Question 1

How do I record trips automatically without opening the app?

Accepted Answer

Speedometer integrates with iOS Shortcuts so trips can start, pause, resume, and stop completely hands-free. Open Settings → Siri & Shortcuts in the app to see the available actions (Start Trip, Stop Trip, Pause Trip, Resume Trip, Start or Resume), then create a Shortcuts automation triggered by CarPlay connect, your car's Bluetooth, an NFC tag on your dashboard, a Driving Focus, or the Action Button. Once set up, trips record automatically the moment you start driving — no need to open the app.

Question 2

How do I auto-record trips when CarPlay connects?

Accepted Answer

CarPlay is the most reliable trigger for in-car automation. In the Shortcuts app, tap Automation → + → CarPlay → Connects → Run Immediately, then add an action: search for Speedometer and pick "Start or Resume". Create a second automation for CarPlay → Disconnects → Speedometer → "Pause". With these two automations, your trip starts the instant your phone hits the dashboard and pauses the moment you unplug — even if you stopped briefly for fuel or a coffee, "Start or Resume" picks the existing trip back up instead of creating a new one.

Question 3

How do I auto-record trips with my car's Bluetooth?

Accepted Answer

If your car doesn't have CarPlay, Bluetooth works just as well. In the Shortcuts app, create an automation: Bluetooth → choose your car's Bluetooth device → Is Connected → Run Immediately, then add Speedometer's "Start or Resume" action. Create a second automation for the same Bluetooth device → Is Disconnected → Speedometer → "Pause". This pattern works with most car stereos, motorcycle helmet intercoms, and Bluetooth GPS receivers.

Question 4

How do I use an NFC tag to start or stop a trip?

Accepted Answer

NFC tags are perfect when you don't have CarPlay or Bluetooth — for example on a bicycle or motorcycle. Buy any NTAG-compatible NFC sticker, place it where you can tap your phone (dashboard, fuel tank, handlebar), then in the Shortcuts app: Automation → + → NFC → Scan your tag → Run Immediately, then add Speedometer's "Start or Resume" action. You can use one tag for both start and pause if you set the automation to toggle, or use multiple tags for different actions (e.g. one tag to start, another to stop).

Question 5

Can Driving Focus automatically record my trips?

Accepted Answer

iOS Driving Focus already detects when you're driving — pair it with Speedometer for fully automatic trip logging. In the Shortcuts app: Automation → + → Focus → Driving → Is Turned On → Run Immediately → add Speedometer's "Start or Resume". Add a second automation for Driving → Is Turned Off → Speedometer → "Pause". This works regardless of car, vehicle, or connection type — Driving Focus uses motion data, so it triggers on any drive, ride, or commute.

Question 6

Can I use my iPhone's Action Button to control trip recording?

Accepted Answer

On iPhone 15 Pro and later, the Action Button can run any Shortcut. Open Settings → Action Button → swipe to Shortcut → choose a Speedometer action like "Start or Resume". Now a single press of the Action Button starts or resumes a trip without unlocking your phone or opening the app — ideal for cyclists, runners, and motorcyclists who can't reach the screen mid-ride.

Question 7

What Siri voice commands does Speedometer support?

Accepted Answer

Speedometer responds to five built-in Siri voice commands:

• "Hey Siri, start a trip in Speedometer" — begins a new trip
• "Hey Siri, stop the trip in Speedometer" — ends the current trip and saves it
• "Hey Siri, pause trip in Speedometer" — pauses without ending
• "Hey Siri, resume trip in Speedometer" — continues a paused trip
• "Hey Siri, start or resume trip in Speedometer" — smart command that resumes an existing trip if one is paused, or starts a new one

All commands work hands-free, with the screen off, and over CarPlay or AirPods.

Question 8

When should I use "Start Trip" vs "Start or Resume"?

Accepted Answer

Both actions begin recording, but they treat existing paused trips very differently — choose based on whether brief stops should join the same trip or split into new ones.

**Use "Start or Resume" when you want one continuous trip across stops:**

• Long road trips with fuel, coffee, or restroom stops — the trip continues as one record
• Daily commute where traffic, signals, or a quick errand pause the drive
• Cycling or running with traffic-light pauses
• Single-vehicle daily drivers who want their whole outing as one trip
• Any automation pattern where Pause runs on disconnect — Start or Resume picks it back up seamlessly when you reconnect

**Use "Start Trip" when you want each leg as its own record:**

• Logging your home → office and office → home commute as two separate trips for analytics
• Multi-vehicle households where switching from car to motorcycle should create a fresh trip
• Business mileage / tax tracking where every destination needs its own line item
• Activity changes — driving in the morning, cycling in the afternoon
• Per-trip fuel economy analysis where you fill up and want fresh numbers
• Borrowed cars, rentals, or shared vehicles between drivers

**Rule of thumb:** if you've paired a Pause automation on disconnect (the recommended pattern), "Start or Resume" is almost always what you want — your trips reflect actual journeys instead of fragmenting on every stop. Switch to "Start Trip" for triggers that genuinely mean "a new journey is beginning" — for example, a different car's Bluetooth, a manual NFC tag at your office, or an Action Button press at the start of a workout.

