iPhone users can establish a quick access shortcut to open their preferred iMessage conversation directly.
Technique to Swiftly Set Up iMessage Shortcuts on Your iPhone
Got an iPhone? Here's how to make life easier by setting up quick iMessage shortcuts on your device.
Why iMessage Shortcuts?

Picture this: instead of hunting for the iMessage app and scrolling through conversations, you can just tap a shortcut on your Home Screen or Lock Screen and open an iMessage thread right away.
But that feature was strangely missing in previous iOS versions… until now! With the latest iOS 18.4, you can finally create an iMessage shortcut using the Shortcuts app. Even better, you can add these shortcuts to multiple locations on your iPhone for ultimate convenience. Here's how it's done:

Step 1: Create the iMessage Shortcut
- Open the Shortcuts app: Find the Shortcuts app and tap it to launch it. If you don't have it installed, toss it on your phone by downloading from the App Store.
- Create a New Shortcut: Tap the Plus button ( (+) ) at the top-right corner to create a new shortcut.
- Search for an Action: Type "Open Conversation" in the search bar and select the action from the search results.
- Choose the Conversation: Tap the "Conversation" field and pick the Messages thread you want the shortcut to open.
- Save the Shortcut: Tap Done when you've made your selection. Feel free to give the shortcut a name.
Step 2: Add to Home Screen
- Open the Shortcut Edit View: Go back to the Shortcuts tab, then tap the name of the newly created shortcut to open its details.
- Add to Home Screen: Tap Add to Home Screen.
- Customize the Icon: Choose an image to use as the shortcut icon if you wish.
- Save: Confirm your selections, and your shortcut is added as a new icon on your Home Screen.
Step 3: Add to Lock Screen
- Long Press the Lock Screen: Long press on your Lock Screen until you see the customization options.
- Customize Lock Screen: Tap Customize, then Lock Screen again.
- Replace Existing Control: Tap the minus symbol (-) next to a default control (such as Camera or Flashlight).
- Add Shortcut: Tap the plus sign (+), then select Shortcut from the menu of available controls.
- Choose Your Shortcut: Tap Choose, then pick the "Open Conversation" shortcut you recently created.
- Save Changes: Tap Done to save your Lock Screen changes.
Step 4: Add to Control Center
- Go to Settings: Open Settings on your iPhone.
- Control Center: Navigate to Control Center.
- Customize Controls: Under Included Controls, tap the plus sign if Shortcuts is available. If you can't find it, add it from the More Controls section.
- Select Your Shortcut: If you've already added your shortcut to the Home Screen or Lock Screen, it might already be part of the Control Center. Otherwise, make sure it's accessible via another method, like the Home Screen.
Step 5: Add to Action Button
- Settings App: Open Settings.
- Accessibility: Navigate to Accessibility.
- Action Button: Select Action Button if available. This feature is particular to iPhone X and newer models, but steps may vary depending on your device model and settings.
- Customize Top Actions: Tap Customize Top Actions.
- Add Shortcut: Pick your shortcut from the list of available options.
And that's it! Once you've followed these steps, you can quickly open your favorite iMessage conversations using shortcuts on your Home Screen, Lock Screen, Control Center, or Action button, making communication a breeze.
- Experience the convenience of swift iMessage access on your smartphone with the latest technology, iOS 18.4, allowing you to create custom shortcuts for messages.
- To create an iMessage shortcut, initiate the Shortcuts app, create a new shortcut, search for 'Open Conversation' action, choose a conversation, and save the shortcut.
- For ultimate convenience, add the iMessage shortcut to various locations, such as your Home Screen, Lock Screen, and Control Center.
- Customize the look of your shortcut icon, save it to your Home Screen, and replace existing controls on your Lock Screen to incorporate the shortcut.
- By using gadgets like the HomePod or smartphones, tap your shortcut icons on the Home Screen or Lock Screen and open conversation threads with greater efficiency, revolutionizing the way you communicate using modern technology.