If you’re using an iPhone or iPad, you may have noticed that shortcuts to some of the most common tasks are grayed out. This is because the app is trying to use a short cut that is not trusted. There are a few ways to fix this:
- Open the app and sign in with your Apple ID and password. This will fix any issues with security that may have been caused by using untrusted shortcuts.
- Go to System Preferences and select Keyboard & Mouse in the left-hand pane. Under Shortcuts, select Trust Shortcuts from the list of options. This will add any untrusted shortcuts back into the shortcut list so they can be used again without being grayed out.
If you want to run a Shortcut created and shared by someone else on your iPhone or iPad, you first have to allow untrusted shortcuts to be saved to your device. If this option is grayed out in Settings, though, there’s a way to fix it.
The Problem
Normally, when you want to run an untrusted shortcut, you have to visit Settings > Shortcuts, and then toggle-On “Allow Untrusted Shortcuts.” But, if you’ve never run a Shortcut before, you’ll find that the “Allow Untrusted Shortcuts” option is grayed out and you can’t toggle the switch under “Sharing Security.”
How to Enable “Allow Untrusted Shortcuts” When It’s Grayed Out
To activate “Allow Untrusted Shortcuts” in Settings, you first have to run a shortcut—any shortcut at all—in the Shortcuts app. Sometimes, it’s easiest to just pick and run a shortcut from the Gallery.
First, open Shortcuts. If you can’t find it, swipe downward with one finger in the middle of the screen, and then type “shortcuts” in the Spotlight search bar. Tap “Shortcuts” when it appears.
When Shortcuts opens, tap the “Gallery” button at the bottom.
In the Gallery view, browse through and select any Shortcut. For our example, we’ll choose “Learn How to Wash Your Hands.” It doesn’t matter which one you choose.
Tap “Add Shortcut.”
Next, tap “My Shortcuts” at the bottom.
On the “All Shortcuts” page, tap the shortcut you just added, and it will run. Avoid tapping the ellipsis button (. . .), though, as that opens an edit menu.
Now, launch Settings and navigate to Shortcuts. The “Allow Untrusted Shortcuts” option will no longer be grayed out. Tap the switch to toggle-On this option and it will turn green.
RELATED: How to Allow “Untrusted Shortcuts” on iPhone and iPad
When this setting is enabled, you’ll be able to save Shortcuts created by others and shared through iCloud, like the one we created that mutes your iPhone when you tap the back of it. To do so, though, you’ll have to receive a link to the shortcut from someone else. Have fun!
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