not counting the “Open App” script, which applies to every app on your iPhone, there are at least 34 Apple-branded apps with one or more actions readily available in Shortcuts. Apps like App Store, Books, Camera, FaceTime, Phone, Stocks, and Wallet only have one or two actions, but apps like Calculator, Calendar, and Maps have many available to use right away.
But there could be so much more.
For instance, you could open Apple services not listed in Shortcuts, such as Apple Store, Clips, Diagnostics, Feedback, and Find My. Or you could perform other tasks not listed in Shortcuts, such as jumping to your “Recent” calls screen or starting a FaceTime audio call instead of a video one.
The list below shows the URL schemes for most Apple-branded apps—stock iOS ones or those found in the App Store—as well as any path, parameters, anchors, queries, and/or fragments that I’ve found.
Using These URL Schemes in Shortcuts
The schemes below with nothing after the :// are just schemes to open the apps up one way or another, while those with syntax information after the :// perform “deep link” specific actions within the apps.
Also, while all schemes have the :// characters in them, most can be used with just : instead of with the // symbols.
Keep in mind that Apple may change the URL scheme names, path, parameters, anchors, queries, and/or fragments for its apps and services at any time. It has done so before, such as links to specific settings, with each new iOS update (iOS 11, iOS 12, iOS 13, iOS 14, iOS 15, iOS 16, iOS 17, etc.).
Apple-Branded Apps & Services
AirPlayReceiver
Open
airplayreceiver-private://
AirPlaySenderUIApp
Open
airplay://
AMSEngagementViewService
Open
ams-ui://
ams-ue://
ams-sdu://
App Store
Open
itms-apps://itunes.apple.com
Open account settings
itms-ui://
Open specific app
itms-apps://itunes.apple.com/app/id
Search
itms-apps://search.itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZSearch.woa/wa/search?media=software&term=YourQuery
Top charts
itms-apps://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewTop?genreId=36&popId=30
Results in 'Cannot Connect' error when used alone
itms-apps://
itms-appss://
macappstore://
macappstores://
itms-watch://
Apple Store
Open
applestore://
applestore-sec://
applestore-alipay://
AuthenticationServicesUI
Open
fido://
Open Passkey sign-in view
fido://com.apple.AuthenticationServicesUI
AXUIViewService
Open
applerttcall://
Books
Open
ibooks://
itms-books://
itms-bookss://
Calculator
Open
calc://
Calendar
Open
calshow://
x-apple-calevent://
Add calendar
webcal://SuscribeLinkForTheCalendar
Camera
Open
camera://
Clips
Open
clips://
Clock
Open
clock-alarm://
clock-sleep-alarm://
clock-stopwatch://
clock-timer://
clock-worldclock://
Contacts
Open
contact://
people://
CredentialSharingUIViewService
Open
shareablecredentialsuiservice://
CTCarrierSpaceAuth
Open
carrierspaceauth://
Developer
N/A
Diagnostics
Open
diagnostics://
diags://
DKPairingUIService
Open
X-DK://
FaceTime
Start audio call
facetime-audio://TheirPhoneNumberOrEmailAddress
facetime-audio-prompt://TheirPhoneNumberOrEmailAddress
Start video call
facetime://TheirPhoneNumberOrEmailAddress
facetime-prompt://TheirPhoneNumberOrEmailAddress
