With the Shortcuts and Reminders apps installed.
Pakka Shortcuts · Work Lock Screen
Start work.See your tasks.
Open Slack/Teams or any other work application you use on your Mac and your iPhone Lock Screen automatically turns into a live list of your incomplete Work reminders.
Before you begin
What you need.
This version uses Apple Reminders, an iPhone and a Mac signed into the same Apple Account.
Signed into the same Apple Account as your iPhone.
A dedicated Reminders list containing the tasks you want displayed. You can name it anything.
Slack, Teams or any other Mac application that represents the start of your work session.
How it works
One clean chain.
The wallpaper is generated when Work Focus turns on. It uses the incomplete reminders available at that moment.
Open your work app on Mac
Work Focus turns on
iPhone runs the Shortcut
Lock Screen shows current tasks
Step-by-step guide
Set it up.
Install the ready-made Work Wallpaper Shortcut on your iPhone.
Add Work WallpaperOpen the background used in the Reel and save it to Photos, or substitute any portrait image you like.
Open the wallpaperPrepare your reminders and wallpaper
- In Reminders, create a work list with the tasks you want displayed. Name it anything you like.
- In Photos, create an album named Work Wallpaper.
- Add one portrait wallpaper to that album—either ours or any image you prefer.
Keep only one image in the Work Wallpaper album.
Add and personalise the Shortcut
Add Work Wallpaper using the button above, open it in Shortcuts and make these three required selections:
1. Your reminders
In Find Reminders, tap the list name and choose your work list. Leave Is Completed set to No.
2. Your background
In Find Photos, tap the album name and choose Work Wallpaper.
3. Your Lock Screen
In the final Set Wallpaper action, select the photo Lock Screen you want updated. If Work Focus uses a particular Lock Screen, choose that one. Turn Show Preview off.
Run it once now. Allow Reminders and Photos access if asked. Confirm that the correct Lock Screen updates before continuing.
If the text looks too large, wraps awkwardly or sits in the wrong place, adjust the font size and position in Overlay Text. This is optional and depends on your wallpaper and reminder length.
Let your Mac start Work Focus
- Make sure your Mac and iPhone use the same Apple Account.
- On your iPhone, go to Settings → Focus and turn on Share Across Devices.
- On your Mac, go to System Settings → Focus → Work → Add Schedule → App.
- Choose Slack, Teams or whichever work application you use.
Opening that application on your Mac will now turn on Work Focus across your devices.
Connect Work Focus to the Shortcut
- On your iPhone, open Shortcuts → Automation and create a new automation.
- Choose Focus → Work → When Turning On.
- Select Run Immediately.
- Add Run Shortcut, choose Work Wallpaper and save.
Test it
Turn Work Focus off, then open your chosen work application on the Mac. Work Focus should appear on the iPhone, and your Lock Screen should update with the latest incomplete reminders.
Completed a task later? The image does not change live. Run the Shortcut again—or trigger Work Focus again—to refresh the wallpaper.
Quick fixes
If it does not update.
Work Focus turns on, but the wallpaper does not change
Open the iPhone Automation and confirm it runs the standalone Work Wallpaper Shortcut. Also make sure Run Immediately is selected.
My work app does not activate Work Focus
On the Mac, return to System Settings → Focus → Work and confirm your chosen application is listed under its App schedule.
The wrong reminders appear
Edit Work Wallpaper and confirm its Find Reminders action uses the exact work list you selected and that Is Completed remains set to No.
The text appears, but on the wrong Lock Screen
Edit the final Set Wallpaper action in the Shortcut and select the exact Lock Screen you want it to update.
A completed task is still visible
The wallpaper is a generated image, not a live widget. Run the Shortcut again—or trigger Work Focus again—to rebuild it using the latest reminder list.
The Shortcut cannot find the background
Confirm the Photos album is named Work Wallpaper and contains exactly one image. Then allow Shortcuts to access Photos if prompted.
You are ready
Open your app. Get focused.
Add, complete or remove Work reminders whenever you like. The next time Work Focus starts, the Lock Screen is rebuilt using the latest incomplete tasks.