Support Articles

Siri Shortcuts

Channels for iOS supports Siri Shortcuts to automate opening things in the app and even on the apps running in your living room.

siri shortcuts

Siri Shortcuts

Channels provides actions for you to use inside your shortcuts. You can instantly watch a channel, open a collection, or watch the next episode of a show.

You can even open these on another Apple TV, Android TV, or Fire TV device.

Note: Learn more about Siri Shortcuts and how to write them.

Important

In order for remote actions to work, the Channels app on your other device needs to be available.

For Apple TV, that means the Channels app needs to be open and active. Apps on tvOS cannot run in the background.

For Android TV or Fire TV devices, as long as the app has been opened once, it will work. Android based operating systems allow Channels keep listening for these actions, even if they are backgrounded.

Protip: Siri Shortcuts provides an ‘Open app on apple tv’ action that will open an app. Use this before your Channels actions in your shortcut to ensure Channels is open and ready.

Discovery of Content & Other Devices

The Channels app is responsible for building the lists of Shows, Collections, and Other Devices. It does this while it is running.

If you don’t see something when building your Siri Shortcut, open the Channels app to have it refresh everything.

If you don’t see your device, be sure Channels is running on your other devices while you have Channels open. It will then be available in your action.

Actions

Actions are provided to work on both the current iOS device or to control other devices.

Local Actions

These actions open and run in the Channels app on your iOS device.

Show Section

Open Channels to the section specified, ex: Library, Guide, On Now

Show Collection

Open Channels to the colletion specified.

Optional Parameters
  • Shuffle : Will auto play the collection items in a shuffled order.

Watch Channel

Open Channels and play the channel specified.

Watch Show

Open Channels and open the TV show specified.

Optional Parameters
  • Play Next : Will auto play the next unwatched recording of the show.
  • Shuffle : Will auto play the show’s recordings in a shuffled order.

Remote Actions

These actions take a required parameter signifying which device to run them on. These let you do things like promptly watch a channel on your Apple TV or Firestick.

Show Section on Other Device

Open the section specified on another device.

Show Collection on Other Device

Open to the colletion specified on another device.

Optional Parameters
  • Shuffle : Will auto play the collection items in a shuffled order.

Watch Channel on Other Device

Play the channel specified on another device.

Watch Show on Other Device

Open the TV show specified on another device.

Optional Parameters
  • Play Next : Will auto play the next unwatched recording of the show.
  • Shuffle : Will auto play the show’s recordings in a shuffled order.

Send Command to Other Device

Send the specified command to another device.

EX: Pause, Resume, Stop, Seek Forward, etc.