How to Use Shortcuts with Sideloaded Apps

Apple Shortcuts is one of the most underrated features of iOS, and it works remarkably well with sideloaded apps installed through Scarlet iOS. Whether you want to create a custom icon for a sideloaded app, automate a multi-step workflow that includes third-party tools, or set up one-tap triggers for complex tasks, Shortcuts gives you the infrastructure to do it all without any coding knowledge.

This guide walks through everything from the basics of launching sideloaded apps via Shortcuts to building sophisticated automation sequences that integrate your sideloaded apps with iOS system features.

The Foundation: How Shortcuts Interacts with Apps

Shortcuts can interact with apps in two ways. The first is through URL schemes — deep links that open an app directly to a specific screen or function. The second is through Shortcuts actions — dedicated integration points that app developers build in. Most sideloaded apps support at least the first method, and many popular ones support the second as well.

Even apps with no explicit Shortcuts support can be launched from a Shortcut using the “Open App” action, which gives you the ability to chain app launches with other automations.

Creating a Custom Icon for Sideloaded Apps

One of the most popular uses of Shortcuts with sideloaded apps is creating a custom home screen icon. Sideloaded apps get their icons from the IPA bundle, but you can create a Shortcuts bookmark that displays any image you choose as its icon.

Step-by-Step: Custom Icon via Shortcuts

Open the Shortcuts app and tap the + button to create a new shortcut.
Tap “Add Action” and search for “Open App.” Select the sideloaded app you want to create an icon for.
Tap the three-dot menu at the top right, then tap “Add to Home Screen.”
Tap the default icon image next to the shortcut name. You can choose a photo from your library, take a new photo, or pick a file to use as the icon.
Enter a name for the shortcut (this becomes the label under the icon).
Tap “Add.” The custom icon appears on your home screen.

This is also the technique used to create themed home screen layouts — you can give your sideloaded apps icons that match your aesthetic rather than whatever icon was included in the original IPA bundle.

For more on customising app appearances, see our guide on custom app icons for sideloaded apps on iPhone.

Automating App Launches with Triggers

The real power of Shortcuts for sideloaded apps comes from automation — having apps launch or actions trigger automatically based on conditions you define. Here are some practical examples.

Open Your Emulator When AirPods Connect

If you play emulators with Bluetooth headphones, you can automate the launch so that connecting your audio device triggers the emulator to open.

In Shortcuts, go to the Automation tab and tap the + button.
Select “Bluetooth” as the trigger, then choose your headphones from the list.
Set the trigger to activate “When Connected.”
Add the “Open App” action and select your emulator.
Disable “Ask Before Running” for a fully automatic trigger.

Time-Based Launch for Daily Apps

If you have a sideloaded productivity tool or news aggregator you check every morning, create a time-based automation that opens it at your usual reading time. Automation > + > Time of Day > set your time > Open App.

Location-Based Triggers

Sideloaded apps that are useful in specific locations — a commuting tool you use at the train station, a workout timer you use at the gym — can be set to auto-launch when you arrive at those locations. Automation > + > Arrive > set the location > Open App.

Building Multi-Step Workflows with Sideloaded Apps

Shortcuts can chain multiple actions together, including mixing App Store apps, sideloaded apps, and native iOS features. Here are some multi-step workflows that showcase this capability.

Gaming Session Starter

This Shortcut puts your phone in Do Not Disturb, sets brightness to maximum, disables Auto-Lock, and opens your emulator — all in one tap.

New Shortcut > Add Action
Add “Set Focus” action, set to Do Not Disturb, set to On
Add “Set Brightness” action, slide to maximum
Add “Set Auto-Lock” action, set to Never (available in Shortcuts on iOS 16+)
Add “Open App” action, select your emulator
Name it “Gaming Mode” and add to home screen with a game controller icon

Gaming Session Ender

Create a companion Shortcut that reverses these settings when you are done.

Turn off Do Not Disturb Focus
Set brightness back to auto
Restore Auto-Lock to 2 minutes

URL Scheme Deep Links for Sideloaded Apps

Many apps register custom URL schemes that Shortcuts can invoke directly. A URL scheme looks like delta:// or ppsspp:// and can sometimes include parameters that navigate to specific screens within the app.

To use a URL scheme in a Shortcut: Add Action > search “Open URLs” > enter the URL scheme. If the scheme is valid and the app is installed, tapping the Shortcut will open the app directly to the specified location.

To find an app’s URL scheme, search for “[app name] URL scheme” online. Popular emulators and productivity apps document their schemes publicly.

Sharing Sideloaded App Data with Shortcuts

Some sideloaded apps support the iOS Share Sheet, which means Shortcuts can receive their output and pass it to other apps. For example, if a sideloaded file manager can share files via the Share Sheet, a Shortcut can receive those files, process them (rename, convert, compress), and send them to another app or save them to iCloud Drive.

To build a Share Sheet workflow: Create a new Shortcut > in the settings toggle on “Show in Share Sheet” > build your action chain starting with the received file or content.

Using Shortcuts to Reinstall Sideloaded Apps Quickly

One clever use of Shortcuts is creating a quick-access bookmark that opens Scarlet iOS for rapid reinstallation after a certificate revocation. Since Scarlet iOS is accessed through Safari, you can create a Shortcut that opens a specific URL in Safari — the Scarlet iOS installation page — saving you the steps of opening Safari and navigating manually.

Learn about maintaining your sideloaded app library in our guide on how to reinstall Scarlet iOS without losing data.

Siri Integration

Every Shortcut you create can be triggered with a Siri voice command. After creating a Shortcut, tap the three-dot menu and select “Add to Siri” to record a phrase. Saying “Hey Siri, gaming mode” to trigger your gaming session setup Shortcut is genuinely useful — especially when your hands are already occupied with a controller.

Unlock the Full Potential of Your Sideloaded Apps

Shortcuts transforms sideloaded apps from isolated tools into integrated parts of a cohesive, automated iOS experience. The combination of Scarlet iOS’s broad app library and Shortcuts’2automation power gives you a level of customisation that goes well beyond what the App Store alone can offer.

Start by installing your favourite apps through Scarlet iOS and then build the Shortcuts automations that make them seamlessly part of your daily routine.

How to Use Shortcuts with Sideloaded Apps