Other
facetime-open-link://
FaceTimeLinkTrampoline
Open
facetime-open-link://
Family
Open
family://
Feedback
Open
applefeedback://
Start new feedback
applefeedback://new
Files
Open
shareddocuments://
Connect to server
smb://
Find My
Open
findmy://
fmip1://
findmyfriends:// (iOS 13 and later)
fmf1:// (iOS 13 and later)
grenada:// (iOS 13 and later)
Show items list
findmy://items (iOS 14.3 and later)
Find My Friends
Open (iOS 12.5.5 and earlier)
findmyfriends://
fmf1://
grenada://
Find My iPhone
Open
fmip1://
Fitness
Open
fitnessapp://
Open summary for the current day
activitytoday://
Open the Sharing tab
activitysharing://
Freeform
Open (iOS 16.2 and later)
freeform://
Game Center
Open (unverified, pre-iOS 11)
gamecenter://
itms-gc://
itms-gcs://
GarageBand
Open
garageband://
mobilegarageband203.audiobus://
Health
Open
x-apple-health://
x-argonaut-app://
Open the Summary tab
x-apple-health://summary
Open the Browse tab
x-apple-health://browse
HealthENLauncher
Open
ens://
Home
Open
x-hm://
homeutil://
iBooks
Open
ibooks://
itms-books://
itms-bookss://
iCloud Drive
Open (unverified, pre-iOS 11)
appleiclouddrive://
iMovie
Open
imovie://
imovie1.4://
InCallService
Call contact via Phone
tel://TheirPhoneNumber
telprompt://TheirPhoneNumber
Start FaceTime audio call
facetime-audio://TheirPhoneNumberOrEmailAddress
facetime-audio-prompt://TheirPhoneNumberOrEmailAddress
Start FaceTime video call
facetime://TheirPhoneNumberOrEmailAddress
facetime-prompt://TheirPhoneNumberOrEmailAddress
Start FaceTime group call
facetime-group://
Start SOS call
telsos://
Other
superbox-audio://
superbox-video://
system-call-controls://
system-screen-sharing://
iTunes
Open
itms-services://
itms-ui:// (see App Store above)
appstore-ui://
iTunes Movie Trailers
Open
movietrailers://
iTunes Remote
Open
remote://
iTunes Store
Open
itms://
itmss://
iTunes U
Open
itunesu://
itms-itunesu://
itms-itunesus://
Keynote
Open
x-keynote-live://
com.apple.iwork.keynote-live://
Maps
Open
map://
maps://
mapitem://
Open
message://
Start draft with recipient
mailto:TheirEmailAddress
Start draft with recipient, cc
mailto:TheirEmailAddress?cc=TheirEmailAddress
Start draft with recipient, bcc
mailto:TheirEmailAddress?bcc=TheirEmailAddress
Start draft with recipient, subject
mailto:TheirEmailAddress&subject=Your%20Subject%20Text
Start draft with recipient, body
mailto:TheirEmailAddress&body=Your%20Body%20Text
Start draft with recipient, CC, BCC, subject, body
mailto:TheirEmailAddress?cc=TheirEmailAddress&bcc=TheirEmailAddress&subject=Your%20Subject%20Text&body=Your%20Body%20Text
[You can make other combinations using the above identifiers]
Messages
Open
messages://
iChat://
im://
Open App Store
itms-messages://
itms-messagess://
Open iMessage draft
imessage://
Open text draft
sms://
Start new iMessage draft for contact
imessage://TheirPhoneNumber
Start new text draft for contact
sms://TheirPhoneNumber
sms-private://TheirPhoneNumber
Music
Open
music://
musics://
audio-player-event://
Open radio (unverified)
itsradio://
itsradios://
itunesradio://
itunesradios:// (just opens Music)
Music Memos (discontinued in 2021)
N/A
News
Open
applenews://
applenewss://
Notes
Open
mobilenotes://
applenotes://
