The Vortyra agent

Vortyra can do things on webpages for you: click, type, fill forms, collect data, research across sites and hand the result to other apps. This guide shows how to ask, which words switch modes, and how to run it all from Shortcuts, Siri and Control Center.

The short version: open the AI panel, turn on Agent mode, and start your request with a verb like find, open or fill. Start with Research to compare several websites. Anything that could buy, send, post, delete or sign in waits for your approval.

Turn on Agent mode

  1. Open a webpage and tap the AI button to show the AI panel.
  2. Under Model, choose ChatGPT, Local or Cloud. These are the models that can drive the agent.
  3. Switch on Agent mode. The line below it tells you whether the selected model is ready.
  4. Type your request. Questions are still answered as normal chat; requests to do something go to the agent.
What each model can do in Agent mode
ModelWorks on the pageWeb searchResearch mode
ChatGPTYes, all toolsYes, also with /searchYes, up to 8 sources
Cloud (Private Cloud Compute)YesQuick lookup with /searchNo
Local (on device)Yes, core toolsQuick lookup with /searchNo

The on-device model has a small memory for each request, so it can't read several full websites at once. Its quick lookup runs one search, reads short excerpts from a few public results and answers with numbered citations.

The words that matter

Vortyra reads the start of your message to decide what you want. You can always override it.

Commands

/do
Always send this to the agent. Use it when Vortyra treats your request as a question./do add the cheapest option to the comparison table
/ask
Always answer as chat about the page, without touching anything./ask what does this contract say about cancellation?
/search
Look something up on the public web and answer with sources, without leaving your page. Works with every model: ChatGPT searches and reads the results itself; Local and Cloud read short excerpts and answer with numbered citations./search when is the next Benfica home game?

Words that start the agent

Begin with an action and the agent takes over. Common ones: find, search, look up, open, go to, click, tap, type, fill, select, choose, add, remove, scroll, download, sort, filter, sign in, book, buy, send, share, copy, close, switch, turn on, turn off, show me, take me. Polite openings are fine: “Can you…”, “Please…”, “Help me…”.

Words that start research

Begin with Research (or web research, find sources online, compare … across websites) to read and compare several sites. See Research mode.

Words that add extra tools

What to ask

On the page you're reading

Data and exports

Step by step, in the same chat

A follow-up can use what the previous request found, for up to 30 minutes in the same conversation. It works whether the agent extracted a table or just wrote its answer.

A new chat starts fresh, and nothing carries over from private tabs. The agent replies in the language you write in.

Tabs and bookmarks

If a request is unclear, the agent asks you a question in the panel and waits for your answer.

Everything the agent can do

You never call these by name; just describe what you want. Items marked (asks first) always wait for your approval.

Work on the page

Tabs, groups and bookmarks

Page tools

Data and files

Research and other apps

Research mode

Start with Research and the agent searches the web, reads up to 8 sources quietly in the background, compares them and writes a short report with sources. It never leaves the page you're on. Research mode needs the ChatGPT model.

Approvals and privacy

Saved tasks and history

Open Agent Tasks in the AI panel to see three tabs: Tasks, History and Watches.

Teach mode

Show the agent once instead of describing it.

  1. In Agent Tasks, tap Record a New Task.
  2. Do the task yourself on the page: search, pick filters, press buttons. A Recording banner stays on screen.
  3. Tap Stop, then name and save the task.

When the task runs, the agent follows your steps on the current page, adapting if the layout changed. Passwords, email addresses, phone numbers, card numbers and codes are never recorded; the agent asks you for them each time. Recording doesn't work in private tabs.

Page watches

Get a notification when a page changes. Open the page menu and choose Watch This Page…, pick how often to check, and turn on Notify when it changes.

The first check only records a starting point. Vortyra checks when you open the app and in the background; iOS decides exactly when background checks run. Clock times on a page are ignored.

Calendar, Reminders, Mail and Messages

Under a finished answer, use Add to Calendar, Add Reminder, Email, Message or Share. You can also ask for it in the request:

Everything opens prefilled for you to check. Nothing is saved or sent until you tap Add, Save or Send. Reminders access is requested only the first time you save one.

Shortcuts

Open the Shortcuts app and search for Vortyra. These are all 53 actions, with the names you'll see there.

Each action below has an example of what to put in it. Words in italics are the fields you fill in Shortcuts.

