How to tag files with Little Tagger and Apple Shortcuts
Use Little Tagger’s actions in Apple Shortcuts to apply tags, reuse a preset, or run a saved workflow on files you supply. Start with a simple Finder Quick Action, then adapt it to the tagging routines you repeat.
This guide is about Apple’s Shortcuts app. For keyboard shortcuts inside Little Tagger, see Use keyboard shortcuts and the menu bar.
Before you start
- Little Tagger 2.1.0 or later.
- A supported Apple Silicon Mac running macOS 15 or later.
- Access to Little Tagger’s tagging features through the free trial or a purchase.
- Apple’s Shortcuts app.
- Original files that are available locally and accessible to Little Tagger.
- Saved tags for Apply Existing Tags, or a saved preset or workflow for those actions.
Shortcuts actions must be allowed in Little Tagger → Settings → General → Allow Shortcuts to Apply Tags, Presets, and Workflows.
Create a Finder Quick Action that applies existing tags
In this example, the shortcut adds a saved To Review tag to selected documents and keeps their other tags. To Review is only an example name; choose any saved tag that fits your routine.
- Open Shortcuts and create a new shortcut.
- Give it a recognizable name, such as Tag for Review.
- Open the shortcut’s Details and turn on Use as Quick Action, with Finder enabled.
- Set the shortcut to receive files. This first example is for regular files, not folders.
- Search the action library for Little Tagger.
- Add Apply Existing Tags.
- Select the saved tag you want in the Tags parameter.
- Set the Files parameter to Shortcut Input.
- In Finder, select a small set of original files and run Tag for Review from Quick Actions.
- Check the files’ tags in Finder. The chosen tag should be added, and unrelated existing tags should remain.
The screenshot shows the tag picker open and Get Clipboard as the no-input fallback. The recipe above supplies files from Finder instead. If you run the shortcut without Finder input, the configured fallback may run; clipboard text or transferred copies are not substitutes for original file references.
How Quick Actions appear in Finder can differ between macOS versions. Follow Apple’s instructions for running a shortcut while you work for your installed version.
Apply a saved preset
A preset keeps a recurring tagging action and its settings together. Select it in Shortcuts instead of choosing the same tags and options again.
Treat this as an alternative recipe. Replace the earlier action or create a separate shortcut, so you do not accidentally run both examples in sequence.
- Prepare and save the preset in Little Tagger.
- Add Apply Preset to a shortcut that receives files.
- Choose Mark for Review, or your own saved preset.
- Connect its Files parameter to Shortcut Input.
- Run the shortcut on a small test selection.
- Check the resulting tags in Finder.
Mark for Review is an example saved preset, not a built-in preset that Little Tagger supplies to every user. Create your own preset first, then choose it in the action. The screenshot shows the configuration; the shortcut only tags files when you run it on files you supply.
Run a saved workflow
A workflow runs saved presets in their defined order. Use Run Workflow when your routine needs several tagging steps.
Replace the action with Run Workflow, select a saved workflow, supply original files through Shortcut Input, and check the result in Finder. A review routine could, for example:
- Remove an old review-status tag.
- Add the current project tag.
- Add the new review status.
Choose the right action
| Action | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Apply Existing Tags | Add saved tags while keeping other tags. |
| Apply New Tags | Create and add tags using the supplied names. |
| Replace Tags | Replace the files’ existing tags with the chosen tags. Tags not chosen are removed. |
| Remove Selected Tags | Remove the chosen tags while keeping others. |
| Remove All Tags | Remove every Finder tag from the supplied files. |
| Apply Preset | Apply a saved preset and its processing settings. |
| Run Workflow | Run saved presets in workflow order. |
| Open Preset / Open Workflow | Open and select the saved item without performing its tagging action. |
Understand file input and results
- Tagging actions need access to original files, not a temporary copy transferred by another action.
- The direct tag actions work on original files. They do not expand folders or aliases.
- Apply Preset and Run Workflow can accept files or folders. How folders are processed depends on the saved preset or workflow configuration, so folder input does not mean every file inside will be tagged.
- Tagging actions return original file references, which later steps in your shortcut can use.
- Little Tagger changes Finder tags only. These actions do not move or rename files.
Actions run directly from Shortcuts are separate from copied links and from the Play button in Little Tagger’s workspace. For link-based runs, see the Raycast Quicklinks guide.
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | What to check |
|---|---|
| Little Tagger actions are missing | Confirm 2.1.0 or later is installed, open Little Tagger, then reopen the shortcut editor. |
| Shortcuts actions are disabled | Check Settings → General → Allow Shortcuts to Apply Tags, Presets, and Workflows. |
| No files were supplied | Check the Finder input and the Shortcut Input connection. |
| Original-file access error | Supply an original file reference rather than text, generated content, or a temporary copy. |
| Saved tag, preset, or workflow is missing | Choose an existing item again in the action. |
| Nothing changed | Check the selected action, the preset conditions, and whether the files already have the intended tags. |
| Another operation is running | Wait for it to finish, then run the shortcut again. |
| Access is required | Open Little Tagger and check your trial or purchase access. |
| Quick Action is absent from Finder | Check the shortcut’s Quick Action settings and Apple’s instructions for Finder extensions on your macOS version. |
Little Tagger does not need Full Disk Access for these actions. If files cannot be reached, see Fix missing files or tags that did not change.