Open a specific note
applenotes:note/TheNoteID?ownerIdentifier=TheOwnerID
Numbers
Open
com.apple.iwork.numbers-share://
PassbookUIService
Open
passuiservice://
PeopleMessageService
Open Family Request
peopleMessage://
PeopleViewService
Open
people://
Phone
Open
mobilephone://
Call contact
tel://TheirPhoneNumber
telprompt://TheirPhoneNumber
Call contact and pause
tel://TheirPhoneNumber, (each comma adds two seconds, can be combined)
telprompt://TheirPhoneNumber, (each comma adds two seconds, can be combined)
Call contact and wait
tel://TheirPhoneNumber; (semicolons will add the numbers after to the call screen to tap)
telprompt://TheirPhoneNumber; (semicolons will add the numbers after to the call screen to tap)
Call contact, wait, pause
tel://TheirPhoneNumber;####,# (# = extension or call menu number)
telprompt://TheirPhoneNumber; (# = extension or call menu number)
Show contacts
mobilephone-contacts://
Show favorites
mobilephone-favorites://
Show recents
mobilephone-recents://
Show voicemail
vmshow://
Turn on Call Silencing
mobilephone-unknowncallerstip://
Photos
Open
photos://
iCloud Photos invitation URL
photos-redirect://
iPhoto library migration
photos-migrate-iphoto://
OAuth redirect URL
com.apple.mobileslideshow://
Photos event URL (deprecated)
photos-event://
Photos navigation URL
photos-navigation://
Podcasts
Open (goes to "Can't connect right now" screen by itself)
pcast://
podcasts://
itms-pcast://
itms-pcasts://
itms-podcast://
itms-podcasts://
Add feed by URL
feed:// (only worked in iOS 13.0 and earlier)
podcast://
Add specific feed by URL
feed://TheUrlOfTheFeed (only worked in iOS 13.0 and earlier)
podcast://TheUrlOfTheFeed
Preferences (Settings)
Open
app-prefs://
app-prefs:
prefs://
prefs:
prefs:root
prefs:root=
com.apple.preferences://
com.apple.preferences:
Cellular plan install
esim://
Finance script data update
prefs-finance-script://
Migrate one-time-password verification codes
otpauth-migration://
apple-otpauth-migration://
Prepare for new iPhone
prefs-prebuddy://
Send one-time-password verification code
otpauth://
apple-otpauth://
View beta updates settings
os-beta-updates://
View TV provider settings
prefs-tvprovider://
See note below for more.
The above schemes were found in the Preferences.app file. For a full list of URL schemes for preferences in the Settings app, see Complete List of iOS URL Schemes for Apple Settings (Always-Updated).
Print Center
Open (only works if the print center is open with active print jobs already)
appleprintcenter://
Reminders
Open
x-apple-reminder://
x-apple-reminderkit://
Safari
Search
x-web-search://
Open FTP file
ftp://LocationToFileOnFtpServer
Open HTTP site
http://WebsiteURL
Open HTTPS site
https://WebsiteURL
Other
com-apple-mobilesafari-tab://
safari-web-extension://
webclip://
Settings
See my other article for the complete list.
Setup
Open
setup-device-migration://
Settings (Accessibility)
See my other article for the complete list.
Shortcuts
Open
shortcuts://
shortcuts-production://
workflow://
Create new shortcut
shortcuts://create-shortcut
Install shortcut
shortcuts://shortcuts/ShortcutID
Open gallery
shortcuts://gallery
Open shortcut
shortcuts://open-shortcut?name=Your%20Shortcuts%20Name
