Create and update Sticky Widgets notes with Shortcuts

How to do it

1. Choose the job

   Decide whether the workflow should create a new note, update one existing note, or add an item to a list. Those are different actions.

2. Add the action in Shortcuts

   Create a shortcut and search the Sticky Widgets actions. Choose New Note, Update Note, or Add Item to List.

3. Configure the inputs

   New Note takes Name and Initial text. Update Note takes Note and Text. Add Item to List takes Note and Text for the new item.

4. Run and inspect the result

   Test from Shortcuts and open the selected note in Sticky Widgets. If you display it in a widget, confirm the widget points at that same note.

Update text without creating duplicate notes

Use Update Note when a widget already displays a stable note such as ‘Today.’ The action replaces that note’s text, so make sure the input is the complete text you intend to keep.

Use Add Item to List when you want another checklist row rather than a replacement for the whole note. Select the actual list in the Note parameter instead of relying on a similarly named note.

Treat automation as a second step

First make a shortcut that works when you run it manually. Only then consider attaching it to a system automation or another launch method available on your device.

Permissions, locked-device access, and confirmation behavior depend on the system and the actions you combine. These instructions do not promise that every automation runs unattended.

Verify the note behind the widget

A new note created by an action is not automatically the note selected in an existing widget. If the widget still shows old content, inspect its Note field before troubleshooting the shortcut.

Use distinctive note names and test with harmless sample text. A shortcut that replaces text should be checked carefully before targeting a note containing information you want to preserve.

Common questions