EVERY iPhone has a clever built-in hack that lets you save time when typing.
If you want to text faster than ever, you’ll want to know exactly how it works.
Using a little known iOS feature, you can use shortcuts to quickly type out certain words and phrases that you use regularly.
Better yet, it works on both iMessage and WhatsApp – so you can seriously upgrade your texting game.
Texting can take up a lot of time, especially if you’re sending a very long message on iPhone.
But if you regularly send similar texts, there’s an easy solution.
It’s possible to use Apple’s text-replacement feature to quickly type out long missives.
So if you often share an address, a phone number, a common phrase or anything else regularly, it’s worth setting up a text-replacement for it.
For instance, you could set up a replacement so that typing “xemail” converts to your email address.
First, open Settings and then go into General.
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Scroll down to Keyboards and then tap into Text Replacement.
You can then create replacements, typing in a phrase and a shortcut.
The shortcut is what you personally type out, and the phrase is what it transforms into.
So keep the shortcut short, and have the phrase as long as you’d like.
Now when you type that shortcut using the built-in Apple keyboard, it’ll automatically transform into the phrase.
Make sure to pick shortcuts that are slightly obscure that you wouldn’t accidentally type in normal conversation.
That’s not the only hack you need to become a super-speed typist.
QuickPatch typing
Apple’s ‘swipe to text’ feature has been available since iOS 13 came out.
However, many people still don’t realise it exists.
Dubbed QuickPath, the tool lets you swipe between letters rather than tap them to turn you into a writing machine.
To use it, make sure you’re using iOS 13 or above and then just go to your Messages app and start swiping between letters on the keyboard.
Make sure you’re using Apple’s default keyboard rather than a third-party one you’ve downloaded yourself.
When you start typing a word, leave your finger on the keyboard and swipe between letters.
So, if you were typing “Sun”, you’d place your finger on “S”, then slide to “U” and finally “N” without removing your finger.
Once you’ve finished the word, lift your digit and iOS will automatically add a space so you can start typing the next word.
For words with two letters in a row, such as “happy”, you don’t need to swipe to the “P” twice.
Simply move from “P” to “Y” and the keyboard should detect you want an extra letter.
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