# Call iOS app via Node-red possible?

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/call-ios-app-via-node-red-possible/43588>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [3 April 2021 08:16 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/call-ios-app-via-node-red-possible/43588 "2021-04-03T08:16:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![RaiRoo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/rairoo/32/32583_2.png) [@RaiRoo](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/RaiRoo)\
**Post date:** [3 April 2021 08:16 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/call-ios-app-via-node-red-possible/43588/1 "2021-04-03T08:16:24Z")

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When using Node-Red on my iPad I would like to call the iOS Shortcuts app to execute a specific shortcut.  
The URL is shortcuts://run-shortcut?name=AppleTV. If put this URL in Safari, the shortcut is opened as expected. Putting the URL in a HTTP request node leads to an error message. Also with the exec node I was not successful...

Can this be done by a specific node or a js function???

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**Author:** ![Steve-Mcl](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/steve-mcl/32/4826_2.png) [@Steve-Mcl](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Steve-Mcl)\
**Post date:** [3 April 2021 10:31 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/call-ios-app-via-node-red-possible/43588/2 "2021-04-03T10:31:26Z")

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> [@RaiRoo](#):
>
> Can this be done by a specific node or a js function

Is node-red actually running on the iPad? If not, then no because nodes and the function node all run server-side (in the server where node-red is running).

If you mean click a link (or button) in dashboard (being displayed in your iPad browser), then [probably you can](https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/shortcuts/apd624386f42/ios) (i dont have a single apple product so this is speculation)

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**Author:** ![RaiRoo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/rairoo/32/32583_2.png) [@RaiRoo](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/RaiRoo)\
**Post date:** [3 April 2021 11:35 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/call-ios-app-via-node-red-possible/43588/3 "2021-04-03T11:35:43Z")

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Well, node-red is running on my Synology NAS in a docker container.  
And yes, the whole thing would be triggered by a push on a button in a dashboard ...

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**Author:** ![aderici](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/aderici/32/37279_2.png) [@aderici](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/aderici)\
**Post date:** [4 April 2021 11:51 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/call-ios-app-via-node-red-possible/43588/4 "2021-04-04T11:51:57Z")

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You should check the shortcuts and see what kind of triggers they provide. Yes visiting a url may trigger a shortcut but it only works if you visit the url from the ipad, not from another random device.

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**Author:** ![kevinGodell](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/kevingodell/32/27040_2.png) [@kevinGodell](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/kevinGodell)\
**Post date:** [4 April 2021 14:32 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/call-ios-app-via-node-red-possible/43588/5 "2021-04-04T14:32:07Z")

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An iOS app can register its own custom url scheme, such as `shortcuts://` or `mywidgets://`, etc. When clicking the link, it should trigger the corresponding app to open, along with passing data in the url. You simply need a link to that url that you can click. I am not sure if you have to be in the safari browser for that to work.

As a simple test, go to the editor -\> open the right sidebar -\> dashboard -\> layout -\> +link, and add the url there. Go to the ui and click the link it to see if it triggers the app to open. If you need it to be a button, you can probably add a link styled as a button for clicking.

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**Author:** ![umtksa](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/umtksa/32/38322_2.png) [@umtksa](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/umtksa)\
**Post date:** [4 April 2021 15:11 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/call-ios-app-via-node-red-possible/43588/6 "2021-04-04T15:11:53Z")

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You have to click the link from the ipad, you cant trigger a shortcut from another device unless its a bluetooth device (like apple watch, pebble watch etc)  
what are you doing with that shortcut ? maybe we can find a workaround.

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**Author:** ![RaiRoo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/rairoo/32/32583_2.png) [@RaiRoo](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/RaiRoo)\
**Post date:** [4 April 2021 17:17 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/call-ios-app-via-node-red-possible/43588/7 "2021-04-04T17:17:16Z")

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... thanks for all your ideas about this topic. To give you some background about the problem: I use node-red via an iobroker adapter - all the systems are running in a docker container on my Synology NAS. Currently I work on the visualization of my smart home - using the VIS adapter within ioBroker. One element of the visualization is my "home cinema" environment: consisting of beamer, sound system, LED stripes and an AppleTV box. All of this is steered via infrared remote control. To bring all the 4 different remote controls in my ioBroker environment I purchased a Logitech harmony hub. As this is not very "snappy", I tried to use the iPhone app "remote control for Apple TV". How to bring this device now together with my ioBroker system???  
Actually [Call iOS app via Node-red possible? - #2 by Steve-Mcl](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/call-ios-app-via-node-red-possible/43588/2) was a good advice. The virtualization system VIS allows to send commands to the client (iPhone), and so I could trigger Safari to execute the URL-scheme. Downside: I need to allow "popup" within the Safari settings.  
So technically it works but is a bit cumbersome, I think.  
No I have a perfect solution (at least for me). Together with the activation of beamer, sound system, LED stripes and AppleTV I play a MP3, saying "Hey Siri, open shortcut 'AppleTV'" ... So with one button in my VIS system, I get all the systems up and running.  
Thanks for all your ideas!!!

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/1X/d073cd938eafa2e558d7c2cd59003b3ef4963033.png) [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [18 April 2021 17:17 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/call-ios-app-via-node-red-possible/43588/8 "2021-04-18T17:17:53Z")

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