Tools and device actions
Understand the tools you can control and choose which actions are available.
Tools are the hands of Agent. They let it look up information, ask you for input, or perform supported actions through Apple Shortcuts and your apps.
Open Settings and scroll to Tools to enable or disable each capability. Changes save automatically.
Where tools run
- Runs online: the tool completes its work as part of the Shortcuts AI service. Web search is the current example.
- Runs on your device: Agent creates an action for the Shortcut, and Apple Shortcuts performs it locally using an app or system feature.
A device action may cause Apple to request permission the first time it runs. Availability also depends on the device and operating system shown beside each tool.
Compose in Gmail or Outlook
Enable Gmail or Outlook when you want Agent to prepare an email in that app on iPhone or iPad. Agent passes the To, CC, BCC, subject, and body values to the installed app's compose screen through an Open URL action.
The server does not send the email. Review and send it in Gmail or Outlook. These compose tools do not add attachments, and the selected mail app must be installed on the device.
Available tools
The catalog below uses the same native-first groups and ordering as Settings. Apple apps and device features appear first, followed by online tools, common services, and specialized controls.
Apple communication
Use Messages, Mail, Phone, and FaceTime through the Apple apps on your device.
Messages
Draft or send an iMessage or SMS.
Find Messages
Find messages on your device.
Draft or send email from your device.
Find Mail
Find email in Apple Mail.
Phone
Place a call from your device.
FaceTime
Start a FaceTime video or audio call.
Plan and organize
Keep Calendar, Reminders, Notes, and Contacts actions together.
Calendar
Add events to Apple Calendar.
Find Events
Find events in Apple Calendar.
Remove Events
Remove matching Apple Calendar events.
Reminders
Create reminders and due dates.
Upcoming Reminders
Get upcoming reminders.
Find Reminders
Find reminders by date or title.
Open Reminders List
Open a specific reminders list.
Create Note
Create a new note in Apple Notes.
Append to Note
Add text to your most recent note.
Find Notes
Find notes in Apple Notes.
Add Contact
Save people to Apple Contacts.
Capture and content
Collect photos, videos, documents, files, screen captures, and dictation from your device.
Camera
Take one or more photos with the camera.
Video
Record video with the camera.
Open Camera
Open the camera in a capture mode.
Scan Document
Scan paper documents with the camera.
Select Photos
Let you pick images from Photos.
Select Files
Let you choose one or more files.
Save File
Save text content as a file.
Screenshot
Capture everything visible on screen.
Screen Selection
Capture a window or custom screen area.
Dictation
Capture speech as text.
Apps and navigation
Open apps and settings, or work with Maps and saved parking locations.
Open App
Open an installed app by name.
App Settings
Open Settings for an app or your current app.
Maps
Open an address or place in Maps.
Open Location
Open a place in Apple Maps or Google Maps.
Mark Parked Car
Mark your current location as your parked car.
Find Parked Car
Navigate to your marked parked car.
Clock
Manage timers, alarms, the stopwatch, and World Clock.
Start Timer
Start a timer for a duration.
Remaining Timer Time
Check the remaining time on the current timer.
Control Timer
Pause, resume, or cancel the current timer.
Create Alarm
Create an alarm in Clock.
Find Alarms
Find alarms by label.
Toggle Alarms
Turn matching alarms on or off.
Remove Alarms
Remove alarms that match a label.
Start Stopwatch
Start the stopwatch in Clock.
World Clock
Add or remove a city in World Clock.
Open Clock
Open a section of the Clock app.
Online tools
Look up current information without asking your device to perform a local app action.
Search Web
Look up current information online.
Apps and services
Use Gmail, Outlook, and supported shopping, travel, productivity, and social apps.
Gmail
Compose an email in the Gmail app.
Outlook
Compose an email in the Microsoft Outlook app.
Search Amazon
Search Amazon for products.
Open Amazon
Open a section of Amazon.
Request Ride
Request a ride with Uber or Lyft.
TickTick
Create tasks in TickTick.
Vehicle controls
Control supported Tesla features from the device running Agent.
Tesla Lock
Lock or unlock a Tesla.
Tesla Climate
Start or stop Tesla preconditioning.
Tesla Defrost
Enable or disable Tesla defrost.
Tesla Trunk
Open or close a Tesla trunk.
Tesla Sentry
Enable or disable Tesla Sentry Mode.
Tesla Pet Mode
Enable or disable Tesla Pet Mode.
If an enabled tool is unavailable or a device action fails, see Troubleshooting.