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

1 of 5

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.

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.

Editors' Recommendations

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…

Mobile

The best iPhone 15 Plus cases in 2023: 11 best ones right now

iPhone 15 color family includes: Black, Green, Blue, Yellow, and Pink.

One of Apple’s latest and greatest, the iPhone 15 Plus, is finally here. Announced at Apple's big iPhone 15 event, the iPhone 15 Plus gives you a huge 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with Dynamic Island, an A16 Bionic chip for fast performance, and a powerful dual-camera system with a 48MP wide and 12MP ultrawide lenses. It has also ditched Lightning for USB-C, and it comes in five fun colors this year.

But considering that the iPhone 15 Plus still starts at a hefty $899 for the base model, that’s some pricey glass and aluminum. You definitely want to protect your investment, and one of the easiest ways to do so is with a good case. Here are some of the best iPhone 15 Plus cases you can buy right now.

Mobile

Do iPhone 14 cases fit the iPhone 15? There’s an interesting answer

Speck Presido2 cases for the iPhone 15.

The iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 series have identical display sizes, but there are slight variations in their total dimensions due to design changes. This has led to a common question of whether the cases designed for iPhone 14 would fit the iPhone 15 models. The answer to this question is not straightforward and depends on whether you are looking for a perfect or a reasonable fit.

The iPhone 15 series consists of four models, just like the iPhone 14 series. These are the 6.1-inch iPhone 15, 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Plus, 6.1-inch iPhone 15 Pro, and 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Pro Max. The prices of the iPhone 15 series are the same as the previous models, and they come with several improvements. The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are made of titanium, while the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max have stainless steel bodies. Additionally, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus now have the Dynamic Island for the first time.

Mobile

The best iPhone 15 Plus screen protectors in 2023: 10 best ones

Someone using Find My with an iPhone 15.

Is 2023 the year of the iPhone? It very well may be, with the Apple iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus specifically receiving big upgrades this year. Following in the iPhone 14 Pro's footsteps, the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus have received a massive design update, including the addition of the Dynamic Island and a notch-less design. Also included is the powerful Apple A16 Bionic processor and a new 48-megapixel camera lens.

It's a strong pair, and if you want a big display to go with your new iPhone, then you want the iPhone 15 Plus. With a big 6.7-inch display, it's one of the largest iPhones currently for sale. But a lot of display is a blessing and a curse, and one bad spill can mean a cracked screen that can ruin your new phone. A screen protector can stop that from happening. However, there are many screen protectors to choose from, and some are definitely better than others. Here are some of the best Apple iPhone 15 Plus screen protectors.