HTTP Shortcuts
2 min read
HTTP Shortcuts is a free, open-source Android automation app for turning HTTP requests into home-screen shortcuts and widgets. A shortcut can call a REST API, web service, or any other URL resource with one tap, making the app particularly useful for home automation, IoT projects, and small personal workflows. It is MIT-licensed and available through F-Droid.
Requests and shortcuts
Each shortcut defines a request and how it should behave when launched:
• HTTP and HTTPS requests using GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, PATCH, HEAD, OPTIONS, or TRACE
• Custom headers, text request bodies, file uploads, and HTTP proxy support
• Basic, Digest, Bearer, and client-certificate authentication; support for self-signed certificates
• Built-in, custom, and website-favicon icons; shortcuts may be grouped into tabbed categories
• Responses shown as a toast, window, or dialog, or handled silently
Values can be injected at runtime through variables, including text, numbers, passwords, selections, colours, and dates. Shortcuts and their configuration can be imported or exported as JSON or cURL.
Automation
HTTP Shortcuts can run JavaScript before and after a request. Scripts can prompt for input, parse JSON or XML responses, compute HMAC values, and save data to global variables for later shortcuts. They can also trigger Android-facing actions such as dialogs, notifications, vibration, sounds, intents, Tasker tasks, QR-code scanning, and reading the device's location.
For network and smart-home use cases, scripts can additionally send TCP or UDP packets, publish MQTT messages, and issue Wake-on-LAN requests. This lets a single home-screen control combine an API call with local-device automation.
Typical uses
• Control a home-automation system or IoT device
• Run a script hosted on a server, Raspberry Pi, or Arduino project
• Trigger a repeatable workflow with runtime input
• Download a file or call an authenticated web API
The app integrates with third-party Android automation tools such as Tasker and supports dark mode.