How To Share Apps On Iphone

The iOS Share sheet pops up anytime you tap the share button on your iPhone. It automatically updates based on your actions using machine learning. However, you can also customize what you see when you tap the iPhone share button. This is possible by selecting your favorite apps, sorting the actions list, and utilizing the Shortcuts app.

Related: Shortcuts App Intro: Selecting, Editing & Creating Basic Shortcuts on an iPhone

When we share a photo from the Photos app, for example, the share sheet will pop up. The apps listed are based on your use patterns or your chosen favorites. However, it is possible to manually select which apps you will see and the order you see them in. To learn more about customization options on an iPhone, sign up for our free Tip of the Day newsletter.

To share a photo from the Photos app to an app that isn't listed, do the following:

Tap the share icon.
Swipe over the app icons to the left.
Tap the three dots above the word More.
Select the app of your choice. Depending on the app, you may need to add contacts or other choices before you send, post, or publish.

Depending on the machine learning algorithm, the app may appear in the list right away or it may take several shares for it to register as a favorite. You can also manually set it as your favorite.

How to Edit Favorites on Your iPhone

To edit the favorites in your share sheet, you need to enter the sharing settings. To do this, simply find a photo from the Photos app and follow these steps:

Tap the share icon.
Swipe over the app icons to the left.
Tap the three dots above the word More.
Tap the Edit icon in the top right corner.
Select the apps you wish to add to your favorites by tapping on the green plus icon.
Tap Done to save your changes.
These apps can then be reordered. Simply drag the app by three horizontal lines on the right when you are in step 4.
To remove an app from your favorites list, simply tap the red minus icon and confirm to remove it. This will put it back on the list of suggested apps.

Drag to reorder apps in the share sheet settings

Although the machine learning algorithm is generally great at suggesting apps, you may find the need to remove an app from the share sheet. To enter the share settings, you can find a photo from the Photos app and follow these steps:

Tap the share icon.
Swipe over the app icons to the left.
Tap the three dots above the word More.
Tap the Edit icon in the top right corner.
Toggle the app to stop it from appearing in your share sheet. An app must be removed from the favorites before it can be toggled off.
Tap Done to save your changes.

Some apps such as Mail and Books cannot be stopped from appearing on the shared sheet. They may appear automatically or be hidden automatically based on your use. Additionally, AirDrop cannot be removed from favorites or toggled off.

How Do I Customize the Actions List?

When the share sheet pops up, below the row of apps, there is a list of actions. These are also automatically generated based on your phone use. These can be reordered or marked as favorites, and new actions can be added via the Shortcuts app. Begin by finding a photo in the Photos app to share and do the following:

Tap the share icon.
Scroll to the bottom of the screen and tap Edit Actions.
Add Actions to your Favorites by tapping the green plus icon. You can remove them by tapping the red minus icon.
You can reorder the Actions in your Favorites by dragging the action by the three horizontal lines as needed.
Tap Done to save your changes.

Depending on what you want to share, different actions can apply. You can also create your own actions using the Shortcuts app.

How to Create Custom Shortcuts

The Shortcuts app is incredibly useful when it comes to customization. You can use it in various ways to personalize your iPhone. It can be great for the share sheet in case you tend to share photos with a specific friend or colleagues, for example. Learn more about the ins and outs of the Shortcuts app here.

Create a shortcut to text a specific friend by following these steps:

Open theShortcuts app.
Tap the plus icon in the top right corner.
Select Add Action.
Tap Sharing.
Select Send Message.
Tap "Recipients."
Type the name of your contact or browse your list by tapping the plus icon. You can add multiple recipients or just leave it at one.
Tap Done.
Tap the three dots in the top right corner.
Toggle to Show in Share Sheet.
Tap Done.
Tap Next to name the New Shortcut.
Tap Done to save your shortcut.

Now the shortcut will appear in your share sheet. You can edit your Actions to favorite the shortcut and organize the list as necessary.

Customizing your iOS share sheet can make sharing a breeze. It only takes a few steps to set up your favorite apps, sort the action list, and even create unique Shortcuts based on your personal needs. A personalized share menu can help you save time in the long run.

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