Use Apple Shortcuts to Update Your Lock Screen

We use the Shortcuts app to automatically fetch your progress and update your iPhone lock screen.

The primary use case for this feature is to display a One Dot calendar or visualize the progress of your life.

If you want a similar setup, follow the step-by-step guide below.

Step 1: Prepare Your Lock Screen

For the shortcut to work, your Lock Screen wallpaper must be set to a Photo. Default colors, gradients, or live wallpapers won't work.

  1. Long press on your Lock Screen → tap + to add new wallpaper.
  2. Choose Photos and select any image.

Step 2: Get the iOS Shortcut

Download the OneDot iOS Shortcut that will update your wallpaper automatically.

Get iOS Shortcut

Setup Instructions:

  1. Tap "Set Up Shortcut".

  2. When prompted, paste your unique token (found in the One Dot app here).

  3. Shortcut will appear in your Library

  4. Run the shortcut. Tap "Allow"

  5. Tap "Allow" again

Step 3: Create an Automation

Open the Shortcuts app and go to the Automations tab.

  1. Create a new automation and select the “ Time of Day” option.

  2. Set the time for 6:00 AM (or your preferred time), Repeat Daily and “ Run Immediately” so the automation can run in the background without your confirmation. Tap "Next"

  3. Choose the "One Dot Wallpaper" under "My Shortcuts"

Advanced: Specific Lock Screen & Focus Modes

If you use Focus Modes, the automation will update your currently active lock screen. This means it might update the wrong one, or fail if the active lock screen isn't a Photo wallpaper. To ensure One Dot always updates the correct lock screen:

  1. Download the advanced shortcut

  2. Enter your token when prompted.

  3. Select the specific lock screen you want to update.

  4. Set up the automation for this new shortcut following Step 3: Create an automation.

Conclusion

Now you have an automation running daily to update your lock screen to show you where you are at in your One Dot calendar.