It’s likely that you’re accustomed to using keyboard shortcuts on your laptop or desktop, but have you explored their potential on your iPhone? While the iPhone’s keyboard may not provide as many shortcuts as a computer, there are still some clever tricks that can enhance your efficiency and speed as an iPhone user, regardless of which model you own.
Keep reading to discover some useful tips on how to use keyboard shortcuts on your iPhone or iPad.
How to Configure Keyboard Shortcuts in iOS
- Navigate to Settings > General > Keyboard.
- Choose Text Replacement.
- Tap the + icon located at the upper right corner of the screen.
- Input the phrase you wish to associate with a keyboard abbreviation.
- Next, enter the shortcut you want to use to automatically generate this phrase when composing a message.
- Tap Save.
- To confirm the setup, open a new message window and test the keyboard shortcut. You’ll notice the phrase appearing in a bubble as a selectable option. Alternatively, press the spacebar to replace the shortcut directly.
Another method is to create a keyboard shortcut directly from a message
- In the text field, press and hold the Happy Emoji icon beneath the keyboard.
- Select Keyboard Settings.
This action will redirect you to the same menu described in step 2, where you can choose Text Replacement and input the phrase along with the desired abbreviation.
Popular Keyboard Shortcuts
Thanks to text shortcuts on iPhones and iPads, you can efficiently communicate while on the go. If you’re frequently pressed for time, utilize shortcuts like “OMW” for “On my way” or “FMIN” for “I’ll be there in five minutes.” Moreover, commonly shared personal information such as your email address, phone number, and home address can be set to appear when typing “EML,” “PHN,” or “ADDR,” respectively.
Additionally, customize abbreviations for names or places you frequently type or text, such as a beloved restaurant or your child’s school. It’s also helpful to include words you often misspell or mistype, like “should” instead of “shoukd.”
Quick Access to Domain Names
When typing in the Safari browser bar or an email address field on your iPhone, you can swiftly access a variety of the most common domain name extensions in your geographic region.
To view these options, tap and hold the period symbol on your iPhone’s keyboard. Then, select a domain name extension from the list that appears.
Making Multilingual Typing Easy
Effortlessly switch between language keyboards by holding down the globe icon located at the bottom left corner of the text screen.
To add a new language keyboard, simply press and hold the globe icon, then navigate to Keyboard Settings > Keyboard > Add New Keyboard.
Slide to Select
You’re likely familiar with tapping the “123” key on your iPhone’s keyboard to access numbers and common symbols. However, the process of tapping, selecting a number or symbol, and then returning to the alphabetical keyboard can be cumbersome and time-consuming.
Instead, try this: tap the “123” key and keep your finger on the screen, then slide to the number or symbol you want to use. Upon releasing your finger from the screen, the desired number or symbol will be entered into your text, seamlessly transitioning back to the alphabetical keyboard.
This swipe-style action also applies to capitalizing letters. If you need to type a capital letter within a sentence, press the shift key first, then slide your finger to the desired letter, and release. This will insert the capitalized version of the letter you selected.
How to Reset the Keyboard Dictionary
To reset the keyboard dictionary on your iPhone or iPad, follow these steps:
- From the Home screen, go to Settings.
- Scroll down and tap on General.
- Tap on Reset.
- If you can’t find the app on your Home screen, swipe left to access the App Library.
- Within Reset options, tap on Reset Keyboard Dictionary.
- If prompted, enter your passcode.
- Finally, tap on Reset Dictionary to confirm the action.