How to open multiple Android apps with one custom shortcut

Smartphones have become the central hub for everything from paying for a flat white in Brisbane to tracking your weekly shop at Woolworths. Yet the simple act of opening the apps you need each morning still takes a surprising number of taps. A custom shortcut that fires up several apps in one go can shave seconds off the routine, and those seconds add up across a busy week.

Android has always been the more flexible of the two major mobile platforms, and that openness extends to automation. Whether you are using a Pixel, a Samsung Galaxy, or a mid-range Oppo from JB Hi-Fi, there is usually a way to chain app launches behind a single tap, swipe, or even a voice command.

This guide walks through several practical methods for creating a multi-app shortcut. Some lean on features already baked into your phone, while others rely on free or paid automation tools. Each approach has its own strengths, so you can pick the one that matches how you actually use your device.

By the end, you should have a working routine that opens everything from your transport app to your favourite news service with a single touch, freeing you to focus on the rest of your day.

Why a batch-launch shortcut makes sense

Most people reach for the same handful of apps at predictable moments. Before heading out the door, you might open Opal Travel to top up your card in Sydney, then check the Bureau of Meteorology radar for the afternoon forecast, and finally tap into the AusPost app to see if a parcel has been delivered. That is three separate launches, usually spaced across a minute of fumbling.

A custom shortcut collapses that sequence into one tap. It also removes the mental load of remembering which apps you actually need. Once the routine is set, you trigger it and trust that everything is ready. For tradies, parents, and side hustlers, this kind of small automation feels like a quiet productivity win.

There is a practical limit, of course. Android does not let every app run in the foreground at the same time, so a shortcut simply brings each one to the front in turn. For the common case of needing quick access to several tools in quick succession, the time savings are real.

Using the routines already on your phone

Samsung owners have access to a feature called Modes and Routines, while Google Pixel users get a similar tool called Routines inside the Google Home app. Both can trigger a chain of actions based on time, location, or a manual tap.

On a Galaxy, open Settings, then Modes and Routines. Create a new routine, leave the trigger as the manual Start button, and add actions such as Open app. Repeat for each app you want to launch, then save. The routine appears on your home screen as a tile you can tap whenever you need the bundle.

Pixel users can do something similar through Google Routines: install the app if needed, build a routine that opens multiple apps, and assign it to a home screen shortcut. Some Australian telcos like Telstra and Optus ship device skins with basic automation tools that suit the same job.

Creating a homescreen widget for multiple apps

If you prefer a visual launcher rather than a routine tile, a widget-based approach works well. Several apps in the Play Store generate a single widget that opens a chosen list of applications with consecutive taps.

Multi Actions lets you select up to eight apps and bundle them into one widget. Drop it on your home screen, label it Morning Stack or Work Kit, and you are done. The first tap opens the first app, the second cycles to the next. It feels like swiping through your recents menu, but the order is predictable.

Widget-based shortcuts are useful because they do not require the background permissions that automation apps often demand. They also tend to be gentler on battery life, which matters if you are running an older handset that no longer holds a charge the way it used to.

Going further with Tasker and MacroDroid

For full control, third-party automation apps are the gold standard. Tasker has been around for years and can do almost anything Android allows, including launching a sequence of apps from a single shortcut icon, a gesture, or even a notification button.

MacroDroid has a more approachable interface with a drag-and-drop builder, plus a free tier that handles basic multi-app launches without a subscription. Automate uses flowcharts that appeal to anyone who thinks visually.

Setting up a batch launch in MacroDroid involves creating a new macro with a manual trigger, adding an Open Application action for each app, and pinning the macro to your home screen. Tasker users can do the same through the Task Shortcut action, which exposes any task as a standard Android shortcut.

These tools ask for accessibility permissions and other system-level access, which is normal but worth understanding. If you only need a simple multi-launch, the built-in routines or a widget app will do the job with less fuss.

Dedicated multi-launch apps and gesture tools

Apps like Multi Launcher and Tap and Launch keep the feature list small, focusing on speed and reliability. They are handy if you want a floating button that lives over other apps, or if you prefer to trigger a stack through a swipe gesture from the edge of the screen.

Some launchers, such as Nova Launcher and Action Launcher, also support custom gestures tied to app groups. Setting Nova's swipe-up gesture on a folder to open multiple apps in sequence gives you a familiar folder icon that behaves like a stack.

For anyone using a Samsung device with Edge Panels, you can drop a custom widget into the panel and pull it out with a single swipe from the side. It is a quick way to access your stack of apps without dedicating a row of home screen real estate.

Keeping things smooth and avoiding battery drain

A common worry with automation is that it will chew through battery or slow the phone down. In practice, opening apps is one of the least expensive things Android does, especially compared with keeping location services running or syncing photos in the background.

The bigger risk is permission creep. Stick to well-reviewed apps from established developers, and only grant the permissions that are clearly required. If an automation app asks for something that does not match its purpose, treat that as a red flag.

Test your shortcut a few times to confirm the order. Putting your transport app before the news app makes sense if you want to check travel times first, but swapping the order is just as easy once you see how it feels in real life.

Method	Ease of setup	Cost	Best for
Built-in Modes and Routines	Easy	Free	Samsung and Pixel users wanting a quick win
Homescreen widget apps	Easy	Free or under A$5	People who prefer a simple visual launcher
MacroDroid	Moderate	Free with ads, paid tier available	Users who want more control without complexity
Tasker	Advanced	One-off purchase around A$15	Power users comfortable with detailed configuration
Nova Launcher gestures	Moderate	One-off purchase around A$6	Anyone already using a custom launcher

Start with the simplest method that fits your phone and your patience for tinkering. If your daily launch bundle is just two or three apps, the built-in routine or a small widget will probably be enough. If you find yourself wanting to add conditions, delays, or different stacks for different times of day, that is the moment to graduate to MacroDroid or Tasker. The real win is making the routine yours, so the next time you head out the door, one tap is all it takes.