Question 9

How do I automatically pause or end trips?

Accepted Answer

Speedometer doesn't auto-stop on its own — you control when a trip ends. The recommended pattern is to pair every Start automation with a Pause on disconnect:

• CarPlay connect → Start or Resume; CarPlay disconnect → Pause
• Bluetooth connect → Start or Resume; Bluetooth disconnect → Pause
• Driving Focus on → Start or Resume; Driving Focus off → Pause
• NFC tag tap → Start or Resume; same NFC tag tap → Pause

Use "Stop Trip" only when you want to fully end and save a trip — for example, an NFC tag near your front door that runs "Stop" when you arrive home, or a Siri command at the end of a long drive. Pause is preferred for everyday breaks because "Start or Resume" will pick the trip back up seamlessly.

Question 10

Step-by-step: how do I set up a Speedometer automation?

Accepted Answer

Setting up any Speedometer automation takes about a minute:

1. Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone.
2. Tap the Automation tab at the bottom.
3. Tap + (top right) to create a new automation.
4. Choose a trigger — CarPlay, Bluetooth, NFC, Focus, Time of Day, Action Button, or others.
5. Tap Next, then search for "Speedometer" and select an action: Start Trip, Stop Trip, Pause Trip, Resume Trip, or Start or Resume.
6. Set "Ask Before Running" to OFF (so it shows "Run Immediately") for a fully seamless, hands-free experience.
7. Tap Done.

Repeat for the inverse trigger (e.g. disconnect → Pause) so trips both start and pause automatically. You can find this guide directly in the app at Settings → Siri & Shortcuts → How to Set Up Automations.

Question 11

How do I set up automations across multiple vehicles?

Accepted Answer

If you own multiple cars, motorcycles, or bikes — each with its own profile in Speedometer's Vehicle Manager — the goal is for every drive to be logged against the right vehicle automatically. Here's the recommended pattern:

**1. Set up one automation per vehicle, keyed off something unique to that vehicle.**

The most reliable differentiators are CarPlay and Bluetooth, because each car has its own. Don't share a single "any CarPlay" automation across vehicles — create one per car:

• Honda Civic Bluetooth connects → Start Trip
• BMW R1250 helmet intercom Bluetooth connects → Start Trip
• Toyota CarPlay connects → Start Trip

**2. Prefer "Start Trip" over "Start or Resume" when switching vehicles.**

"Start or Resume" would continue a paused trip from your other vehicle — for example, if you paused your motorcycle ride and then jumped in your car, "Start or Resume" would resume the motorcycle trip on the car. "Start Trip" guarantees a fresh record, which is what you want when the vehicle changes.

**3. Open the app briefly to confirm the active vehicle.**

New trips are tagged with whichever vehicle is currently selected in the Vehicle Manager. Before your first drive in a different car, open Speedometer and switch the active vehicle (Garage tab → tap the vehicle). After that, the per-car automation pattern keeps everything aligned.

**4. Pair each Start with a Pause on disconnect.**

For each vehicle's connect automation, create the inverse: that vehicle's Bluetooth/CarPlay disconnects → Pause. This stops false speed/distance from being logged after you park.

**5. Use NFC tags for non-electronic vehicles.**

For a bicycle or older motorcycle without Bluetooth, stick a vehicle-specific NFC tag on the frame. Tap before you ride → Start Trip. Tap when you finish → Stop Trip. Each tag belongs to one vehicle, so trips stay correctly attributed.

**Edge case — same car, two drivers:** if you share a vehicle and want trips per driver, that's not something automations can detect on their own. Use Driving Focus (each driver has their own Focus profile) as the trigger instead of Bluetooth.

Question 12

My automation isn't running automatically — how do I fix it?

Accepted Answer

If a Speedometer automation prompts you to confirm before running, the automation hasn't been set to run silently. Open the Shortcuts app → Automation → tap your automation → tap "Ask Before Running" → turn it off. The label will switch to "Run Immediately" and the automation will fire silently in the background. Also check that the trigger itself is supported in run-without-asking mode — CarPlay, Bluetooth, NFC, and Focus all support it; some others (like a manual time-of-day trigger) always confirm by design.

Question 13

Can I record trips automatically on a daily schedule?

