Use Quick Action workflows on Mac
If you have a workflow you use frequently — for example, adding a watermark to large sets of images — and you want to make it easy to get to, you can create a Quick Action workflow. It is then available from Finder windows, the Services menu or the Touch Bar (on a Mac with a Touch Bar).
Create a Quick Action workflow
In the Automator app
on your Mac, choose File > New.Select Quick Action. then click Choose.
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).
Add actions to your workflow.
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.
Add the Quick Actions button to the Touch Bar
To access Quick Actions from the Touch Bar, you must add the Quick Actions button. You only have to do this once.
Choose Apple menu
On the left, click Touch Bar.
Click Customise Control Strip.
Drag the Quick Actions button to the bottom of the screen until it appears in the Touch Bar.
Click Done.
Choose which Quick Actions appear in the Finder and Touch Bar
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.
Choose Apple menu
Click Finder.
Select the tickbox next to each action you want to be available from the Finder.
Click Touch Bar.
Select the tickbox next to each action you want to be available from the Touch Bar.
Set preferences for Quick Actions in the Touch Bar
You can set the Touch Bar to show only Quick Actions, or have Quick Actions appear only when you press the Function key.
Choose Apple menu
Do one of the following:
To make the Touch Bar show only Quick Actions, click the “Touch Bar shows” pop-up menu, then 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, then choose Show Quick Actions.