Run shortcut
shortcuts://run-shortcut?name=Your%20Shortcuts%20Name
Run shortcut with text string input
shortcuts://run-shortcut?name=Your%20Shortcuts%20Name&input=text&text=What%20You%20Want%20To%20Input
Run shortcut with input from clipboard
shortcuts://run-shortcut?name=Your%20Shortcuts%20Name&input=clipboard
SOSBuddy
Open satellite connection
x-apple-sosbuddy://
Start SOS call
telsos://
Stocks
Open
stocks://
StoreKitUIService
Open (see iTunes above)
itms-services://
itms-ui:// (see App Store above)
appstore-ui://
SubcredentialUIService
Open
subcredentialuiservice://
Support
Open
applesupport://
TestFlight
Open
itms-beta://
Tips
Open (unverified)
x-tips-widget://
TV
Open
videos://
com.apple.tv://
com.apple.WatchList://
Open specific TV series
com.apple.tv://us/show/TheContentID
Open specific TV season
com.apple.tv://us/season/TheContentID
Open specific TV episode
com.apple.tv://us/episode/TheContentID
Open specific film
com.apple.tv://us/movie/TheContentID
Open specific sporting event
com.apple.tv://us/sporting-event/TheContentID
Open specific person
com.apple.tv://us/person/ThePersonID
View content by genre or collection
com.apple.tv://us/room/TheContentID
TV Remote
Open (iOS 16.0 and later)
tvremote://
Voice Memos
Open (could work in the Notification Center)
voicememos://
Wallet
Open
shoebox://
wallet://
passuiservice://
Watch
Open
itms-watch:// (opens App Store's "Cannot Connect" screen by itself)
itms-watchs://
com.apple.Bridge://
Face Gallery
open | facegallery://
My Watch
open | bridge://
↳ All Watches
open | bridge:root=ActiveWatch
↳ App View
open | bridge:root=APP_VIEW_ID
↳ Complications
open | bridge:root=COMPLICATIONS_ID
↳ Display & Brightness
open | bridge:root=DISPLAY_AND_BRIGHTNESS
↳ Always On
open | bridge:root=DISPLAY_AND_BRIGHTNESS&path=TRITIUM_ID
↳ Bold Text
toggle | bridge:root=DISPLAY_AND_BRIGHTNESS#BOLD_TEXT
↳ Brightness
section | bridge:root=DISPLAY_AND_BRIGHTNESS#TRITIUM_GROUP_ID
↳ Text Size
section | bridge:root=DISPLAY_AND_BRIGHTNESS#TEXT_SIZE_SLIDER_ID
↳ Dock
open | bridge:root=DOCK
↳ Emergency SOS
bridge:root=SOS_MODE_ID
↳ Animation
section | bridge:root=SOS_MODE_ID#SOS_TRIGGER_ANIMATION_GROUP
section | bridge:root=SOS_MODE_ID#SOS_TRIGGER_ANIMATION
↳ Emergency Contacts
section | bridge:root=SOS_MODE_ID&path=SOS_CONTACTS_GROUP_ID
↳ Hold Side Button to Dial
section | bridge:root=SOS_MODE_ID#LONG_PRESS_TRIGGERS_SOS_GROUP_ID
toggle | bridge:root=SOS_MODE_ID#LONG_PRESS_TRIGGERS_SOS_ID
↳ General
open | bridge:root=GENERAL_LINK
↳ About
open | bridge:tab=SETTINGS&root=GENERAL_LINK&path=ABOUT
↳ Applications
highlight | bridge:tab=SETTINGS&root=GENERAL_LINK&path=ABOUT#APPLICATIONS_CELL_ID
↳ Available
highlight | bridge:tab=SETTINGS&root=GENERAL_LINK&path=ABOUT#STORAGE_AVAILABLE_CELL_ID
↳ Bluetooth Address
highlight | bridge:tab=SETTINGS&root=GENERAL_LINK&path=ABOUT#DEVICE_BLUETOOTH_ADDRESS_CELL_ID
↳ Capacity
highlight | bridge:tab=SETTINGS&root=GENERAL_LINK&path=ABOUT#STORAGE_CAPACITY_CELL_ID
↳ Legal Group
highlight | bridge:tab=SETTINGS&root=GENERAL_LINK&path=ABOUT#LEGAL_GROUP_CELL_ID
↳ Model Number
highlight | bridge:tab=SETTINGS&root=GENERAL_LINK&path=ABOUT#DEVICE_MODEL_CELL_ID
↳ Name
highlight | bridge:tab=SETTINGS&root=GENERAL_LINK&path=ABOUT#NAME_CELL_ID