Accepted Answer

If your commute happens at the same time every day, a Time of Day trigger is the simplest automation of all — no Bluetooth, NFC, or CarPlay required.

In the Shortcuts app: Automation → + → Time of Day → set the time (e.g. 8:00 AM) → choose Weekdays only → add Speedometer's "Start or Resume" action. Create a second automation for your evening commute time → "Stop Trip".

Note that pure Time of Day triggers always ask before running (Apple's policy), so they need a single tap to confirm. Pair them with another reliable trigger (Bluetooth, CarPlay, NFC) for true zero-tap operation.

Question 14

Can I auto-start trips when I leave home or arrive at work?

Accepted Answer

iOS Shortcuts supports geofence triggers — your iPhone notices when you arrive at or leave a saved location and runs an automation. This works without CarPlay, Bluetooth, or any extra hardware.

In the Shortcuts app: Automation → + → "I Leave" → choose Home → add Speedometer's "Start or Resume" action. Create the inverse for "I Arrive" at Home → "Stop Trip".

Great for: walking commuters, cyclists who don't want NFC tags, and anyone whose journey isn't tied to a specific car. Tip: precision improves over a few days as iOS learns your typical routes.

Question 15

Can I trigger trip recording when I disconnect from home Wi-Fi?

Accepted Answer

When your iPhone leaves home Wi-Fi range, that's almost always because you're walking or driving away. You can use that as a trigger.

In the Shortcuts app: Automation → + → Wi-Fi → choose your home network → "Is Disconnected" → add Speedometer's "Start or Resume". Create the reverse — Wi-Fi → home network → "Is Connected" → "Stop Trip" — to end the trip when you get home.

Useful for cyclists, runners, and walkers who don't have car Bluetooth. Combine with Driving Focus for higher accuracy.

Question 16

Can my Apple Watch start a Speedometer trip automatically?

Accepted Answer

If you ride or run with an Apple Watch, you can chain Workout sessions to Speedometer trips so both record together.

In the Shortcuts app on your iPhone: Automation → + → Apple Watch Workout → "Is Started" → choose workout types (Cycling, Running, etc.) → add Speedometer's "Start Trip" action. Create the inverse for Workout "Is Ended" → "Stop Trip".

This pairs the Watch's heart-rate, calorie, and elevation tracking with Speedometer's GPS speed, distance, and route recording — so you get a complete picture of every ride and run. "Start Trip" is preferred here (each workout = a fresh, separate trip).

Question 17

Can I start a trip by tapping the back of my iPhone?

Accepted Answer

Back Tap is a hidden iOS feature that runs a Shortcut when you tap the back of your phone — even with the screen off and the case on.

First create a single-action Shortcut: open the Shortcuts app → + (in My Shortcuts, top-right) → search Speedometer → add "Start or Resume" → name it "Start Trip". Then go to Settings → Accessibility → Touch → Back Tap → Double Tap (or Triple Tap) → choose your shortcut.

Now tapping the back of your phone twice starts a trip — no unlock, no app open. Perfect for cyclists, runners, and motorcyclists wearing gloves.

Question 18

Can I add a Speedometer shortcut to my Home Screen or Lock Screen?

Accepted Answer

Beyond fully automatic triggers, single-tap shortcuts are the next-best thing for hands-on control.

**Home Screen:** open the Shortcuts app → My Shortcuts → tap the Speedometer shortcut you've created → Share → Add to Home Screen → choose an icon and name (e.g. "Start Trip"). Now tapping that Home Screen icon starts a trip without launching the full app.

**Lock Screen widget (iOS 16+):** long-press the Lock Screen → Customize → tap the widgets row → search for Shortcuts → add the Speedometer shortcut. Now you can start, pause, or stop a trip without unlocking your phone.

**Today View / Home Screen widget:** the Shortcuts app exposes its widget in any size — pin a 4-shortcut grid (Start, Pause, Resume, Stop) for full trip control from a single screen.

Question 19

Can I combine Start Trip with other actions like opening Maps?

Accepted Answer

Speedometer's actions can be chained with any other iOS or third-party action inside a single Shortcut, so a single trigger sets up your whole driving routine.

Example "Drive Mode" Shortcut:

1. Speedometer → Start or Resume
2. Set Focus → Driving (until Off)
3. Open App → Apple Maps (or Google Maps, Waze)
4. Play Music → your driving playlist
5. Set Brightness → 100%
6. Set Low Power Mode → On (for long drives)

Attach this single Shortcut to any trigger — CarPlay connect, Bluetooth, an Action Button press, an NFC tag — and one event sets up everything. Build the inverse "End Drive" Shortcut for the disconnect trigger to wind everything down.

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