How do I save an action of my own?

Goal

Save several steps under one name and run them by that name.

Before you start

• AI access is set up, if you create or run actions by voice.
• For the Actions & workflows page, the Expert view. See How do I switch between Simple and Expert?
• For keyboard shortcuts as a block, Accessibility. See Which macOS permissions does Nova need?

Steps

1. By voice: say “Remember the action …” at the avatar, with a name and the steps. Nova turns them into blocks.
2. The card Save action? appears with the name and blocks. Save creates the action. Dismiss saves nothing. If the name already exists, the card is Update action?
3. By hand: Settings, Actions & workflows, tab Nova actions. In the card Saved actions, expand Build new action.
4. Enter a Name. Short text may stay empty, then Nova fills it from the blocks.
5. Pick a kind for each block: Open app, Website, Raycast, Shortcut, or Keyboard shortcuts. Add building block appends the next one. At most 8 blocks.
6. Save puts the action in the list. Edit opens it again. Remove asks first.
7. To run it, say the action’s name. Nova runs the blocks in order, with no further card.

Example

“Remember the action Read: private browser, new instance, example.com.” Later: “Read.”

Common problems

• A website has to start with https:// or http://. Otherwise the block is dropped.
• A keyboard shortcut as a block needs Accessibility.
• Private means Nova starts the default browser privately in a new instance, not in your normal session.
• At most 40 actions. Two actions cannot share a name, not even with different capitalization.
• Deleting by voice happens without a card. In Settings, Remove asks first.