Forget a friend or family member’s birthday? We all have busy lives and sometimes forget important dates. But, your iPhone can help you remember by sending birthday messages for you using the Shortcuts app’s automation feature.
Automating birthday messages on iPhone:
- Add birthdays to Contacts app
- Open Shortcuts, add “Birthday Today” shortcut.
- Run shortcut daily or manually.
- To customize message, edit “Send” block in shortcut’s thumbnail (access via top-right three-dots).
- Tap Done when finished.
To automate the process and avoid missing a daily run, use the Shortcuts app: go to Automation at the bottom, tap the + in the top-right corner, then select Create Personal Automation.
Select “Time of Day” and set desired text send time. Consider midnight for early texts, or mid-morning for a casual approach. Ensure “Daily” is selected under “Repeat” for daily automation. Tap “Next.”
Go to the Apps tab on the following page, search for Shortcuts, then tap Open. Tap the Open button and choose “Birthday Today” from the list of shortcuts. Tap Next again.
To complete the process, turn off “Ask Before Running” and tap “Done.” That’s all! Your iPhone will automatically send birthday greetings to contacts.
Review and manage your contacts regularly to avoid unwanted communication. Review and delete contacts that are no longer desired, or remove their birthday details.
Keep in mind that if a contact was shared, the birthday information may have been added by the other person, and avoid accidentally sending birthday wishes. Consider changing your birthday message periodically to avoid repetition.