↳ Photos
highlight | bridge:tab=SETTINGS&root=GENERAL_LINK&path=ABOUT#PHOTOS_CELL_ID
↳ SEID
highlight | bridge:tab=SETTINGS&root=GENERAL_LINK&path=ABOUT#DEVICE_SEID_CELL_ID
↳ Serial Number
highlight | bridge:tab=SETTINGS&root=GENERAL_LINK&path=ABOUT#DEVICE_SERIAL_NUMBER_CELL_ID
↳ Songs
highlight | bridge:tab=SETTINGS&root=GENERAL_LINK&path=ABOUT#SONGS_CELL_ID
↳ Version
highlight | bridge:tab=SETTINGS&root=GENERAL_LINK&path=ABOUT#OS_VERSION_CELL_ID
↳ Wi-Fi Address
highlight | bridge:tab=SETTINGS&root=GENERAL_LINK&path=ABOUT#DEVICE_WIFI_ADDRESS_CELL_ID
↳ Airplane Mode
open | bridge:root=GENERAL_LINK&path=AIRPLANE_MODE_ID
↳ Apple ID
open | bridge:root=GENERAL_LINK&path=LINK_WITH_ICLOUD_LINK
open | bridge:tab=SETTINGS&root=GENERAL_LINK&path=LINK_WITH_ICLOUD_LINK
↳ Automatic App Install
toggle | bridge:root=GENERAL_LINK#AUTO_APP_INSTALL_SWITCH_ID
↳ Background App Refresh
open | bridge:root=GENERAL_LINK&path=BAR_ROW_ID
↳ Diagnostic Logs
open | bridge:root=GENERAL_LINK&path=DIAGNOSTIC_LOG_BROWSER
↳ Do Not Disturb (iOS 14.8/watchOS 7.6.2 and earlier)
open | bridge:root=GENERAL_LINK&path=DO_NOT_DISTURB_ID
↳ Emergency SOS (iOS 14.8/watchOS 7.6.2 and earlier)
open | bridge:root=GENERAL_LINK&path=EMERGENCY_SOS_ID
↳ Enable Dictation
toggle | bridge:root=GENERAL_LINK#DICTATION_CELL_ID
↳ Enable Screenshots
toggle | bridge:root=GENERAL_LINK#ENABLE_SCREENSHOTS
↳ Language & Region
open | bridge:root=GENERAL_LINK&path=LANGUAGE_AND_REGION
↳ Profiles
open | bridge:tab=SETTINGS&root=GENERAL_LINK&path=ManagedConfigurationList/InstallRequested
↳ Reset
open | bridge:root=GENERAL_LINK&path=RESET_ID
↳ Erase Apple Watch Content and Settings
highlight | bridge:root=GENERAL_LINK&path=RESET_ID#FULL_ERASE_CELL_ID
↳ Remove All Cellular Plans
highlight | bridge:root=GENERAL_LINK&path=RESET_ID#RESET_CELLULAR_PLANS_ID
highlight | bridge:root=GENERAL_LINK&path=RESET_ID#RESET_CELLULAR_GROUP_ID
↳ Reset Home Screen Layout
highlight | bridge:root=GENERAL_LINK&path=RESET_ID#RESET_APP_LAYOUT_ID
highlight | bridge:root=GENERAL_LINK&path=RESET_ID#RESET_APP_LAYOUT_GROUP_ID
↳ Reset Sync Data
highlight | bridge:root=GENERAL_LINK&path=RESET_ID#RESET_ALL_SYNC_STATE_ID
highlight | bridge:root=GENERAL_LINK&path=RESET_ID#RESET_ALL_SYNC_STATE_GROUP_ID
↳ Software Update
open | bridge:root=GENERAL_LINK&path=SOFTWARE_UPDATE_LINK
↳ Storage
open | bridge:root=GENERAL_LINK&path=USAGE_LINK
↳ Watch Orientation
open | bridge:root=GENERAL_LINK&path=WATCH_ORIENTATION
↳ Workout Power Saving Mode
open | bridge:root=GENERAL_LINK#WORKOUT_POWER_SAVING_MODE
↳ Accessibility
open | bridge:root=ACCESSIBILITY
↳ Heart
open | bridge:root=com.apple.HeartRateSettings
↳ Noise
open | bridge:root=com.apple.Noise.settings
↳ Notifications
open | bridge:root=NOTIFICATIONS_ID
↳ Always Show Short Looks
section | bridge:root=NOTIFICATIONS_ID#NOTIFICATION_SHOW_SHORTLOOK_GROUP_ID
highlight | bridge:root=NOTIFICATIONS_ID#NOTIFICATION_SHOW_SHORTLOOK_ID
↳ Heart
open | bridge:root=NOTIFICATIONS_ID&path=com.apple.HeartRateSettings
↳ Noise
open | bridge:root=NOTIFICATIONS_ID&path=com.apple.Noise.settings
↳ Notifications Indicator
toggle | bridge:root=NOTIFICATIONS_ID#NOTIFICATIONS_INDICATOR_ID
↳ Notification Privacy
