Back Up with Shortcuts

Before you start

The Perform Backup action is available on iOS 27 or later. It starts a backup to one saved remote Node in the background. It does not run Download or Complete, and it works independently of Background Auto-Backup switches and intervals.

Free includes five successfully completed Shortcuts backup runs; failed or cancelled runs do not use a trial. Pro removes the run limit. The Shortcuts backup setting is enabled by default, but you can turn it off in the app.

Prepare Watermelon Backup

• Add and save a remote Node in Watermelon Backup and make sure it can connect. External Storage and temporary Watermelon Link sessions cannot be selected for this background action.
• Open the app once and grant Photos access. Selecting Specific Albums in a shortcut requires full Photos access.
• In Settings > Shortcuts, check that Allow Backup via Shortcuts is set to Enable. This switch applies to Perform Backup; it does not turn on Background Auto-Backup for a Node.

Create the shortcut

• Open Apple's Shortcuts app, create a shortcut, and add Watermelon Backup's Perform Backup action.
• Select a saved Node. Set Time Range to Most Recent Two Months (the default) or All Time.
• Choose a Data Source: All Photos and Videos, Photos Only, Videos Only, or Specific Albums. If you choose Specific Albums, select one or more Albums in the action; each shortcut keeps its own album selection.
• Run the shortcut once and review its progress or any error in Shortcuts. You can then add this shortcut to a personal automation, but iOS still controls whether and how long background execution runs.

If a run does not start or finish

• Check the Node's connection and credentials. The action uses that Node's Wi-Fi only rule, so a Node with that option enabled will not run on cellular data.
• If originals are stored in iCloud, check the app's Allow iCloud Photo Access setting. A busy backup target, unavailable network, or missing Photos permission can also stop the run.
• A failed or cancelled run does not reduce the five free trials. If all five completed trials are used, Pro is required for further Perform Backup runs.
• Set Node Background Backup is a different Shortcuts action: it changes a Node's automatic-backup switch, but does not start Perform Backup.