Do you want to save folders or individual files to your home screen or app dock on your iPad or iPhone? Apple’s Shortcuts app allows you to do just that, but the icon options from within the Shortcuts app leave something to be desired. That is what this repository is for. This repository includes icons for the Downloads folder, standard folders, image files, audio files, .html files, and .pdf files. And these icons perfectly match the icons that appear within the iOS/iPadOS Files app, so they look at home on your device. New icons labeled iPadOS 17 have been added to match the refreshed icons. And because the Shortcuts app saves your shortcuts within the Shortcuts app, it’s easy to use the shortcuts on all of your Apple Devices. For greatest convenience using these icons, save these icons in a folder on your iCloud Drive, that way you can easily use them cross-device as well.
Below are the links to the shortcuts used for these actions:
OPEN FILE SHORTCUT:
https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/1697f2a6608b4c31b6630f4332d6210b
To use this shortcut:
- Tap the 3 dot edit icon in the upper right corner of the Open File Shortcut inside the Shortcuts app.
- Tap the blue highlit "File" in the text of the shortcut, and select the file you want to be opened by the shortcut.
- Next tap the blue highlit "Default App" in the text of the shortcut, and select the default app you want the file to open within.
- Tap the title of the shortcut in the upper left corner, and replace it with the name of the file the shortcut is going to open. You can choose to include the file extension at the end in the new title: such as file.jpg.
- Now that you have setup your shortcut, tap the blue, circular hamburger icon at the top right. This will display a list of options, and you should select "Add to Home Screen" at the top of the list. This will bring up a Preview and a section titled "Home Screen Name And Icon".
- Tap on the icon to the left, and it will give you an options menu. Tap the "Choose File" option. (Important note: these icons should be stored in a folder within the Files app in order for this to work).
- Navigate to the folder you stored these icons in, and tap the one you want to use. The icon you selected will load into the shortcut icon, and will be previewed in the preview window.
- Select "Add" at the top right corner. The shortcut will be loaded to your home screen, and you can move it wherever you want within the app grid like any app icon. To move it to the app dock, just drag it over the app dock and drop it on.
DOWNLOADS FOLDER SHORTCUT:
https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/f7dd8e72dd5543658633714b082de37f
To use this shortcut:
- Tap the 3 dot edit icon in the upper right corner of the Downloads Shortcut inside the Shortcuts app.
- Tap the blue, circular hamburger icon at the top right. This will display a list of options, and you should select "Add to Home Screen" at the top of the list. This will bring up a Preview and a section titled "Home Screen Name And Icon".
- Tap on the icon to the left, and it will give you an options menu. Tap the "Choose File" option. (Important note: these icons should be stored in a folder within the Files app in order for this to work).
- Navigate to the folder you stored these icons in, and tap the one you want to use. The icon you selected will load into the shortcut icon, and will be previewed in the preview window.
- Select "Add" at the top right corner. The shortcut will be loaded to your home screen, and you can move it wherever you want within the app grid like any app icon. To move it to the app dock, just drag it over the app dock and drop it on.
OPEN FOLDER SHORTCUT:
https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/ab943d2cf2e745e8be299be4800ac6ec
To use this shortcut:
- Tap the 3 dot edit icon in the upper right corner of the Open File Shortcut inside the Shortcuts app.
- Tap the blue highlit "Folder" in the text of the shortcut, and select the file you want to be opened by the shortcut.
- Files should already be selected as the default app for the folder to open in. If not, under "Default App" select Files.
- Tap the title of the shortcut in the upper left corner, and replace it with the name of the folder the shortcut is going to open.
- Now that you have setup your shortcut, tap the blue, circular hamburger icon at the top right. This will display a list of options, and you should select "Add to Home Screen" at the top of the list. This will bring up a Preview and a section titled "Home Screen Name And Icon".
- Tap on the icon to the left, and it will give you an options menu. Tap the "Choose File" option. (Important note: these icons should be stored in a folder within the Files app in order for this to work).
- Navigate to the folder you stored these icons in, and tap the one you want to use. The icon you selected will load into the shortcut icon, and will be previewed in the preview window.
- Select "Add" at the top right corner. The shortcut will be loaded to your home screen, and you can move it wherever you want within the app grid like any app icon. To move it to the app dock, just drag it over the app dock and drop it on.
HELPFULL TIPS FOR USING THESE SHORTCUTS:
If you want to create more shortcuts to open another folder, or another file, hold press or right click the shortcut you want to duplicate within the Shortcuts app, and an option menu will appear. Tap the "Duplicate" option. Then modify the duplicate with the information for the new file or folder shortcut you want to create. This makes it easier to create shortcuts to many different folders and files.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you import these files from Apple’s Photos app, these icons will be stretched to fit the square shape of the icon. You should use the “Choose File” option. Full steps for the shortcuts and adding the icons to the shortcuts are detailed above.
Also note that the above directions are currently for iPadOS 15 and iOS 15 through iPadOS 17 and iOS 17.