Action Button Setup

Log variables with a single button press

Voice recording is built into the app—just tap the microphone and start talking. But if you have an iPhone with an Action Button, you can make it even faster.

This guide shows you how to set up the Action Button to open Variables and start recording immediately.

1. Get your API Key

The shortcut needs permission to send data to your account.

  • Open the Variables app.
  • Go to Settings.
  • Tap Generate API Key.
  • Copy it to your clipboard.

2. Install the Shortcut

  • Download: Tap this link to add the shortcut to your phone.
  • Configure: In the Shortcuts app, tap the three dots (...) on the Variables shortcut to edit it.
  • Add your key: Find the text block that says "vk_abcdef PUT API KEY HERE" and replace it with your API key.
  • Tap Done.

3. Assign to Action Button

This works on iPhone 15 Pro and newer.

  • Go to iPhone Settings > Action Button.
  • Swipe to Shortcut.
  • Select the Variables shortcut.

Now you can hold the Action Button, say something like "slept 7 hours, mood good, coffee 2 cups", and it gets logged automatically.

No Action Button?

You can still use voice logging—just open the app and tap the microphone. Or add the shortcut to your home screen for quicker access.