Skip to main content

Add tasks with Siri

With a shortcut on your iPhone, you can say “Hey Siri, add to Today”, then the task, like “call the plumber tomorrow at 9”. Siri adds it and reads back what was saved.

Set it up on your iPhone, in the Today app. The shortcut uses a key: a long code that lets it add tasks for you.

Make a key​

  1. In Today on your iPhone, go to Settings.
  2. Under Siri: “Add to Today”, tap Make a key for the shortcut.

A window opens with your key, which starts with “Bearer”, and the steps for the shortcut.

warning

The key is shown only once, so keep this window open until you've finished. Don't share the key: anyone who has it can add tasks to your Today.

Build the shortcut​

You'll switch between Shortcuts and Today a few times.

  1. Open the Shortcuts app.
  2. Tap + to make a new shortcut.
  3. Add the action Dictate Text.
  4. Add the action Get Contents of URL.
  5. In Today, tap the web address in step 3 of its steps. This copies it.
  6. In Shortcuts, paste the address as the URL.
  7. Tap the arrow on that action to see more options.
  8. Set Method to POST.
  9. Under Headers, add a header called Authorization.
  10. In Today, tap Copy next to your key.
  11. In Shortcuts, paste the key as the header's value. Paste all of it, including “Bearer” at the start.
  12. Under Request Body, choose JSON.
  13. Add a Text field called text.
  14. Set its value to the Dictated Text variable.
  15. Add the action Show Result.
  16. Name the shortcut Add to Today.

If Today closed the key window before you copied the key, revoke that key and make a new one.

Use it​

Say “Hey Siri, add to Today”. When Siri is listening, say your task. Siri reads back what it saved, for example: Added “Call the plumber” to your Inbox, due tomorrow at 9:00 AM.

Siri understands the same words as quick add. See What quick add understands. There are two differences:

  • When Today would only be guessing the project, the task goes to your Inbox instead.
  • If you say “remind me” without a date, Siri asks you to open the task in Today to choose when to be reminded.

If Siri says “This shortcut's key doesn't work any more”, the key was revoked or wasn't pasted correctly. Make a new key and paste it into the shortcut's Authorization header.

Revoke a key​

Your keys are listed under Siri: “Add to Today”. Each shows the last four characters of the key, and when it was made or last used.

  1. Tap the trash icon next to the key.
  2. Confirm.

Shortcuts that use that key stop working right away. You can have up to 10 keys at a time.