iOS Shortcuts App: Alarm and Sleep Timer

The NTS app is available in the Shortcuts app for iOS, letting you easily play live channels 1 and 2 via the Home screen, Control Centre, Siri, or automation. You can even wake up or fall asleep to NTS using custom shortcuts.

These steps are written for iOS 18+. For older versions, check Apple’s Shortcuts documentation.

Set Up an NTS Shortcut

1. Open the Shortcuts app

2. Tap the + icon in the top right to create a new shortcut

3. Search for NTS

4. Choose either Play NTS Live 1 or Play NTS Live 2

5. Tap Next, then name your shortcut (e.g. “Play NTS Live 1”)

6. Tap Done

You can now trigger this shortcut from Siri, widgets, or automations.

Add NTS to the Home Screen

1. Open the Shortcuts app

2. Find your NTS shortcut, then tap and hold it

3. Tap Edit

4. Tap the down arrow next to the shortcut name

5. Select Add to Home Screen

6. (Optional) Customise the name and icon

7. Tap Add

Your shortcut will now appear on your Home screen for one-tap listening.

Add NTS to Control Centre

1. Open the Settings app

2. Tap Control Centre

3. Tap + next to Shortcuts to add it

4. Open the Shortcuts app

5. Tap your NTS shortcut

6. Tap the Share icon, then Add to Control Centre Shortcut (or use Siri Suggestions to assign it)

Now you can play NTS directly from the Control Centre.

Set Up NTS to Play After Your Alarm

1. Open the Shortcuts app

2. Go to the Automation tab

3. Tap + to create a new automation

4. Choose Alarm under Personal Automation

5. Select Is Stopped

6. Choose the alarm you want to use

7. Tap Next, then Add Action

8. Search for and select your NTS shortcut

9. Tap Next, then disable Ask Before Running

10. Tap Done

NTS will now start playing automatically when you turn off your alarm in the morning.

Note:
To have NTS replace your alarm sound entirely, choose Goes Off instead of Is Stopped - but this will disable snooze and dismiss the alarm automatically.

Use NTS as a Sleep Timer

You can automatically stop NTS at a set time each night using an automation.

Create a Shortcut to pause playback:

1. Open the Shortcuts app

2. Tap the + icon in the top right

3. Tap Add Action, then search for Play/Pause Playback

4. Choose the action and set it to Pause

5. Tap Next, name the shortcut (e.g. “Stop NTS Playback”)

6. Tap Done

Set a time-based automation:

1. Go to the Automation tab in Shortcuts

2. Tap + to create a new automation

3. Select Time of Day

4. Choose the time you want playback to stop (e.g. 11:30 PM)

5. Tap Next, then Add Action

6. Search for and select your “Stop NTS Playback” shortcut

7. Tap Next, turn off Ask Before Running

8. Tap Done

Your iPhone will now pause any audio, including NTS, at your chosen time.