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iOS 27 brings a massive upgrade to the Shortcuts app with the introduction of native Storage actions. In the past, saving data between shortcut runs meant relying on third-party apps like Data Jar or hacking together Apple Notes and Reminders lists. Now, you can save, update, and retrieve data directly within Shortcuts. Let's look at how to use these new actions to build some incredibly useful tools, starting with a native clipboard manager and an inventory tracker.
Before we build anything, it helps to know how this new feature works under the hood. When you add a Storage action to your shortcut, it saves values locally on your device by default.
If you tap the i icon at the bottom of the shortcut editor, you can access the storage details. Here, you can choose to make your stored data global. This means your data syncs across all your Apple devices via iCloud.
This simple addition unlocks a whole new tier of automations. Let's put it to work.
A clipboard manager is one of the most requested features for iOS. With the new Storage actions, you can build your own. You can save multiple copied items and retrieve them whenever you need them.
You can assign this shortcut to the Action Button on your iPhone. Whenever you copy a link, text, or email, just press the button and select Save Clipboard. When you need to paste something you copied hours ago, run it again and grab it from your history.
This is a more advanced build, but it highlights exactly how powerful the new data handling is. You can build a shortcut to track office supplies, deep freezer contents, or anything else you keep in stock.
Pro tip: You can stick an NFC tag on your storage room door or freezer. Set up a personal automation to run this shortcut whenever you scan the tag. You will always know exactly what you have on hand.
Have you ever eaten somewhere great while traveling and completely forgotten the name of the restaurant six months later? The Storage actions can fix that.
Later, when you are back in town, you can run the shortcut to retrieve your saved spots. Select one from the list, and it will immediately open driving directions in Apple Maps.
This is a quick win that takes only minutes to build. When you check into a hotel, you often forget your room number the moment you walk away from the front desk.
Set up a shortcut that asks for a text input. Type in your room number and save it to the Storage action. Add a second option to the shortcut to retrieve and display the stored number. It is simple, fast, and saves you from wandering the halls.
The new Storage actions in iOS 27 completely change what is possible with Shortcuts. You no longer need workarounds to remember data between runs. Go explore the actions, start saving some data, and see what you can build.