Unable to open a third-party shortcut on your iPhone or iPad? Are you seeing the following message on your phone’s screen?
This shortcut cannot be opened because your Shortcuts security settings don’t allow untrusted shortcuts.
Well, don’t worry! You can easily get past this alert by making a few quick changes in your iPhone’s/iPad’s settings. The Shortcuts app on iOS allows you to download various shortcuts from different sources online. So, when the Shortcuts app flags any specific shortcut due to security reasons, you may see this notification on your iPhone or iPad.
If you’re not allowed to download a certain shortcut on your iPhone due to seeing the “Untrusted Shortcut” message on the screen, you can make a quick tweak on your device’s settings to resolve this issue.
Let’s learn all about how to allow untrusted shortcuts in iOS.
What are Untrusted Shortcuts?
Apple initially launched the Shortcuts app along with iOS 12. The Shortcuts app offers users the ability to run complex tasks on their iPhone or iPad without breaking a sweat. With the help of the Shortcuts app, you can make your workflow more creative and entertaining. The Shortcuts app on iOS is also integrated with Siri offering more accessibility and ease of use.
Image source: iMore
The Shortcuts app allows you to download shortcuts from third-party sources and hence Apple makes sure that your security isn’t compromised. So, when you try to download a flagged shortcut via the Shortcuts app, Apple may warn you before you add that shortcut to your library. If a certain shortcut is capable of sabotaging your privacy, Apple may prevent you from downloading the shortcut beforehand. But if you still want to download it anyway then there’s a workaround to achieve that.
By enabling the “Allow Untrusted Shortcuts” option on your iPhone or iPad, you can easily bypass the alert and download the shortcut on your device. Here’s what you need to do.
Also read: Apple Has A New Take On Siri Shortcuts In iOS 13 Update
How to Allow Untrusted Shortcuts in iOS
To allow untrusted shortcuts on iOS, follow these quick steps:
Launch the Settings app and then scroll down and select “Shortcuts”.
Enable the “Allow untrusted shortcuts” option if you wish to download untrusted shortcuts from third-party sources.
As an authentication procedure, Apple will prompt you to enter your device passcode.
Enter the passcode and proceed ahead to enable the allow untrusted shortcuts in iOS option.
Also read: iPhone Other storage: What is it and how do you get rid of it?
Cannot Find the “Allow Untrusted Shortcuts” Option?
Unable to find the “Allow untrusted shortcuts” options in Settings? Here’s what you need to do.
If you haven’t used the Shortcuts app on your iPhone or iPad, then you may not be able to find this option in Settings. So, to get the “Allow untrusted shortcuts” option visible on your device, launch the Shortcuts app.
Now, run any of the default shortcuts that are listed on the Shortcuts app. If you don’t find anything on the main screen, then tap on the “Gallery” option to browse for shortcuts. Add any one shortcut and then run it on your device by following the on-screen instructions.
After you’re done running a shortcut on your iPhone or iPad, the “Allow untrusted shortcuts” option will be enabled on your device. You can find this option by navigating to Settings> Shortcuts. So, if this option was previously missing or greyed out, you can follow the above-listed steps to make it visible.
Also read: How To Recover Deleted Text Messages On iPhone
Is it Safe to Download Untrusted Shortcuts?
So, is it safe to download untrusted shortcuts on your iPhone or iPad after enabling the “Allow untrusted shortcuts” option? Well, yes, most untrusted shortcuts are quite safe. Apple displays the alert before a majority of third-party shortcuts.
Although, if you’re getting suspicious about a specific shortcut and if you think it would compromise your device’s privacy and security then you should avoid adding it to your shortcuts library. It would be a wise call to avoid downloading the untrusted shortcut.
Also read: How to Transfer Files Between iPhone and Mac
Conclusion!
So, here’s how you can allow untrusted shortcuts in iOS. The Shortcuts app allows you to create custom shortcuts for accomplishing tasks to make things easier. It features a rich built-in gallery of shortcuts that you can immediately start using on your iPhone or iPad. So, before you download any shortcut make sure that you review the privacy policy quite closely. Avoid adding sketchy or fishy shortcuts to your iOS device to ensure that your privacy is not sabotaged. If you find anything suspicious about a certain shortcut then it is better to skip it!
Which is your favorite iOS shortcut? Do you frequently use the Shortcuts app to accomplish everyday tasks on your iPhone? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section. Follow us on social media – Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.