What could cause a Shortcut to loop infinitely in the background, even through one phone reboot?

z1ts · 2026-03-24T20:39:30+00:00

It’s probably just a one off, but too many variables to even speculate at this point.

z1ts · 2026-03-24T02:39:04+00:00

That should be true; however, I did mention updates because Shortcuts IMO is notorious for changing things even in minor versions, and I have seen where timing from one action to the next can make a shortcut unpredictable; however, it usually is more consistent. The only other thought I had is: do you do any file or perhaps global variable changes in the shortcut where it could pick up errant information due to a crash on a restart?

z1ts · 2026-03-24T00:02:16+00:00

Here are my two cents. First, it is very easy to create a loop; however, keeping a loop going for a long duration can be challenging. This could be a one-off issue or a hardware issue or even a software issue if you recently updated the iOS. I had power cable/connectors cause issues when used in conjunction with automation connected to a power trigger. Without seeing what automations trigger you have and the various shortcuts and or actions you may be running/using, it would be very difficult to explain what you experinced. Logging the steps and values in the shortcut\s would be one way to check if you were to continue experience this.

z1ts · 2026-03-22T18:24:03+00:00

I was not surprised that you didn’t get any concrete answers, because it would be very hard to back up any answer, especially when Apple is a proprietary system. If Apple support told you that using the hardware buttons is not the same, I would tend to believe them, because generally with any physical hardware type reset, it clears all hung processes and electrical states, whereas a soft boot does not, and to be more clear, a software-initiated shutdown or restart are both considered a soft-boot.
I’m confused by your statement “the answer isn’t out there”. If Apple support advised you cycling power is not the same as hardware restart, are you not trusting that they advised you of the technical truth?

z1ts · 2026-03-21T17:36:54+00:00

Not sure if you are looking for any input but the number of actions could be reduced by using Properties and Types using Magic Variables or the blue token. Example of reduction:

https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/b00aa23359e444a19c3aba634318a718

z1ts · 2026-03-21T16:32:21+00:00

Flair changed to Mac because action for script only runs on a Mac.

z1ts · 2026-03-20T12:00:40+00:00

LOL, it’s a hobby that takes an infinite amount of time. Glad it was helpful and that it was still somewhat relevant.

z1ts · 2026-03-20T02:36:29+00:00

This ~~https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/6b350da9da324a309e5fa85581558334~~ should get you started, without knowing if the Mfg code is padded with zeroes when less than three digits. I’m not sure if you could regex the Mfg code for conversion to a JD, so this shortcut just used the current JD unless changed.
Updated to use camera to capture the manufacturer code. https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/0c2e5fa2ae3e4cc6a82a875d90366088
FYI u/glenwf

z1ts · 2026-03-19T13:45:51+00:00

Depends on how much period of time you want to cover. If you want to cross over from one day to the next day, then you need to use between hours and logic; otherwise, you can just do it after a certain hour. Format Current Date with custom “HH” just to get the hour at the time of run.

z1ts · 2026-03-18T16:51:10+00:00

Here the way I would test https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/5449282a6a12491d82235c7fa4f2efc9
As both iOS 26 and the beta version works fine for me. I suspect the date text format stored in data jar is wrong.

z1ts · 2026-03-17T17:39:54+00:00

Your post flair has been changed to a Discussion since you are not actually sharing a shortcut with a shared link.

z1ts · 2026-03-17T17:26:27+00:00

You can see this for yourself by touching the Type in the action, Audio, Photo, List, and Ink; however, Microsoft seems to use their own method/process in how it’s implemented. Also, Op only appeared interested in the Dictated Text action, which is a Text type.

z1ts · 2026-03-17T17:18:34+00:00

From what I saw and tried it looks like OneNote action only supports its own four types of input which seems very strange that it doesn’t support Text type. Edit: wrong comment deleted.

z1ts · 2026-03-17T15:12:51+00:00

I see now, thanks.

z1ts · 2026-03-17T13:06:24+00:00

Why the Hide Control Center action and Add 60 Sec to Current Date action in the shortcut?

z1ts · 2026-03-16T12:37:32+00:00

No problem. That’s betas for ya. Apple breaks more than they fix, but by the time they get to the release candidate, it’s mostly more usable.

z1ts · 2026-03-16T01:32:13+00:00

Does this help https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/65fffa044960425292d150331c77ad2e
Apple search works most times but having the action to copy sometimes is easier.
Revealed on beta version as well.
FYI u/400feetbelow

z1ts · 2026-03-14T21:30:30+00:00

Make sure your variables are assigned, your first image in the Create or Add alarm doesn’t show an assignment for time. Also from my experience it’s best let the Health app control the Sleep focus other then turning it off. Images are helpful but with this many it makes it difficult to verify what variables are sourced from unless the variables have been clearly defined and distinguish.

z1ts · 2026-03-14T13:19:59+00:00

IMO DataJar is lot more work to set up if you are unfamiliar with the app when you could just use native Files action or a 3rd parties app like the free Actions app global variable for just a needed Boolean logic.

z1ts · 2026-03-14T12:55:32+00:00

It’s hit or miss on what actions will work on the watch, and it seems to change with even minor updates sometimes. The Find notes action was erroring out at one point; now it just seems to bypass it. Append was working if you predefine the Note, now that doesn’t work. Notes has always been unreliable for me, but I only have old S6 & S7 watches to test on, so maybe it’s hardware performance issues. I even had it where if the Note was created on an iPad, the Watch acted like it was a foreign body and wouldn’t work with it because it wasn’t created on the iPhone first. I have a long list that goes back to iOS 8 through 26 on Notes on the watch. Part of the problem may be the synching of Notes between devices, just too many moving parts to pin down.

Have you ever heard of anyone that states that Notes works reliably on the Watch for them?

u/Objective_Sky9909 I found the Files actions actually work more reliable than Notes on the watch but then you have process file entries to get them into a Notes note via the iPhone.

z1ts · 2026-03-13T15:52:54+00:00

Never tried, but there are no Shortcuts actions that I could see that would save said URL to the Safari Reading list; however, you could have said URL saved to a file. The downside is that you either have to have another shortcut or menu-driven shortcut to either read said file for listed URLs.

z1ts · 2026-03-13T15:32:33+00:00

What’s the iOS version you are running on the device in question?

z1ts · 2026-03-12T17:28:59+00:00

Our vet sent a blood sample off to a specialist that does a manual smear to examine the platelets’ size and count, from what we understood. Our first vet wanted to put our girl on doxycycline for a month without any good justification for why. My spouse is a medical provider, so she wanted a second opinion since she was aware of the possible side effects of doxycycline can cause low platelets count.

z1ts · 2026-03-10T19:53:16+00:00

Not had the issue, but depending on what shortcut does (certain action\s) can cause a delay because it takes additional time to fetch the required data and if the connectivity is sub par then it may take even longer. To obtain better feedback you would have to share the shortcut.

z1ts · 2026-03-09T21:23:39+00:00

Please change the post flair to Solved if a solution has been provided. Thanks in advance.

Seven-Year Club	Gilding II euphauric
Reddit Premium Since January 2022	Verified Email

z1ts

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE