← Small projects

Productivity · Automation

Turn a spoken thought into a to-do list item

A task pops into your head. You reach for your phone to write it down—and get distracted before you’ve saved it.

Double-tap the back of your iPhone and say it out loud. This shortcut saves your words straight to your Reminders Inbox, so you can get back to what you were doing.

Illustration: spoken words “Buy tulips” become an unchecked item on a to-do list.

YOU’LL NEED

STEP BY STEP

THE WORKFLOW

4 STEPS
01

Create your To-Do Inbox

Open Reminders.

1.1Open Reminders

Tap Add List.

1.2Tap Add List

Create your Inbox list

1.3Create Inbox

  • Type Inbox as the list name
  • Keep List Type set to Standard
  • Tap the checkmark to save
02

Build the Shortcut

Create a new Shortcut

Open Shortcuts.

2.1Open Shortcuts

Tap + to create a shortcut.

2.2Tap +

Tap Edit.

2.3Tap Edit

Add voice input

Add Dictate Text

2.4Add Dictate Text

  • Search for Dictate
  • Tap Dictate Text
Dictation settings with the arrow and After Pause highlighted

2.5Set up dictation

  • Tap the arrow beside Dictate text
  • Set Stop Listening to After Pause

Set up the reminder

Reminder search results with the search field and New Reminder highlighted

2.6Add a reminder

  • Tap Search and search for Reminder
  • Tap New Reminder
Use your spoken words as the title

2.7Set the title

  • Tap the Reminder title field
  • Select Dictated Text above the keyboard; don’t type these words
Send your reminder to Inbox

2.8Send to Inbox

  • Tap the list name after “to”
  • Choose Inbox
  • Check the action reads “Add Dictated Text to Inbox with No Alert”
03

Test the Shortcut

Tap Play.

3.1Tap Play

The shortcut listening for dictated words

3.2Test speech-to-text

  • Say something to check that the shortcut captures your speech as text
Check your test and go back

3.3Verify

  • Confirm the test reminder shows
  • Tap the back arrow
04

Set the trigger

Turn on Double Tap

Open Settings.

4.1Open Settings

Select Accessibility.

4.2Select Accessibility

Select Touch.

4.3Select Touch

Scroll down and tap Back Tap.

4.4Find Back Tap

Select Double Tap.

4.5Select Double Tap

Assign your new shortcut

Tap into Shortcuts.

4.6Tap into Shortcuts

Select the shortcut you just created, then tap ✓

4.7Assign your shortcut

  • Select the shortcut you just created
  • Tap ✓ to confirm
Double-tap your iPhone’s back.

4.8Test Double Tap

  • Double-tap the back of your iPhone
  • Say something to test your setup end-to-end
Check your test reminder

4.9Check your reminder

  • Open your Reminders app
  • Open Inbox
  • Check that your test reminder shows