Apple's Shortcuts app offers powerful automation, but sometimes the simplest shortcuts are the most useful. Two single-step shortcuts have become daily essentials for me: one for AirPods Pro noise cancellation and another for quick app settings access.

The noise cancellation shortcut eliminates the hassle of cycling through AirPods modes. Instead of squeezing the stem or navigating through Control Center's volume slider, a single tap toggles ANC on or off. This shortcut works with any AirPods model supporting Active Noise Cancellation, including AirPods Pro 3, and prevents accidentally switching to Transparency mode when you want noise cancellation.

The second shortcut addresses a common frustration introduced in iOS 18 when Apple redesigned the Settings app. App settings now require multiple taps and scrolling to access. Quinn Nelson's single-step shortcut lets you jump directly to any app's settings from Control Center while you're using that app. After setup, you simply swipe to Control Center and tap the shortcut—no more navigating through Settings > Apps > [Your App].