Set up Auto Start in Shortcuts

Create a Bluetooth automation for your AirPods Pro 3 in Shortcuts and add the AirPulse action “Start Pulse Tracking”

The screenshots use the English iOS interface. A red outline marks the control you need in each step

Step 1 Open Shortcuts and tap the back arrow at the top left to open the Library
Step 2 Choose "Automation" in the Library
Step 3 Tap + to create a new automation
Step 4 Tap "Automation" in the action picker
Step 5 Choose the "Bluetooth" trigger under "Connectivity"
Step 6 Tap "Any Device" to select your device
Step 7 Select your AirPods Pro 3 from the device list
Step 8 Confirm your selection with the checkmark at the top right
Step 9 Enable "Automation" and turn off "Confirm Before Run" so AirPulse can start without asking
Step 10 Tap the search field at the bottom to add the AirPulse action
Step 11 Choose "AirPulse" from the app list
Step 12 Tap "Start Pulse Tracking" to add the action
Step 13 Tap the play button at the bottom right to test the shortcut
Step 14 If "Insert AirPods" appears, put in your AirPods Pro 3 to continue the test

Shortcut notification

Shortcuts shows a notification every time AirPulse starts automatically. You can't turn it off under Settings > Notifications because Shortcuts isn't listed there. You can still turn it off by following the steps below

Depending on your iOS version, Settings may look different. Follow the guide that matches the settings screen on your iPhone

Step 1 Open Settings on your iPhone
Step 2 Scroll down and select Screen Time
Step 3 Tap your Screen Time summary to open the activity details
Step 4 Scroll down to Notifications, then tap Show More
Step 5 Select Shortcuts from the list
Step 6 Under Time Allowance, tap Move to New Category
Step 7 Tap Add New
Step 8 Choose Custom
Step 9 Choose an icon and a color for your category
Step 10 Give your category a name, such as "Disable Notifications"
Step 11 Tap Continue
Step 12 Select All Day
Step 13 Tap Continue
Step 14 Turn off Include in Shared Time Allowance
Step 15 Use the minus button to reduce the daily time allowance to zero minutes
Step 16 Tap Done to save the category
Step 17 Enter your Screen Time passcode if prompted
Step 18 Check that Shortcuts shows your new category with zero minutes

Keep Allow Notifications on: the switch must stay green. Turn off only the three alert options and Sounds, and set Show Previews to Never. Turning notifications off completely can disrupt the automation since iOS 27

Step 1 Open Settings on your iPhone
Step 2 Choose "Screen Time"
Step 3 Tap "See All App & Website Activity"
Step 4 Scroll to "Notifications" and choose "Shortcuts". You may need to tap "Shortcuts" several times. If it isn't listed, use the arrows at the top to switch to an earlier day
Step 5 Turn off the three options Lock Screen, Notification Centre and Banners, so that none of the checkmarks is selected
Step 6 Turn off Sounds as well
Step 7 Open Show Previews
Step 8 Select Never
Step 9 Go back afterwards
Step 10 Keep Allow Notifications on: the switch must stay green. Turn off only the three alert options and Sounds, and set Show Previews to Never. Turning notifications off completely can disrupt the automation since iOS 27