Orbit provides task actions to Siri and the Shortcuts app. Native AI Access is separate from Local MCP and is off by default, so Orbit returns no task, project, Profile or tag data to Siri, Apple Intelligence, Shortcuts or other App Intent surfaces until you enable it.
Asking Siri
First open Orbit Settings, choose Siri & Shortcuts, and turn on Allow Native AI Access. The grant belongs only to that device and can be turned off again at any time.
Then say what you want done. Orbit’s actions cover adding, finding, editing, completing, reopening, scheduling, unscheduling, moving, reordering, deleting and restoring tasks, for example “Add task to Orbit”, “Complete task in Orbit” or “Open Today in Orbit”. Private and task-changing actions require local-device authentication, and delete actions move tasks to Deleted rather than permanently erasing them.
On iPhone and iPad, Siri Access shows Apple’s system permission, and Voice Commands lists the phrases that work. Both Apple’s permission and Orbit’s own Native AI Access must allow the request.
Building shortcuts
Orbit’s Shortcuts actions include:
- Capture: Add Task, Duplicate Task, Create Project
- Finish: Complete Task, Complete Tasks, Move Task to Deleted, Restore Task
- Schedule: Schedule Task, Schedule Tasks, Unschedule Task, Unschedule Tasks, Postpone Task
- File: Move Task to Category, Move Tasks to Category, Move Task to Project, Move Tasks to Project, Remove Task from Project, Remove Tasks from Project
- Edit: Set Task Deadline, Clear Task Deadline, Set Task Notes, Set Task Reminder, Set Task Repeat, Set Task Tags, Batch Update Tasks
- Find: Find Tasks, Get Task Details
- Navigate: Open Category, Open Project
- App: Set Orbit Profile
The batch actions matter for automations: Batch Update Tasks and the plural variants act on a list of tasks in one step rather than looping.
Widgets
Add these from the Home Screen or Lock Screen widget gallery, or Edit Widgets on Mac:
- Tasks: what is due today, each one tickable without opening Orbit.
- Overview: every bucket, how far along it is, and what is left today.
- Companion: your companion’s line, and what is left today.
All three widgets are included with Orbit.
Control Centre
Orbit provides two Control Centre controls: Add Task, one tap into capture, and Open Category, which jumps straight to a bucket. Touch and hold Control Centre, choose Add a Control, and search for Orbit. The controls can also be added to the Lock Screen.
AI clients on Mac
AI client connections are a separate, optional way for compatible desktop apps to work with selected Orbit profiles. Connecting authorises that client to create and update Spaces and perform Orbit’s supported reversible task changes until you disconnect it. Orbit does not ask again for each supported action, although the AI client may show its own tool confirmation. See Connect Orbit to an AI client for setup, actions and privacy details.