Birthday Ambush
On their birthday, their favourite apps sing.
Download shortcut⏱ 1m setup
Open this page in Safari on an iPhone. The file goes straight into Shortcuts.
What happens
On their birthday, the first five times they open one of their favourite apps, an 8-bit Happy Birthday blasts out and a “HAPPY BIRTHDAY” notification drops in. Every other day of the year it does nothing.
Setup
- Open the download on their phone (or AirDrop it over) and tap Add Shortcut.
- While importing, it asks for their birthday as MM-DD (14 July is
07-14). Fill it in before tapping Add Shortcut. - Long-press it in Shortcuts → All Shortcuts → Rename and call it App Helper, so it doesn’t give itself away.
- Shortcuts → Automation → + → App, pick up to 5 apps they live in and choose Is Opened, select Run Immediately, tap Next and choose the shortcut.
- Run it once now and tap Always Allow (it only plays on the actual birthday).
Undo
Open Shortcuts → Automation, swipe left on the automation and tap Delete. Then delete the shortcut.