Example Automations

Here are real shortcuts that show what you can build. Each one has a sample you can download to iCloud, open in the Shortcuts app, and customize. Build them on any device — shortcuts you make on Mac sync to your iPhone and iPad through iCloud.

After tapping a download link, the Shortcuts app opens a preview of the shortcut. Review what it does, then add it to your library. You can change the folder it uses, the wording of prompts, and more.

Generate Flashcards from an LLM

Most large language models (LLMs) can write question-and-answer pairs for you, and many — like ChatGPT — have their own shortcuts that pass text to other apps. Send that text to the Import Cards from Text action and the cards are added to a folder for you.

Importing flashcards generated by ChatGPT straight into a folder. Download shortcut.

If you'd rather check the cards before saving them, use the Open Quick Entry action instead. It opens Quick Entry with the cards filled in, so you can review and edit them before importing.

Opening Quick Entry with the generated cards, ready to review. Download shortcut.

Quickly Create Cards

The Create Card action can build a card from text, images, or audio — for both the question and the answer. The Shortcuts app includes a built-in audio recorder you can connect to each side for fast audio cards. Have the shortcut loop, and you can add as many cards as you like in one run.

Creating several cards in a row using audio recordings. Download shortcut.

Auto-Generate Translation Cards

Want to add quick word translations? Combine the built-in Transcribe and Translate actions with Create Card to make language cards just by speaking — for example, say a word in English and get an English-to-Spanish card.

Creating English-to-Spanish cards just by speaking in English. Download shortcut.

Study Without Opening the App

You can run a quick study session right from a shortcut. This sample finds the cards available in a folder, shows the question, then the answer, and lets you score each card — without launching Benkyo Box.

Studying cards with a shortcut. Download shortcut.
On iOS, iPadOS, or macOS 26, the Study Card action does this in a single interactive step — show the question, reveal the answer, score the card, and see when it's due again, all at once. Download the iOS 26 study shortcut.

More Ideas

Almost anything you can do in the app, you can do in a shortcut. A few more to try:

  • Save an article to study later — From the share sheet, send a web link to Extract Cards from Text or Link and save the cards to a “Reading” folder. Requires Advanced Learner.
  • Turn a spreadsheet into a deck — Pick a CSV file, then run Import Cards from CSV to create a folder of cards in one step.
  • Morning study routine — Add a personal automation that runs Study Today's Cards every morning, or just say “Study today's cards in Benkyo Box.”
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