axiom-app-shortcuts-ref

# App Shortcuts Reference

## Overview

Comprehensive guide to App Shortcuts framework for making your app's actions instantly available in Siri, Spotlight, Action Button, Control Center, and other system experiences. App Shortcuts are pre-configured App Intents that work immediately after app install—no user setup required.

**Key distinction** App Intents are the actions; App Shortcuts are the pre-configured "surface" that makes those actions instantly discoverable system-wide.

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## When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when:
- Implementing AppShortcutsProvider for your app
- Adding suggested phrases for Siri invocation
- Configuring instant Spotlight availability
- Creating parameterized shortcuts (skip Siri clarification)
- Using NegativeAppShortcutPhrase to prevent false positives (iOS 17+)
- Promoting shortcuts with SiriTipView
- Updating shortcuts dynamically with updateAppShortcutParameters()
- Debugging shortcuts not appearing in Shortcuts app or Spotlight
- Choosing between App Intents and App Shortcuts

Do NOT use this skill for:
- General App Intents implementation (use app-intents-ref)
- Core Spotlight indexing (use core-spotlight-ref)
- Overall discoverability strategy (use app-discoverability)

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## Related Skills

- **app-intents-ref** — Complete App Intents implementation reference
- **app-discoverability** — Strategic guide for making apps discoverable
- **core-spotlight-ref** — Core Spotlight and NSUserActivity integration

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## App Shortcuts vs App Intents

| Aspect | App Intent | App Shortcut |
|--------|-----------|--------------|
| **Discovery** | Must be found in Shortcuts app | Instantly available after install |
| **Configuration** | User configures in Shortcuts | Pre-configured by developer |
| **Siri activation** | Requires custom phrase setup | Works immediately with provided phrases |
| **Spotlight** | Requires donation or IndexedEntity | Appears automatically |
| **Action button** | Not directly accessible | Can be assigned