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Using Siri and Shorcuts with Pillow
Using Siri and Shorcuts with Pillow

This article provides a detailed guide on using Siri and Shortcuts to enhance your experience with Pillow.

Updated over 2 months ago

Pillow offers excellent support for Siri and Shortcuts, allowing you to perform various actions to make your experience easier and more seamless.

Compatibility

To use Siri and Shortcuts with Pillow, you need:

  • iOS 16 or later.

  • If you have an Apple Watch, watchOS 10 or later is also required.

Here’s how to use Pillow with Siri and Shortcuts.

View Your Latest Sleep Analysis

This feature lets you view your latest sleep analysis without opening Pillow.

Using Siri

  1. Install Pillow on your device.

  2. Ensure Pillow has detected a sleep session by tracking your sleep either manually or automatically.

Use Siri with phrases like:

  • “Show my latest sleep session with Pillow.”

  • “Show my latest sleep analysis with Pillow.”

These commands will bring up a quick summary of your most recent sleep session without launching Pillow.

Using the Shortcuts App

  1. Install Pillow on your device.

  2. Ensure Pillow has detected a sleep session by tracking your sleep either manually or automatically.

  3. Open the Shortcuts app.

  4. Scroll down to the “Pillow” section.

  5. Tap the section title to view all available actions.

Look for the action labeled “View Latest Analysis”. You can:

  • Tap the action to view your latest sleep session.

  • Long-press the action to access options like:

    • Add to Home Screen: Creates an icon on your Home Screen to access the analysis directly.

    • New Shortcut: Lets you create a new Shortcut that includes the “View Latest Analysis” action.

Start Sleep Tracking

This action starts a manual sleep session. If you’re using automatic sleep tracking, this action is unnecessary.

Using Siri

  1. Install Pillow on your device.

  2. Create one or more sleep tracking presets.

  3. Ensure Siri is enabled and configured on your device.

Say phrases like:

  • “Hey Siri, start tracking with Pillow.”

  • “Siri, start tracking with Pillow.”

Siri will launch Pillow and allow you to choose a preset to start sleep tracking.

Using the Shortcuts App

  1. Install Pillow on your device.

  2. Create one or more sleep tracking presets.

  3. Open the Shortcuts app.

  4. Scroll to the “Pillow” section.

  5. Tap the section title to view available actions.

Look for the action labeled “Start Tracking”. You can:

  • Tap the action to start tracking.

  • Long-press the action for options like:

    • Add to Home Screen: Adds a shortcut icon to start a manual sleep session.

    • New Shortcut: Lets you combine the “Start Tracking” action with others, like turning off lights using the Home app before starting a session.

Stop Sleep Tracking

This action stops a manual sleep session. It’s not needed for automatic sleep tracking.

Using Siri

  1. Install Pillow on your device.

  2. Enable Siri on your device.

  3. Start a manual sleep session.

Say phrases like:

  • “Stop sleep tracking in Pillow.”

  • “Turn off Pillow.”

  • “Stop Pillow preset.”

Using the Shortcuts App

  1. Install Pillow on your device.

  2. Start a manual sleep session.

  3. Open the Shortcuts app.

  4. Scroll to the “Pillow” section.

  5. Tap the section title to view available actions.

Find the action labeled “Stop Tracking”. You can:

  • Tap the action to stop tracking.

  • Long-press for options like:

    • Add to Home Screen: Adds an icon to stop tracking directly.

    • New Shortcut: Combine actions, such as turning on lights via HomeKit and stopping Pillow tracking.

Start Tracking with a Specific Preset

This action starts a sleep session with a specific preset.

Using Siri

  1. Install Pillow on your device.

  2. Create one or more presets.

Use these phrases:

  • Without a preset name: “Start my 7 am preset.”

  • With a preset name: “Start my Powernap preset.”

Using the Shortcuts App

  1. Install Pillow on your device.

  2. Create one or more presets.

  3. Open the Shortcuts app.

  4. Scroll to the “Pillow” section.

A separate action for each preset will be listed. You can:

  • Tap the action to run it.

  • Long-press for options like:

    • Add to Home Screen: Adds an icon for starting a session with the preset.

    • New Shortcut: Combine actions, such as turning off lights and starting a session with a preset.

Start Sleep Aid

This action resumes a sleep aid track currently playing. It is not available on Apple Watch.

Using Siri

  1. Install Pillow on your device.

  2. Play a sleep aid track from the Sleep Aid tab or during a sleep session.

Say:

  • “Play Sleep Aid with Pillow.”

Using the Shortcuts App

  1. Install Pillow.

  2. Play a sleep aid track.

  3. Open the Shortcuts app.

  4. Scroll to the “Pillow” section.

Find the action labeled “Play Sleep Aid”. You can:

  • Tap the action to resume playback.

  • Long-press for options like:

    • Add to Home Screen: Creates a shortcut icon to resume the track.

    • New Shortcut: Combine actions, such as resuming playback and adjusting volume.

Pause Sleep Aid

This action pauses a sleep aid track currently playing. It is not available on Apple Watch.

Using Siri

  1. Install Pillow on your device.

  2. Play a sleep aid track from the Sleep Aid tab or during a sleep session.

Say:

  • “Pause Sleep Aid with Pillow.”

Using the Shortcuts App

  1. Install Pillow.

  2. Play a sleep aid track.

  3. Open the Shortcuts app.

  4. Scroll to the “Pillow” section.

Find the action labeled “Pause Sleep Aid”. You can:

  • Tap the action to pause playback.

  • Long-press for options like:

    • Add to Home Screen: Creates a shortcut icon to pause the playback track.

    • New Shortcut: Combine actions, such as resuming playback and adjusting volume.

Launch Pillow

Quickly launch Pillow using Siri or Shortcuts.

Using Siri

  1. Install Pillow on your device.

  2. Ensure Siri is enabled.

Say:

  • “Hey Siri, launch Pillow.”

  • “Open Pillow.”

Using the Shortcuts App

  1. Install Pillow.

  2. Open the Shortcuts app.

  3. Scroll to the “Pillow” section.

  4. Tap the section title to view available actions.

Look for the action “Open Pillow”. You can:

  • Tap to run it.

  • Long-press for options like:

    • Add to Home Screen: Creates a shortcut icon.

    • New Shortcut: Combine actions, such as enabling Sleep Focus and launching Pillow.

Spotlight Recommendations

Pillow actions will appear in Spotlight search results for relevant terms. For example, searching “sleep analysis” may display “View Latest Analysis” as a result.

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