How to setup Apple Shortcuts for SMS Forwarding?
The mandatory first step to enable SMS access on iOS.
Due to Apple's strict privacy rules, apps cannot read your SMS inbox directly. The workaround is Apple's own **Shortcuts** app. This guide shows you how to create a simple automation that passes incoming SMS data to our app.
Open Shortcuts
Open Shortcuts
Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone and tap Automation at the bottom.
Create Automation
Create Automation
Tap New Automation (or +), scroll down, and select Message.
Configure Trigger
Configure Trigger
Set 'Message Contains' to empty (to catch all) or specific keywords. Very Important: Select Run Immediately.
Add Action
Add Action
Search for SMS Forwarder and select the Forward Text Message action.
Configure Message Input
Configure Message Input
Tap on the Message parameter. Scroll right on the toolbar and set it to Shortcut Input. This captures the SMS content.
Configure Sender Input
Configure Sender Input
Tap on the Sender parameter. Select Shortcut Input from variables, then tap it again and change it to Sender.
Configure Contact Input
Configure Contact Input
Tap on the Contact parameter. Select Shortcut Input from variables, then set the Type to Contact.
Save and Done
Save and Done
Tap Done to save your automation. You're all set! SMS Forwarder will now automatically forward messages based on your configured destinations.
Filtering Options
You can customize which messages trigger the automation:
- Forward all messages: Leave 'Message Contains' empty (tap space bar)
- Forward from specific contacts: Select contacts in the 'Sender is' field
- Forward by keyword: Enter words like 'code', 'OTP', or 'verification' in 'Message Contains'
- Multiple automations: Create different automations for different filtering rules
Troubleshooting
App not in list
Open the SMS Forwarder app at least once to register it with the system.
Asked to run
Ensure you selected Run Immediately in the automation settings.
Messages not being captured
Make sure you've configured all three inputs (Message, Sender, Contact) correctly. Re-check each parameter is set to Shortcut Input with the correct type.
iMessage not forwarding
Good news - the Message trigger works for both SMS and iMessage! Make sure your filter conditions don't exclude iMessage senders.
Notifications not showing
For silent forwarding, enable notifications in iOS Settings → SMS Forwarder. You can see forwarding status in the app.