How to type faster on your iPhone by creating keyboard shortcuts

How to create text shortcuts on iPhone

By Carlos Vega January 9, 2017

set ios keyboard shortcuts p1070792 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Using the text replacement function on your iOS keyboard can save you a lot of time when typing messages or composing emails. If there are long words, phrases, or titles that you use a lot, and they’re time consuming to type, then you can assign a shortcut, so that your keyboard can automatically type them out in full for you. For example, you might set DT to be replaced with Digital Trends. Not only that, but you can also use text replacement to type hard to find symbols like fractions, and other emoticons that aren’t available on the standard keyboard. Let’s take a look at how to make some shortcuts in four very simple steps.

Steps to create keyboard shortcuts

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set ios keyboard shortcuts general — Image used with permission by copyright holder

how to turn off autocorrect on iphone or ipad keyboard ios settings — Image used with permission by copyright holder

set ios keyboard shortcuts text replacement — Image used with permission by copyright holder

set ios keyboard shortcuts plus sign — Image used with permission by copyright holder

set ios keyboard shortcuts save text replacement — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 1: Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement.

Step 2: Tap the + sign on the top right.

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Step 3: Fill in the phrase you would like the iPhone to insert for you, and the shortcut you would like to use.

Step 4: Tap Save on the top right.

Steps to delete or change keyboard shortcuts

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 1: Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement.

Step 2: To delete, tap Edit on the lower left, and then tap the red minus symbol.

Step 3: To change the shortcut, just tap the shortcut and phrase, make your changes, and then tap Save on the top right.

This is all you need to do to set up, and manage, your shortcuts. When you type your shortcut the phrase will pop up above the keyboard, then you can select it. In this example we used 1/2* to type the ½ fraction symbol, and DT* to type Digital Trends.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

You can set some shortcuts to type your phone number, fraction symbols, any address, or anything lengthy that you find yourself having to type frequently. It will save you a lot of time. You can even spice up your messages in social media with some ASCII smileys such as shrug ¯\_(ツ)_/¯, table flip (ノಠ益ಠ)ノ彡┻━┻, amazed ＼(◎o◎)／！, and anything else you can think of.

Topics

Apple
Apple

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Carlos has been involved in computers since 2000, when he earned his MCSE and A+ certifications. A love for technology turned…

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