How to Automate Safari Workspaces and URLs with Shortcuts

This article provides a step-by-step guide on how to use the Apple Shortcuts app to automatically launch specific Safari Tab Groups, Profiles, and predefined sets of URLs. You will learn how to organize your Safari workspaces, build the necessary shortcuts to open these links, and configure automatic triggers based on either the time of day or active Focus modes across your Apple devices.

Step 1: Set Up Your Safari Workspaces

Before building the automation, you can group your URLs natively in Safari using Tab Groups or Profiles, though you can also list URLs directly inside the Shortcuts app.

  1. Open Safari.
  2. Open all the websites you want in your workspace.
  3. Click or tap the Sidebar icon, then select the New Tab Group button.
  4. Name your Tab Group (e.g., "Morning Work" or "Evening Reading").

Step 2: Create the Safari Shortcut

Next, you need to build the shortcut that will execute the action of opening your workspace or URLs.

To open a predefined Safari Tab Group:

  1. Open the Shortcuts app and create a new shortcut.
  2. Search for the Open Tab Group action in the search bar and add it to your workflow.
  3. Tap the blue Tab Group placeholder text and select the specific Safari Tab Group you created in Step 1.
  4. Name your shortcut and close the editor.

To open a specific list of URLs without a Tab Group:

  1. Open the Shortcuts app and create a new shortcut.
  2. Search for and add the URL action.
  3. Enter the web address. You can add multiple URLs in this single box by pressing the Return key after each link.
  4. Search for and add the Open URLs action right below the URL action.
  5. (Optional) If you use Safari Profiles, click the arrow on the Open URLs action (on macOS) or configure Focus Filters to ensure they open in the correct profile.
  6. Name your shortcut and save it.

Step 3: Trigger via Focus Mode

You can link your new shortcut to a Focus mode (such as Work, Personal, or Sleep) so your browser workspace opens the moment the Focus is activated.

On iOS and iPadOS:

  1. Open the Shortcuts app and go to the Automation tab at the bottom.
  2. Tap the + icon to create a new Personal Automation.
  3. Scroll down and select your desired Focus mode (e.g., "Work").
  4. Select When Turning On and check Run Immediately, then tap Next.
  5. Select the Safari shortcut you created in Step 2.

Using Focus Filters (iOS, iPadOS, and macOS): If you only want to switch Safari Profiles or Tab Groups without opening new URL lists:

  1. Open Settings (or System Settings on Mac) and select Focus.
  2. Choose your desired Focus mode.
  3. Scroll to the bottom and click Add Filter under the Focus Filters section.
  4. Select Safari.
  5. Choose the Profile and/or Tab Group you want Safari to automatically switch to when this Focus is active, then click Add.

Step 4: Trigger via Time of Day

If you prefer your URLs to open on a strict schedule rather than tying them to a Focus mode, use a time-based trigger.

On iOS and iPadOS:

  1. Open the Shortcuts app and tap the Automation tab.
  2. Tap the + icon and select Time of Day.
  3. Set the specific time you want the workspace to open.
  4. Choose how often to repeat the automation (Daily, Weekly, or Monthly).
  5. Select Run Immediately so it does not require your confirmation, then tap Next.
  6. Select the Safari shortcut you built in Step 2.

On macOS: Because the Mac version of the Shortcuts app does not have a built-in Automation tab, you must use the Calendar app or convert your Focus schedule into a time trigger.

The Focus Schedule Method (Recommended):

  1. Set up the Focus Filter or Shortcut trigger as outlined in Step 3.
  2. Go to System Settings > Focus and select your Focus mode.
  3. Under Set a Schedule, click Add Schedule, select Time, and set the exact hours you want the Focus (and thus your Safari workspace) to activate.

The Calendar App Method:

  1. Open the Shortcuts app on your Mac, right-click your Safari shortcut, and select Add to Dock. (This saves the shortcut as an application file in Users/[YourUsername]/Applications).
  2. Open the Calendar app and create a new event at the time you want the URLs to open.
  3. Set the event to Repeat (e.g., Every Day or Every Weekday).
  4. Click on Alert, select Custom, and change "Message with sound" to Open file.
  5. Change the file dropdown from "Calendar" to Other..., navigate to Users/[YourUsername]/Applications, and select your saved Shortcut application.
  6. Set the trigger to At time of event and click OK.