section | bridge:root=NOTIFICATIONS_ID#NOTIFICATION_PRIVACY_ID
↳ Passcode
open | bridge:root=PASSCODE_ID
↳ Wrist Detection
toggle | bridge:root=PASSCODE_ID#WRIST_DETECTION_CELL_ID
↳ Privacy
open | bridge:root=PRIVACY_ID
↳ Blood Oxygen Measurements
section | bridge:root=PRIVACY_ID&path=OXYGEN_SATURATION_ENABLED_GROUP_ID
toggle | bridge:root=PRIVACY_ID&path=OXYGEN_SATURATION_ENABLED_SWITCH_ID
↳ Environmental Audio
section | bridge:root=PRIVACY_ID&path=ENVIRONMENTAL_AUDIO_ENABLED_GROUP_ID
toggle | bridge:root=PRIVACY_ID&path=ENVIRONMENTAL_AUDIO_ENABLED_SWITCH_ID
↳ Fitness Tracking
toggle | bridge:root=PRIVACY_ID#FITNESS_TRACKING_ENABLED_GROUP_ID
↳ Headphone Audio Measurements
section | bridge:root=PRIVACY_ID&path=HEADPHONE_AUDIO_MEASUREMENTS_GROUP_ID
open | bridge:root=PRIVACY_ID&path=HeadphoneAudio
↳ Heart Rate
toggle | bridge:root=PRIVACY_ID#HEART_RATE_ENABLED_GROUP_ID
↳ Oxygen Saturation
section | bridge:root=PRIVACY_ID&path=OXYGEN_SATURATION_ENABLED_GROUP_ID
toggle | bridge:root=PRIVACY_ID&path=OXYGEN_SATURATION_ENABLED_SWITCH_ID
↳ Schooltime
open | bridge:root=SCHOOLTIME
↳ Screen Time
open | bridge:root=SCREEN_TIME_ID
↳ Siri
open | bridge:root=SIRI_WATCH_SETTINGS_ID
↳ Sleep
open | bridge:root=com.apple.NanoBedtimeBridgeSettings
↳ Sounds & Haptics
open | bridge:root=SOUNDS_ID
↳ Alert Volume
section | bridge:root=SOUNDS_ID#audio_slider
↳ Silent Mode
toggle | bridge:root=SOUNDS_ID#audio_mute_switch
↳ Headphone Audio
section | bridge:root=SOUNDS_ID#HEADPHONE_AUDIO_GROUP
↳ Headphone Safety
open | bridge:root=SOUNDS_ID&path=HEADPHONE_LEVEL_LIMIT_SETTING
↳ Haptics
section | bridge:root=SOUNDS_ID#haptic_group_id
↳ Haptics Default
highlight | bridge:root=SOUNDS_ID#prominent_haptic_group_id
↳ Haptics Prominent
highlight | bridge:root=SOUNDS_ID#prominent_haptic_switch
↳ Haptic Strength
highlight | bridge:root=SOUNDS_ID#haptic_slider
↳ Tap to Speak
section | bridge:root=SOUNDS_ID#tap_to_speak_group
↳ Tap to Speak Time
toggle | bridge:root=SOUNDS_ID#tap_to_speak_switch
↳ Wallet & Apple Pay
open | bridge:root=com.apple.NanoPassbookBridgeSettings
↳ Add Card
open | bridge:root=com.apple.NanoPassbookBridgeSettings&path=ADD_CARD
↳ Card Settings
open | bridge:root=com.apple.NanoPassbookBridgeSettings&path=ADD_CARD&passTypeIdentifier=%@&passSerialNumber=%@
↳ Health
?
↳ Medical ID
open | bridge:root=SOS_MODE_ID&path=SOS_OPEN_HEALTH_ID
Open watch face
watchface://watchfaceID
Other
bridge:root=FollowUpList_
Web
Open
webapp://
Workflow
Open
workflow://
Create workflow
workflow://create-workflow
Open a workflow
workflow://open-workflow?name=TheNameOfWorkflow
Run a workflow
workflow://run-workflow?name=TheNameOfWorkflow&input=Input
Open the gallery
workflow://gallery
Search the gallery
workflow://gallery/search?query=YourQuery
Install workflow (unverified)
workflow://shortcuts/ShortcutID
workflow://workflows/WorkflowID
You Can Help Make This List Even Better!
Again, Apple may change the URL schemes and URLs for its apps at any time.
If you notice anything different now than before in any of the schemes above, let me know, and I’ll look into it. Even if you notice that one thing works in one version of iOS and not the other, that’s helpful information I could use.
