Use Quick Action workflows on Mac

1. In the Automator app on your Mac, choose File > New.

2. Select Quick Action, then click Choose.

3. Specify any of the following:

   • Workflow receives current: The type of data used as input to the workflow. If you choose Automatic, Automator guesses the type of input you want to use in your workflow.

     Note: Only Quick Actions that receive files as input are available in Finder windows.

   • Application: The app or apps you want to use to process your workflow. Each app must be open for the workflow to be available.

   • Input is: If the workflow receives input from URLs, addresses, phone numbers, dates or email addresses, you can specify different input options.

   • Output replaces selected text: When the workflow receives input from Text or Rich Text, you can specify that the output replaces the selected text.

   • Image: An image for your Quick Action. You can select an image on your Mac or choose an image from the menu.

   • Colour: A colour for your Quick Action (visible in the Touch Bar only).

4. Add actions to your workflow.

5. To save your workflow, choose File > Save.

   After you create a Quick Action, it automatically appears in the Action pop-up menu at the top of a Finder window, at the bottom of the Finder window preview pane in Column or Gallery view, and in the Services menu. You can also access Quick Actions in the Touch Bar by adding a Quick Actions button.

To access Quick Actions from the Touch Bar, you must add the Quick Actions button. You only have to do this once.

1. Choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click Keyboard in the sidebar. (You may need to scroll down.)

2. Click Touch Bar Settings on the right, then click Customise Control Strip.

3. Drag the Quick Actions button to the bottom of the screen until it appears in the Touch Bar.

   

4. Click Done.

By default, all Quick Actions workflows appear in Finder windows, the Services menu and the Touch Bar. You can change which Quick Actions appear in the Finder and Touch Bar.

1. Choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click Privacy & Security in the sidebar. (You may need to scroll down.)

   Open Privacy & Security settings for me

2. Click Extensions on the right, then click Finder.

3. Turn on each action you want to be available from the Finder.

4. Turn on the Quick Actions you want to be available from the Finder.

5. Click Done.

You can set the Touch Bar to show only Quick Actions, or have Quick Actions appear only when you press the Function key.

1. Choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click Keyboard in the sidebar. (You may need to scroll down.)

   Open Keyboard settings for me

2. Click Touch Bar Settings, then do one of the following:

   • To make the Touch Bar show only Quick Actions: Click the “Touch Bar shows” pop-up menu and choose Quick Actions.

   • To make Quick Actions appear when you press the Function key: Click the “Press and hold Fn key to” pop-up menu and choose Show Quick Actions.