Browser agent
ActionExample
Run Browser Task and Get ResultTask: “Find the ETA for container MSCU1234567”, Starting Website: your carrier's tracking page. Returns the answer, sources and any CSV or PDF to the next action.
Run Saved Browser Task and Get ResultSaved Task: “Morning tracking”. Same result as above, for a task you saved in Agent Tasks.
Run Browser TaskTask: “Put all my tabs about Lisbon into a group called Trip”. Starts it in Vortyra without waiting; you can get a notification when it finishes.
Run Saved Browser TaskSaved Task: “Check visa appointments”. Starts it without waiting.
Open Saved Browser TaskRuns a saved task in the app. This is what a Spotlight result for a saved task does.
Research a TopicTopic: “best e-bikes under €2000”, Open Sources in Tabs on, Make PDF Report on. Returns the report and its PDF. Needs the ChatGPT model.
Get Last Browser Task ResultReturns the answer from the latest finished task, for example to paste into a note.
Watch PagePage Address: a product page, Title: “Headphones price”, Check Every: daily.
Check Watched PagesChecks every watch now and returns the ones that changed.
AI on the page
ActionExample
Summarize Current PageSummarizes the page on screen and shows a summary card.
Ask On-Device AIQuestion: “Rewrite this in plain English: …”. Answered on the device, nothing leaves it.
Send Page to Web AIProvider: ChatGPT or Gemini. Opens the page's text in that chat, signed in with your own account.
Open and search
ActionExample
Open URL in VortyraURL: https://www.ipma.pt
Load URL in Vortyra TabURL: a news site, Tab: your “Morning” tab, so it reuses that tab.
Search in VortyraSearch Text: “price”. Highlights it on the page you're reading; searches the web only if it isn't there. Turn on Search the Web Only to skip the page.
Search Web in VortyraSearch: “Lisbon weather tomorrow”. Always opens your search engine in a new tab.
Search Clipboard in VortyraCopy a word in any app, run it, and Vortyra searches for it.
Open Websites Side by SideFirst URL: the English page, Second URL: the Portuguese page.
End Split ViewGoes back to one page.
Tabs and groups
ActionExample
New Vortyra TabOpens an empty tab.
Create Tab in VortyraURL: your bank's website, Private on.
New Private Vortyra TabOpens a private tab.
Reopen Last Closed TabBrings back the tab you just closed.
Switch to Vortyra Tab / Switch to Tab in VortyraTab: pick “Recipes” from your open tabs.
Switch to Tab GroupGroup: Trip.
Move Tab to GroupGroup: Trip. Moves the current tab there.
Close Current Vortyra TabCloses the tab on screen.
Close Tabs in VortyraTabs: choose several. Asks before closing.
Close Tabs in GroupGroup: Trip, when the trip is booked.
Navigation and page modes
ActionExample
Go Back / Go Forward in VortyraMoves through the current tab's history.
Reload Vortyra PageReloads the page on screen.
Set Reader ModeEnabled on, for a clean article view.
Set Desktop Site ModeEnabled on, when a site hides features on mobile.
Translate Vortyra PageLanguage: “English”, “Portuguese” or a code like “pt”. Translated on the device.
Find Text on PageSearch Text: “cancellation”. Highlights every match.
Find Text on Vortyra PageThe same, in a tab you choose.
Bookmarks, history and saving
ActionExample
Bookmark Current PageFolder: Recipes.
Bookmark Vortyra TabTab: any open tab, Name: “Carbonara”.
Open Bookmark in VortyraBookmark: pick from your Favorites.
Open Bookmark in Vortyra TabThe same, in a tab you choose.
Delete Vortyra BookmarksChoose the bookmarks. Asks before deleting.
Save Page to Reading ListSaves the page on screen to read later.
Open Last Matching History PageSearch Text: “carbonara” reopens the last page you visited about it.
Open History Page in VortyraHistory Page: pick a page. Turn on History in Settings → Spotlight first.
Get Recorded Web SearchesDate: today. Returns what you searched for that day.
Clear Vortyra HistoryTime Frame: last hour. Asks before clearing.
Export and download
ActionExample
Export Page as PDFReturns the whole page as a PDF, ready for Save File or Send Email.
Capture Page ScreenshotReturns an image of the page on screen.
Copy Page Title and URLCopies the page title and address, ready to paste into a message.
Download URL in VortyraURL: a link to a PDF or ZIP file.
Download Direct Page VideoDownloads the video on the page when it's a plain video file (not a stream).

Ideas to build

Results show as a card in Shortcuts and Siri with Open in Vortyra and Copy Result buttons. Most actions need Vortyra open with a regular (non-private) tab, and some ask you to unlock the device first.

Siri

Say these phrases as written.

Say the phrase, then answer if Siri asks a question
SayWhat happens
“Run a browser task with Vortyra” or “Ask Vortyra to work on a webpage”Siri asks what to do. Answer “find the next Benfica home match and add it to my calendar”.
“Run Morning tracking with Vortyra” or “Start Morning tracking in Vortyra”Runs that saved task. Use the task's name as you saved it.
“Search with Vortyra”Siri asks “What should I look for?”. Say “price”: the matches are highlighted on the page you're reading, or the web is searched if it isn't there.
“Find on this page with Vortyra”Siri asks what to find, then highlights it on the page.
“Search my clipboard with Vortyra”Searches for the text you copied.
“Open a website with Vortyra”Siri asks for the address, then opens it.
“Open a private tab in Vortyra”Opens a new private tab.
“Summarize this page with Vortyra”Shows a summary card for the page on screen.
“Translate this page with Vortyra”Siri asks for the language. Say “English”.
“Ask on-device AI in Vortyra”Siri asks for your question and answers on the device.

On devices with Apple Intelligence, Siri also understands natural requests about tabs and bookmarks, such as “open a new tab in Vortyra”, “bookmark this tab in Vortyra”, “switch to my recipes tab in Vortyra” and “search for price in Vortyra”. Closing tabs, deleting bookmarks and clearing history always ask first.

Spotlight

Swipe down on the Home Screen and type the name of a bookmark or saved task to open it in Vortyra. Choose what appears in Settings → Spotlight. History is off by default, and private browsing never appears.

Controls and widgets

Control Center, Lock Screen and Action button

Open Control Center, tap +, choose Add a Control and search for Vortyra:

Home Screen widgets

Progress and notifications

While a task runs, its current step appears on the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island. Tasks started from Shortcuts or Siri can notify you when they finish. Turn either off in Settings → Browser Tasks. Private tasks never show page text; their notification just says “Finished”.

Something not working as expected? Tell us through TestFlight or GitHub. Replies are posted on the TestFlight replies page.